Oladejo Okediji

ByMoyo Okediji

Oladejo Okediji–who happens to be my father, is the oldest living writer in the Yoruba language.

He is 89 this year.

He is pictured here with the cover of his first novel, Àjà Ló Lẹrù, published in 1969.

Baba is still pretty prolific. His latest book, Ohùn Ẹnu Àgbà, came out this year. It is a collection of his poems.

The Yoruba language is really fortunate to have writers like Oladejo Okediji, who keep providing a written literature for the culture, ensuring that the language enjoys innovation, inventiveness and creativity.

Very few African languages are so fortunate.

(Special thanks to H B Jamiu Bulala who provided this collage).

It is NOT his birthday today. I just got to see a copy of his new book and felt like celebrating him.

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a picture showing moyo okediji poised for the camera

ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Thirty-One)

ByMoyo Okediji

ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Thirty-One)

Gina did not look glad or relaxed. I could read it in her posture, without even getting close to her.

Rufus said, “Moyo, Gina is back!”

Steve hardly allowed the bus to stop properly before jumping down to run and hug her.

“Is that her?” Adolo asked Felicia rather softly.

“Yes,” Felicia responded. “That’s her.”

I got down slowly, and took my time locking up the door. Then I went to Gina. She looked down and didn’t meet my eyes. I thought, “She must be mad because she didn’t see us at her father’s funeral.”

Africans living in voluntary and compelled exile

Africans living in voluntary and compelled exile

ByMoyo Okediji

Africans living in voluntary and compelled exile:

Do we deserve the “comfort” of exile, if we are only concerned about the comfort of our immediate families?

We all realize that a country like Nigeria has become a lion’s den, and many of the citizens feel trapped inside it.

We realize that many of us escaped with nothing in our pockets. I left with only $98 in my pocket in 1992.

ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY 1981 (Part Thirty)

ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY 1981 (Part Thirty)

ByMoyo Okediji

“My he—he—he=aler at the psychi-psychi-atric hos—hos—hos–pital made me sw-sw-sw-ear never to have a con—con—con—con—con-fron-front-tation again with Miiiiiiiiisster Ru—ru-rufus,” Obaseki was whispering to me, from under the table. “Says he-he-he will bring me back back in.”

“It’s okay, Obaseki,” I said. “You come out and sit here at the table. I will go and see what’s happening.”

“Don’t, don’t, don’t leave me, Mo-Mo-Moyo,” Obaseki pleaded. “Please- plea-se-stay-stay-stay-don’t—don’t go….”

“It’s alright, Obaseki,” I assured him. “Whatever the matter is, we will get to the very bottom of it today. This is really ridiculous!”

a picture showing moyo okediji poised for the camera

ENGLISHMAN IN BENIN CITY, 1981 (Part Seventeen)

ByMoyo Okediji

I was already tipsy when Gina screamed.

But the performance on the stage continued as if nothing was happening. Obaseki got up and went into the ushers’ chamber. I tried really hard to see what was happening at the other end of the arena, to get an idea of what was happening to Gina. I really couldn’t see her. But because Joshua, who was assaulting Gina, was wearing a white suit, he was relatively visible, next to Gina, who, going by what she wore during the day, was in a red gown. But it appeared that Gina was already on the floor, and Joshua was kicking her, as she continued to scream while it seemed he continued to hit her.

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