I Haven’t Read A Book In A While, I Finally Picked Up An Interesting Book At The School’s Library

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Hello book lovers. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the weather whatever you are. Welcome to my blog.

Due to my busy schedule, I've not been able to read books lately. Luckily, I picked up a book from my school library and read it. The book was written by a writer who was the former dean of the university I attend ; Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE).

Rask Ojo Bakare is a professor who was born on November 8, 1964.

I'm a big fan of African books, and as soon as I opened the first page, I fell in love with the book, and I made sure I read it till the end.

The play “The Voyage” written by Prof. Ojo Bakare is a play centered on the people of Alaoma.

The book begins with a woman who complains about his drunk husband, Joseph who was just returning back home. The people of Alaoma were celebrating their harvest ceremony involving the king's not prayers and the people’s response to it. But in the midst of their jubilation and celebration, a white man and his fellow whites enter with a black man, who happens to be the interpreter. The interpreter speaks to the king on behalf of his master and his fellow whites that they've only come to seek peace, friendship and to live with them. But the king was reluctant and told them to leave.

The master of the whites then presented gifts of which were an umbrella, a mirror and a smoking pipe, through the interpreter to the king.

The king’s face brightened up. He became excited and accepted them with good hands. Then the white man, on taking his leave, said he was going to return, but he returned only to enslave the people of Alaoma.

Both the king and his people surrendered to the white man. Fortunately, the people of Alaoma gained their freedom after one the citizens initiated an attack on the white. They conquered and overpowered the white men.

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After their victory, the people of Alaoma thought they've ended their problems not knowing it was the start of it all. So they started a journey to the promise land, where they seek for peace and unity. So they decided to choose a leader who would guide them, after being told to do that by their Imperial majesty.

Tafa (a character in the book) was elected to lead them after he won to become their leader on the boat. As time went on, people complained that he was incompetent and therefore he was dethroned and killed by the militiary men. General Kill and Go took over from Tafa to lead the people. The people again complained of him being sluggish and he was also killed by other military men.

Ever since then leadership switched hands and then under the leadership of Maradona who promised to make things better, never did and was then overthrown by Achaba. Achaba also never made things better for the people of Alaoma and for the boat which continued to sink because he was unserios and incapable.

Despite the people’s immorality and evil doings, God answered their prayers and Achaba was struck by a thunder and he died. Baba then took over after winning the election for a new leader. His time was up then power switched hands from one person to another.

Power was held by Dogo and good things were expected of him. He made some adjustments, still things were not well balanced. It was then that Josepg wakes from his long-lasted sleep. Seeing everything as a dream, he still wanted the best for the people of Alaoma. Suggestions we're made that they should work together and see themselves as one. They tried to go further but it was to no avail.

They then concluded that they should take a risk of working through Federalism and they finally saw it as their way to get to the promised land.

Analysis on the major characters

The king

He is the leader of the people of Alaoma. He was intrigued by the gifts of the white men, accepted and welcomed them with open arms and was unfortunately enslaved ok by the white men.

Joseph

Joseph is a drunkard who had a long-lasting sleep. He wakes up to see and notice that everything happening was a dream. But he preferred for the people to prefer solutions by making suggestions so as to solve the current problem his fellow people were suffering from. He is the husband of the woman (”Wife” in the play) making complaints at the beginning of the play.

Master

He is the leader of the white men who came to pay a visit to the king of Alaoma but had it in mind to overthrow them. He presented gifts to the king so as to lure and turn his mind into having a good relationship with the king.

Gen. Kill and go

He is a military man who took over from the first leader of the boat because of his inability and sluggishness. He took over as the second leader of the boat but was also killed because of his incompetence.

*Maradona

Another leader of the boat who was overthrown by Abacha. Maradona also couldn't profer solutions to the problem of moving forward.

Abacha

Abacha was seen as an I'm serious leader because he portrayed behaviors that we're unworthy of a leader. As a consequence of his bad leadership, he was struck by thunder and he died.

Baba

A leader that was elected by his people. He had the majority in the election. He thought with his achievements he deserved an extension of term but didn't get it because the people of Alaoma we're against it.

Dogo

Sogo was the final leader who gave the people hope for the future. Good things were expected of him and he delivered. He welcomed public opinion and it proved to be a great asset in his success as a leader.

People

They are the inhabitants and indigenes of Alaoma.

My Praise

I give this book 4 stars out of 5. Now only because I love African books, but also because the author wrote the book well and made use of some vital techniques.

The author made use of songs. As a music lover, I couldn't help but sing the song out loud. The songs were written in the Yoruba Language, i could read and understand it because I'm fluent in the Yoruba language.