Omoseye Bolaji - Writer with the grassroots touch
- By Raselebeli Khotseng
- Published September 19, 2009
- Features
-
Rating:
Raselebeli Khotseng
Raselebeli Khotseng is a South African poet.
“Interesting how Judges live till old ages abroad, haven’t you noticed my man?” Sebastien went on. “For example the renowned British judge, Lord Denning lived till over 100; Lord Goddard retired at almost 90 years! In the USA Judges like Thurgood Marshall and Hugo Black were still going strong at over 80…I do some research in my legal offices here…”
(Tebogo fails, page 10)
Yet just a bit later on we realize Sebastien is not what we have been led to believe when Tebogo talks to the sarcastic “Aunt Maggie”:
“Eem,” I said, “Interesting guy, the lawyer (Sebastien). Makes quite an impression…”
She laughed and said: “Lawyer my foot! At best he’s a quack. Actually he helps people with legal problems, but he’s not a qualified lawyer. I doubt whether he even knows where law is studied! I understand he used to work at a lawyer’s firm in Gauteng, then in Durban. Reads a lot about the law, and can pass for a lawyer among average folk…”
(Tebogo fails, page 12)
In Tebogo and the haka (2008) as the mystery starts to unfold the reader is given hints about another intriguing lady, Charlotte. We suspect Tebogo will make attempts to locate her and talk to her. But when he finally meets her it happens in an unexpected way, with both the reader and Tebogo surprised! Tebogo is at an Internet Centre (a concession to modernity by the author) and is helping a lady there with her documents. The lady is appropriately grateful and it is only at the end of this Chapter (Chapter Seven) that we learn:
The lady insisted on at least paying me back some of my money but I refused. I followed her outside the shop and she said: “Today is really my lucky day. I’m so pleased to have met you. By the way let me introduce myself to you formally,” She extended her hand for a shake. “My name is Charlotte. Mrs Charlotte Moalusi.”
(Tebogo and the haka, page 33)
A number of commentators have also referred to the manner in which Bolaji wrestles with moral issues at a basic level in his writings. In a short review of Omoseye Bolaji’s new work, Tebogo and the Epithalamion Peter Moroe writes:
------------------------
The issue of “morality” seems to interest Bolaji in his writings. Petro Schonfeld writes almost sarcastically in this wise in her book, Tebogo on the prowl (pg 38): “The virtues of Dave are legion. He did not flirt with women…he liked a simple life…he was popular and generous…he liked reading…he was a writer…almost a saint…His character overshadows Tebogo (whose) characteristics are few compared to the praises Dave receives”
Also note that Aryan Kaganof in his review of People of the Townships writes: “I would suggest that Mr. Bolaji has created a morally ambiguous protagonist in order to test our own opinions and ethics. The truth is that judgments on the moral plane are extremely hard to make, both in life and, as John Lefuo amply demonstrates, in fiction”
In Tebogo and the epithalamion there is this type of tantalizing ambiguity on issues of “morality” again. For example when Tebogo and Seleke the ‘rich man’ discuss:
But whether Neo “had played her cards right” or not, was hardly the issue here. I stared at Ntate Seleke and said: “But is it true – that there is another woman in this town who has a baby for you?”
Mike flinched as Seleke’s face changed into a ruthless mask. Indeed he (Mike) looked away uneasily, perhaps cursing me inwardly for raising this matter which I had heard about. But I tried to look unperturbed.
Seleke said at last: “Are you questioning my moral ethics?”
Yet the irony is that Mr. Seleke is probably morally flawed as it emerges that he has fathered a child quite carelessly whilst drunk and has little or no respect for the mother of his young child.
As we can imagine, moral issues especially in our (South African) townships are complicated with the background and heritage of apartheid in mind. The idea of “good” conflated with “bad” is not so clear-cut, especially in mystery books where murders often hold sway. Hence when in the book Tebogo fails (2003) where the detective Tebogo Mokoena allows a murderer to go scot-free in the end on the grounds that the killer was avenging a child rapist and killer, readers are divided in their response. On her own part critic Petro Schonfeld comments:
“He (Tebogo) believes in justice… but he himself decides what the just thing would be, to reveal the culprit or to overlook the (legal) system and let him go free…”
(Page 35, Tebogo on the prowl)
On the whole however, going through his ouvre of works, it is clear enough that Omoseye Bolaji – through his protagonists – is on the side of what we might simplistically dub “good”. Often commentators have pointed out the feel good factor consequent upon reading Bolaji’s works of fiction. It is no surprise that so many readers at grassroots level love his works passionately.
Many books (studies) have been published on Omoseye Bolaji’s writings and it is no surprise yet again that the emphasis has often been on his fictional works. Critics and literary figures like Pule Lechesa, Petro Schonfeld, Flaxman Qoopane and Charmaine Kolwane have published studies on Bolaji’s works (see list later on)
Omoseye Bolaji grew up in England (where he was taken as a baby by his parents), Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. He attended Lagelu Grammar School (Ibadan), Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile Ife). As a writer he has been recognized largely; apart from many other honours, he garnered a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Free State Arts and Culture (Library Services) Dept; and he was conferred with the Chancellor’s Medal by the University of the Free State (2007). In 2008 he was conferred with a traditional African Chieftaincy title by the Olubadan (King) of Ibadanland (in Nigeria), Oba Odulana Odugade in recognition of his contributions to African literature.
References
University of the Free State: Certificates/Degrees journal. 13 Sep 2007 Page 29 (for Citation on Omoseye Bolaji)
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo Investigates. Drufoma. 2000
Schonfeld, Petro: Tebogo on the prowl. (A study of the Tebogo Mokoena Mystery series) Phoenix Press, 2006
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo fails. Drufoma, 2003
Bolaji, Omoseye: Ask Tebogo. Eclectic Writers Club. 2004
Bolaji, Omoseye: Impossible Love. Drufoma. 2000
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo and the haka. Eselby Jnr Publications, 2008
OMOSEYE BOLAJI: LIST OF WORKS
Fiction
Impossible Love (2000)
Tebogo Investigates (2000)
The ghostly adversary (2001)
Tebogo’s spot of bother (2001)
People of the Townships (2003)
Tebogo Fails (2003)
Ask Tebogo (2004)
Tebogo and the haka (2008)
Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009)
Short stories
They Never Say When (1994)
The Guillotine (2001)
The quack of Qwaqwa (2003)
Poetry
Snippets (1998)
Reverie (2006)
Poems from Mauritius (2007)
Literary essays/criticism
Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002)
Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa (2004)
Biographies
The story of Collins Mokhotho (2000)
Gilbert Modise: the man and the myth (2001)
My life and literature (2007)
Drama
The subtle transgressor (2006)
General
Eagles at USA 94 (1994)
The golden pen of Eselby (1994)
Fillets of Plaice (2000)
My Opinion (2005)
STUDIES (Books) ON BOLAJI’s WRITING
Lebuso, Pule. 2001. Omoseye Bolaji: His writings/his role as a catalyst for FS Writing.
Qoopane Flaxman. 2003. Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. Qoopane Literary Services.
Kolwane, Charmaine. 2005. Omoseye Bolaji: Channeling one's thoughts onto paper
Schonfeld, Petro. 2006.. Tebogo on the prowl: a study of Omoseye Bolaji's series of books based on private sleuth, Tebogo Mokoena.
Lechesa, Pule (ed.). 2007. Omoseye Bolaji...on awards, authors, literature.
Tila, Urbain. 2007. The Triumph, (details the events at the gala night where Omoseye Bolaji received the Lifetime Achievement Award).
Mooi, Julia. 2009. Omoseye Bolaji: Further Perspectives
(Tebogo fails, page 10)
Yet just a bit later on we realize Sebastien is not what we have been led to believe when Tebogo talks to the sarcastic “Aunt Maggie”:
“Eem,” I said, “Interesting guy, the lawyer (Sebastien). Makes quite an impression…”
She laughed and said: “Lawyer my foot! At best he’s a quack. Actually he helps people with legal problems, but he’s not a qualified lawyer. I doubt whether he even knows where law is studied! I understand he used to work at a lawyer’s firm in Gauteng, then in Durban. Reads a lot about the law, and can pass for a lawyer among average folk…”
(Tebogo fails, page 12)
In Tebogo and the haka (2008) as the mystery starts to unfold the reader is given hints about another intriguing lady, Charlotte. We suspect Tebogo will make attempts to locate her and talk to her. But when he finally meets her it happens in an unexpected way, with both the reader and Tebogo surprised! Tebogo is at an Internet Centre (a concession to modernity by the author) and is helping a lady there with her documents. The lady is appropriately grateful and it is only at the end of this Chapter (Chapter Seven) that we learn: The lady insisted on at least paying me back some of my money but I refused. I followed her outside the shop and she said: “Today is really my lucky day. I’m so pleased to have met you. By the way let me introduce myself to you formally,” She extended her hand for a shake. “My name is Charlotte. Mrs Charlotte Moalusi.”
(Tebogo and the haka, page 33)
A number of commentators have also referred to the manner in which Bolaji wrestles with moral issues at a basic level in his writings. In a short review of Omoseye Bolaji’s new work, Tebogo and the Epithalamion Peter Moroe writes:
------------------------
The issue of “morality” seems to interest Bolaji in his writings. Petro Schonfeld writes almost sarcastically in this wise in her book, Tebogo on the prowl (pg 38): “The virtues of Dave are legion. He did not flirt with women…he liked a simple life…he was popular and generous…he liked reading…he was a writer…almost a saint…His character overshadows Tebogo (whose) characteristics are few compared to the praises Dave receives”
Also note that Aryan Kaganof in his review of People of the Townships writes: “I would suggest that Mr. Bolaji has created a morally ambiguous protagonist in order to test our own opinions and ethics. The truth is that judgments on the moral plane are extremely hard to make, both in life and, as John Lefuo amply demonstrates, in fiction”
In Tebogo and the epithalamion there is this type of tantalizing ambiguity on issues of “morality” again. For example when Tebogo and Seleke the ‘rich man’ discuss:
But whether Neo “had played her cards right” or not, was hardly the issue here. I stared at Ntate Seleke and said: “But is it true – that there is another woman in this town who has a baby for you?”
Mike flinched as Seleke’s face changed into a ruthless mask. Indeed he (Mike) looked away uneasily, perhaps cursing me inwardly for raising this matter which I had heard about. But I tried to look unperturbed.
Seleke said at last: “Are you questioning my moral ethics?”
Yet the irony is that Mr. Seleke is probably morally flawed as it emerges that he has fathered a child quite carelessly whilst drunk and has little or no respect for the mother of his young child.
As we can imagine, moral issues especially in our (South African) townships are complicated with the background and heritage of apartheid in mind. The idea of “good” conflated with “bad” is not so clear-cut, especially in mystery books where murders often hold sway. Hence when in the book Tebogo fails (2003) where the detective Tebogo Mokoena allows a murderer to go scot-free in the end on the grounds that the killer was avenging a child rapist and killer, readers are divided in their response. On her own part critic Petro Schonfeld comments:
“He (Tebogo) believes in justice… but he himself decides what the just thing would be, to reveal the culprit or to overlook the (legal) system and let him go free…”
(Page 35, Tebogo on the prowl)
On the whole however, going through his ouvre of works, it is clear enough that Omoseye Bolaji – through his protagonists – is on the side of what we might simplistically dub “good”. Often commentators have pointed out the feel good factor consequent upon reading Bolaji’s works of fiction. It is no surprise that so many readers at grassroots level love his works passionately.
Many books (studies) have been published on Omoseye Bolaji’s writings and it is no surprise yet again that the emphasis has often been on his fictional works. Critics and literary figures like Pule Lechesa, Petro Schonfeld, Flaxman Qoopane and Charmaine Kolwane have published studies on Bolaji’s works (see list later on)
Omoseye Bolaji grew up in England (where he was taken as a baby by his parents), Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. He attended Lagelu Grammar School (Ibadan), Obafemi Awolowo University (Ile Ife). As a writer he has been recognized largely; apart from many other honours, he garnered a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Free State Arts and Culture (Library Services) Dept; and he was conferred with the Chancellor’s Medal by the University of the Free State (2007). In 2008 he was conferred with a traditional African Chieftaincy title by the Olubadan (King) of Ibadanland (in Nigeria), Oba Odulana Odugade in recognition of his contributions to African literature.
References
University of the Free State: Certificates/Degrees journal. 13 Sep 2007 Page 29 (for Citation on Omoseye Bolaji)
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo Investigates. Drufoma. 2000
Schonfeld, Petro: Tebogo on the prowl. (A study of the Tebogo Mokoena Mystery series) Phoenix Press, 2006
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo fails. Drufoma, 2003
Bolaji, Omoseye: Ask Tebogo. Eclectic Writers Club. 2004
Bolaji, Omoseye: Impossible Love. Drufoma. 2000
Bolaji, Omoseye: Tebogo and the haka. Eselby Jnr Publications, 2008
OMOSEYE BOLAJI: LIST OF WORKS
Fiction
Impossible Love (2000)
Tebogo Investigates (2000)
The ghostly adversary (2001)
Tebogo’s spot of bother (2001)
People of the Townships (2003)
Tebogo Fails (2003)
Ask Tebogo (2004)
Tebogo and the haka (2008)
Tebogo and the epithalamion (2009)
Short stories
They Never Say When (1994)
The Guillotine (2001)
The quack of Qwaqwa (2003)
Poetry
Snippets (1998)
Reverie (2006)
Poems from Mauritius (2007)
Literary essays/criticism
Thoughts on Free State Writing (2002)
Molebogeng Alitta Mokhuoa (2004)
Biographies
The story of Collins Mokhotho (2000)
Gilbert Modise: the man and the myth (2001)
My life and literature (2007)
Drama
The subtle transgressor (2006)
General
Eagles at USA 94 (1994)
The golden pen of Eselby (1994)
Fillets of Plaice (2000)
My Opinion (2005)
STUDIES (Books) ON BOLAJI’s WRITING
Lebuso, Pule. 2001. Omoseye Bolaji: His writings/his role as a catalyst for FS Writing.
Qoopane Flaxman. 2003. Omoseye Bolaji: Perspectives on his literary work. Qoopane Literary Services.
Kolwane, Charmaine. 2005. Omoseye Bolaji: Channeling one's thoughts onto paper
Schonfeld, Petro. 2006.. Tebogo on the prowl: a study of Omoseye Bolaji's series of books based on private sleuth, Tebogo Mokoena.
Lechesa, Pule (ed.). 2007. Omoseye Bolaji...on awards, authors, literature.
Tila, Urbain. 2007. The Triumph, (details the events at the gala night where Omoseye Bolaji received the Lifetime Achievement Award).
Mooi, Julia. 2009. Omoseye Bolaji: Further Perspectives