A Review of Olalere Fagbola’s HEROISM songs and troubles by Olaniyi Abdulwaheed

Heroes are fearless. No matter the troubles, they stand firm in the course of change in order to refurbish the society. They often sacrifice their lives, time as well as pen to defend the unity and togetherness of the nation. They are the foundation of every nation. A nation that lacks them shakes when the enemies groan fiercely, such nation often slips on the way and falls during the time of challenge. Heroes are alive. Heroes are dead. Who are the living and dead heroes in Nigeria? 

Olalere Fagbola’s HEROISM song and troubles is a collection of poems that centres on the life of heroes. It focuses on the attributes of heroism: it preaches love, knowledge, forgiveness, firmness in action, readiness to encounter challenge among others.  The outstanding poems: HEORISM and AWOLOWO unveil the pros and cons in heroic lifestyle.

The poem HEROISM is concise and detailed. It tells the untold story of heroes—heroes who endure brutality and ‘unperturbed in adversity.’ The poem reveals that a hero must be ready for tribulations and death. Ironically, heroes are unshakable because courage is the strong pillar that holds their philosophy. Excerpt from heroism goes thus;

‘HEROISM

To endure life’s brutality

Unperturbed in adversity

Weathering one weather

After another—

Equanimity

Malleability

Sing the song of courage still…’

The poem for AWOLOWO is a tribute to the great Nigerian hero who died in the course of change. The poet describes Awolowo as a Prophet sent to save Nigeria. He then laments that ‘NIGERIANS never valued their prophet.’

AWOLOWO

NIGERIANS never valued their Prophet

Until May—(hem) 9, 1987

When Saturday stole in and blew out our candle of life

‘AWOLOWO IS DEAD…’

Many poems in the collection are philosophical, teaching morality, revealing the truth about life. Some of them require mental rigorous exercise before it can be understood. For instance, a poem titled ‘CHANCES’ tells that ‘there is a chance/ to have a chance/ of having a chance/ which is the chance.’ The interpretation of these lines may be subjective, only the author can decode the message holistically. Perhaps it means that everyone has tendency to get opportunity in life no matter the challenge one is facing. These lines are philosophical and it can be understood in different ways.

The form of the poems in the collection is excellent. All the titles of the poems therein are capitalized and this style foregrounds the necessity to heroic life. Some poems are written in long lines while some are short. The poet also laces some of the poems with emotive punctuation marks, calling for the new dawn: he often makes use of interjection, dash, semi-colon et cetera. This deliberate use of punctuation marks intensifies the poet’s message. For instance Semi-colon and comma are often repeated whenever the poet passes doleful messages. These two punctuations often symbolize hindrance. As the readers gallop while reading, the motive of the author is achieved.   

The language of the poems is simple but the messages are not on the surface lines. The poet encodes his messages with socio-cultural beliefs, his philosophy of life and life experience. One has to know something about the author in order to get holistic message of the poems.

In terms of arrangement, the collection has deficiency. The poet fails to honour poetry by perching them together thereby there are two or three poems in a page. Ordinarily, a poem has to start on a fresh page. The significance of this is that the readers will find it easy to differentiate the message of a poem from another.

In another development, the author does not arrange the poem in terms of thematic relatedness. For instance, poems that fall under death should be grouped together, like tribute, love et cetra. This will also make the readers to digest messages in the collection holistically. It will also help the readers to have mental study of the collection when the book is not with them.

Also, it is not all the poems in the collection that can be given equal credits. Some are incredible while some has to be re-written by the poet in order to rejuvenate their poetic form. The poet is urged to re-write poems such as ‘THE DELUSION OF LUNACY,’ NIGERIA ‘POLIVOLT.’ The title and theme of those poems need not to be changed but it would be good if the poet could give them the same poetic shape that ‘HEROISM’ has.

The book, HEROISM songs and troubles is a collection of poems that can add values to the youths and the society at large. It is recommended to everyone who is ready to have a better society. Government at all levels are urged to keep the book in the school libraries across the country.  

© OLANIYI ABDULWAHEED PENMIND