By MAYOWA OLUWASUYI
A popular and much talked about fictional satirical social-political novel, Kabana Republic (The Land of Hurricane), is set to begin touring of schools in Nigeria for nation building on October 1, 2021 to commemorate the 61st independence anniversary of the country.
Handlers of this initiative has announced their partnership with The DEFENDER, a Nigeria based online newspaper, and other media including Life Radio FM 107.5 Ibadan, City Hill News, and Oyo Insight, toward effective coverages of the book tours for media and publicity successes.
Author of Kabana Republic (The Land of Hurricane) and CEO/Editor-in-Chief of City Hill News, Marufh Bello, revealed this in a chat with newsmen recently, adding that the programme would later be taken to other countries in the continent.
Bello informed that the tour, which became very important considering the state of unfulfilled aspirations, mistrust and agitations in Nigeria, “will re-orientate the participants on subjects as selflessness, patriotism, good leadership and governance, good followership and citizenship,” adding that the project would also improve the reading culture in the country.
The school/book tour is titled, “Re-Orientation via Book Reading & Analysis to Become a Better Citizen for Nation Building”.
The novel centres around a young African graduate whose dream of having a good life after leaving college becomes a mirage. Ladi, hoping for a better future ahead, is confronted with the harsh reality of a brutish society of a non-working and corruption-laced system of governance.
The fiction, which is a story of struggle, love, betrayal, manipulation and shortchanging, is a typical reflection of the Nigerian state.
Speaking to this reporter, Marufh Bello, founder of AMA Writing & Editorial Academy, hinted that “plans are in top gear to take Kabana Republic on a national tour of secondary schools and other institutions across the country.”
The fictional work has been widely commended and classified as an indispensable fiction to be read by everybody who genuinely desires a better society.
In fact, the Oyo State Government, in 2017, described the book as “a good literature for attitudinal and educational development of students.”
Critics and those who have read the book, including Edmund Obilo, Oluwaseun Akinola of Splash FM, Aisha Ismail of Life Radio, AIT & Ray Power FM, Comrade Ikpe Etokudo, among others, have all commended the literary work in their different reviews.
“The poems in the work are like interventions that circulate the cool breeze of beauty.
“The work can also be described as a poetic piece, expressing cultural relevance as in the Oriki rendered by the mother of Ladi.
“The work is simple to read, fluid and thought provoking,” says Edmund Obilo, a seasoned broadcaster/OAP with Splash FM.
According to promo and advance information about the book, “Kabana Republic is not just a fictional literature/novel but a training manual for aspiring and budding writers to become accomplished and published authors because the book takes the reader through a course with fun while enjoying it where he learns and hones his skills with techniques to achieve a successful literary writing, especially how one can begin, write and compose a successful poem.
“The work is interspersed with poems, a short summary of a scene or an event in the book and garnished with mature illustrations to amuse the reader, register words, rhymes, idiomatic expressions, figurative speeches, Yoruba proverbs translated into English which can debut and make a new entry into our lexicon, make Kabana Republic a teaching material for students of arts and literature, especially those wishing to become successful in a (literary) writing career.
“English literature and arts teachers and lecturers should encourage their language, literary and communication students to have a copy of the book.”
As a pilot demonstration of the project, Comfort Jegede of a high school in Benin City was hosted in a reading of Kabana Republic by Marufh Bello where Miss Jegede won for herself prizes comprising cash, gifts and a copy of the book authographed by the author.
The author of the book hinted cityhillnews.com.ng that arrangements are in top gear for the formal commencement of the project, while calling on philanthropists, public spirited individuals, organisations and government agencies for sponsorship of the book tour/reading project.
For sponsorship and further enquiries, call, send short messages (SMS) or Whatsapp +23408027346533 or email the author directly @ marufhbello@gmail.com.
“There are lots of side attractions, prizes and benefits for the sponsors and the participants.
“And this programmme will be well reported in the media as we seek partnership with them for the success of the project.
“Our media partners include Life Radio FM 107.5, City Hill News, The DEFENDER and OyoInsight,” Bello revealed.
The DEFENDER reports that ‘Kabana Republic: The Land of Hurricane’, which is no doubt a story about the happenings in Nigeria, is a creative prowess at work of the author, Marufh Bello, unveiled at a public presentation in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria, on 24 Seotember, 2016, to highlight the challenges facing the youth in the country, while revealing the extent some will go in order to make a meaning out of life.
