Book Review: 'The City Heroes and Other Stories from the Heart of Africa' by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

‘My favorite meal is a roasted bird and two slices of bread plus a cup of lemon tea.’

African author Omoruyi Uwuigiaren was born and grew up in Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria, Africa. As a young adult, he attended school for Mass Communications. Ruyi (his nickname) soon discovered his talent for the arts included drawing cartoons and writing children's books. Ruyi currently lives in his hometown where he writes for children in his authentic African style. He has published two books to date – THE ADVENTURES OF NIH and now THE CITY OF HEROES AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE HEART OF AFRICA.

Not only does Ruyi write well, but he also is a very gifted illustrator. He divides his book into six stories - The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, and Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Each story is unique in storyline but each story reflects the atmosphere of Nigeria.

From the title story sample the following: ‘The night was a dead as a doornail and Lady Tranquility took her seat in the neighborhood. Dag, a frustrated cat in the pool of old age, had nothing better to do than lie on the rooftop of a bungalow that was begging for renovation. The cat gazed at the beautiful earth that spread before him as if it were a balance sheet under the nose of a shrewd accountant. Dag was not alone . Other cats that had also known misfortune lay around the old cat like a pasture clothed with flocks. Dag cleared his throat and said, ‘I have no passion for living anymore. How can we exist without offending?’ ‘That is for the next world!’ said Fred as he scratched his hindquarter. Raising his head and yawning, Pork said, ‘It is impossible to walk through life without enemies. It may be better to live in isolation. Bt I have yet to see an isolated man who is happy.’ Dag sighed as if the hands of impossibility had challenged his. ‘Did I tell you my master has not fed me for two nights?’ he asked his friends. ‘No, but I have heard that bedtime story before,’ said Pork as he sighed and turned away. “I will never forget what that old man did to me,’ said Dag as he shook hi s head. ‘I have never seen you in this mood,’ said Pork. ‘Tell us, what did he do to you?’ ‘Three nights ago I chased a rat in his kitchen. The little devil disappeared into a hole in the wall, which was near my master’s sop pot. I wanted to leave the kitchen, but I knew that as soon as I’d gone, the rat would come out of the hole and devour the sop. So I stayed back to keep vigil over the old man’s meal and possibly snuff the life out of the foolish rat if he ventured out of hiding. As I lay silently in the corner, hoping I would take care of the unfortunate sol of the opportunity presented itself, I heard a squeak and was not disappointed when I raised my head and saw the rat. It was heading towards the sop pot on the table. Seeing that the rat was too close to the pot, I pounced.’ Etc

Rich in atmosphere and beautifully placing animals in human situations, Ruyi proves he has a talent in both writing and illustrating books for both children and adults. He is a refreshing new voice! Short book full of joy!
--Grady Harp.

[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007C4CY6A/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2][/http://www.sanfranciscoreviewofbooks.com/2018/11/book-review-city-heroes-and-other.html]

At daybreak, the forest walked briskly into brightness. Alive for the right reasons, it carried on its inevitable duty, to give light to the world. Happy birds sung aloud a morning song. One might be carried away, thinking there are some instrumentalists having a field day with their keyboards a little distance away. Nihu thought this as he sat up and yawned a million times. The beauty of the morning was like a bed of roses. Still comfortable in his apartment on the tree branch, the activities of the birds had stolen away the urge to sleep. When he looked quietly on every side, his eyes fell upon some monkeys, which prompted a beautiful excitement to overwhelm him. They had their eyes on him as they swooped from one tree to the other as if inviting Nihu to join them.
As he watched the fun, Nihu was struck by thirst. He reached for his water bottle so he could continue to observe the antics that lifted his spirits. There was nothing left. Thirst made watching the continuing monkey-sports difficult. He had to get water. Just one drink and he could be happy again.
He got down from the tree, and embarked on a journey to put his thirst under control. Knowing how he could be reduced by it, he slammed his rucksack on his back and traveled northward. As he proceeded further, he ran into a tree stained with blood. Flies hovered around it like bees in their hive. Nihu slowed down. He quietly went close to see the kind of insects that were on the tree. When he was considerably close, he noticed a hollow in the tree gushing out blood, which the insects were happily working on. Nihu’s head snapped back. Gradually, he went backwards to find safety before the unknown could ravage him. As he tried to find his way, a big movement under the leaves, set his mind in disarray. He looked towards the direction; all he could see was bloodstains on the ground. He began to fight with his thoughts, pondering over what must be going on in this strange forest. This is strange. Blood is everywhere. Maybe a wild animal just finished feasting on a prey, he thought. No, it cannot be. It must be something else.
The tree gushing out blood reminded Nihu of the ancient Iroko tree, the home of witches and wizards. The tree looked like the last Iroko that had been felled by over fifty able-bodied men with the assistance of some spiritual people whose families and children had been casualties of the powers that be in the countryside. Blood gushed from the tree the day it was brought down.
After the tree fell, hosts of people in the village died. They were those who met at the tree to donate blood and flesh of whomever they wished to send to hell. It was after the fall of the Iroko tree that the people realized they had been living in the midst of devils. But this tree was different. The stain was continuous, as if something had been dragged to the spot from somewhere else. Nihu followed the stains in the direction it came from as if they were precious things that could prompt a gold seeker to give away his hand to gain a piece of diamond ring.
He found himself in a traditional shrine where human heads and that of animals are sometimes used to appease the gods. As he fixed his eyes on the shrine, he remembered his trip to the stream with his father many years ago.
* * *
The place was a long way from their home. The goddess Ijokpa, a demon that reared livestock and kept her fortress as clean as any well-bred village woman keep, ruled the land. As Nihu and his father headed up the hill that lead to the stream to get the water, which was believed to be medicinal, and could cure all sorts of stomach related ailments, Nihu broke the long silence that had reigned between them.
“Father, who owns these fowls?”
“Sssh. We do not talk too loud here. If you do, she could push you out of her territory. That is the least she would do to an ignorant person.”
“Who is she? Whom are you talking about?”
“Ijokpa. She has existed before our ancestors were born. She owns everything here.”
“What an old crone! What does she do with these hens, cockerels and goats? Does she sell them?”
“I don’t know. Not even our forefathers can tell why she is so delighted in keeping them.”
“Then she must be rearing them for a thief. Or what do you think Father?”
“No one dares touch them. If you do, you die. Let me take this opportunity to warn you, do not touch anything here. Do you hear, boy? There have been people who tried to steal her things—they ended up paying with their lives.”
“Then she is very wicked. Is she taller than Grandma?”
“I don’t know. But those who claimed to have seen her said she has two heads. One is that of a man, the other like a woman. She has a shrine over there. Some people visit the place. You can, too.”
“I’m not going there. I don’t want to be hurt.”
“She does no harm to a just person.”
“Are you sure? Can I meet her in there?”
“Maybe. Sometimes she is friendly. When one spends too much time farming, she alerts you; lets you know it’s time to go home.”
“How does she do that?”
“She pushes you out of the farm.”
“That’s interesting. Then I have to visit the shrine.”
His father stopped and put a hand on his shoulder, “Nihu, please, do not touch anything there. Is that clear? It would be good to return to me immediately after you set foot in that shrine.”
“Okay. I will return quickly.”
As they rolled down from the steep hill, Nihu raced to the far end while his father went to the stream to fill the water pot. As Nihu went, one of the cockerels making a meal out of some grains cleared his throat as if he wanted to say something. Nihu was startled. His eyes flew to every side to see if someone was nearby. When no one met his gaze, he peeked quietly into the shrine. A lifeless body lay massacred on the floor. Terrified, he did not bother to go in and left the place with devastating speed.
As his feet took him back down the hill, the cockerel that cleared his throat earlier, said, “Boy, have you seen who you were looking for?” Nihu screamed for all he was worth.
He was panting when he reached his father, “I found a dead man in the shrine!”
“A thief no doubt that came to steal her things. That is exactly what she does to unjust people.”
“Not only that, a cockerel spoke to me. But I didn’t see her.”
“Only the gods could determine who would see their unclothedness.”
“What do you mean, father?”
“If she wants you to see her, she would have revealed herself. Let’s go.” Nihu clung to his father as they left the stream.
* * *

Nihu now remembered standing in the shrine in front of a headless body covered in blood with feet chopped off. The corpse had been opened as if a doctor’s knife in a laboratory had cut through it. Nihu trembled and folded his hands close. Why all this is happening to me, he wondered to himself. If I had known, I would have asked the king to execute me. That would have been better than wandering in a place I have no knowledge about. A place where everything is evil and one could be sent to hell with the snap of a finger.
In the far end of the shrine, his heart jumped into his mouth. With a yell, he ran out of the place at the speed of light. Suddenly, he missed a step and fell. As he battled to his feet, a creature as thin as a rope and with an eye as large as a crystal ball came out of the ground behind him. He attempted to crush Nihu with his club. Nihu ran the race of his life, the ugly creature giving hot chase. As they whipped past bushes, trees, limbs, dead woods and shrubs, it was obvious that the devil would not spare the boy a breath if he eventually caught hold of him. Nihu raced like a demon whose place in the future would be determined by how well he could maneuver the pair of legs that carried him.
The path led to a swamp. Wailing and shouting at the top of his voice, he waded waist-deep through the mud to the other side. As the one-eyed creature approached the swamp, he faded from the chase. Gradually, the creature sunk into his underworld home. His crystal ball eye glared out as the Earth finally swallowed him.
No longer hearing the crashing of branches or the sounds of his pursuer, Nihu looked back to see if the devil was still in the chase. Trying to keep his pace and looking back at the same time, he crashed into a tree. After a time, he recovered consciousness and moved to relax in the quiet of the dewy morning. The cool smell of a river met his nose. His eyes peered anxiously, looking for the solution to his thirst. The river was just behind the trees. An observer might be tempted to believe some gardeners must have worked here many years ago. Planting the trees in a way that would help people who visit the river to find shade where they could relax after swimming or washing themselves in the river. The sight was comforting, and Nihu was cheered.
Nihu rose like a discouraged man who has just seen light at the end of a dark tunnel. He threw the ugly experience he just had behind him. Then he got hold of his rucksack with a firm grip and raced on rickety legs towards the river. When he got close, he threw his sack on the riverbank and threw himself into the river. Washing and drinking happily, he was soon lost in pleasure. He swam in every direction.
Meanwhile, old Philominenges, a bald man living alone in the Lonely Forest, was behind a tree quietly watching Nihu in the river. The old man had been cleaning his musket when he heard a shout at the river that was not too far away from his little hut. First old Phil thought the noise was a roar from a wild animal grabbing their usual fun. So he loaded his musket and went quietly to the place to see if he might catch a good meal. But the hope of finding a rhino or hippo was dashed when he got close enough to see the boy. He decided to watch from a distance before making any decision that could make or mar his destiny. What must have brought such a person to a devilish place where the hope of a better life hangs in the cruel hands of fate, he wondered.
After sometime, Nihu came out of the river and went to brush his pair of boots. Soon they were clean and good to look at again. He filled his water bottle and hung his bag carefully on his back to start on his journey once again.
As he shuffled off, Old Phil followed quietly. He stole along so carefully, Nihu did not notice the old man behind him. Around a corner of the path, Nihu ran smack into a warthog making a meal out of a dead animal. The warthog charged. Nihu took to his heels, heading back to where he came from, the angry warthog in hot pursuit. Nihu thought his time had surely come. He raced, screaming to the high heavens as the warthog gradually closed on him.
Old Phil, who had seen everything shouted, “Boy! Climb any of the trees ahead of you. Just climb, the devil will retreat!” His voice sounded to Nihu as if an angel was ministering to him. He threw himself upon the next tree and climbed to the top in a hurry. He was just in time as the warthog charged up furiously. Still intending to teach Nihu a lesson, the animal began to hit the tree with all the strength he had.
As the tree shook with each ferocious hit of the warthog, Old Phil climbed another tree not too far away and took his aim at the rampaging devil. The bullet pierced its skull and the warthog roared in agonizing pain. The warthog finally bade the world goodbye at the foot of the tree after the old man sank two more bullets into his head from the same distance.
Slowly, Nihu came down from the tree. The heavily bearded old man in a coat made of animal skin approached him.
“Are you all right?” he asked the boy, stretching out his hand.
“Yes, I am all right. Thank you for saving my life.”
“You are welcome.”
Nihu shook Phil’s hand. “Do you live here?” he asked, smiling.
Old Phil returned the smile saying, “Too early to discuss my adventures here. We shall talk when we get into a very safe place. No holy thing exists here. We have to leave this place right away. Other warthogs might soon be on the look out for this one before us. If they eventually find him here with us, it would spell doom for us. The devil in them might bring us low. Warthogs in this part of the world are brutes that are never fair with their prey. They are strong-willed, and have what it takes to bury a thousand army. So it is better to avoid them.” He got hold of the dead animal, slammed it over his shoulder, and started off.
Just them, a beastly hand came out of the tree and took hold of Nihu. He screamed and tried to shake it off. But the evil already had a firm grip on him and began to pull him into the tree. Old Phil threw the warthog down and came to battle for Nihu’s life. As Nihu wailed and cried, Phil pulled him one way, while the hand pulled him another. Finally, the old man went for his musket. He quickly buried two bullets into the hand. The wrist that grabbed the boy fell, while the other part retreated into the tree. Nihu was free, but the hand that fell began to crawl in their direction. The boy hid behind the old man as he sank two more bullets into the wayward hand, at last putting the devil to rest. Without saying a word, Old Phil got hold of the warthog and they hastened away.
They had just covered thirty yards on the bush path when they almost walked into the back of a demon standing more than thirteen feet tall. His name was Anjonu, and he was clothed in a flowing white garment. Sometimes he could appear as a dwarf covering himself with a mat and walking on the air. Hunters and farmers who entangle him never return home with good songs on their lips. Instantly, the heads of the boy and the old man began to swell. Old Phil, a quick-thinking warrior in his heyday, managed to pull Nihu and himself behind a tree. Right away, their heads returned to normal and they began to pant like a couple of terrified lizards.
Nihu whispered, “I can’t explain what happened to my head when I set my eyes on that devil.”
“That’s what happens when one sets eyes on him. We are very fortunate he didn’t see us.”
“Are you sure he didn’t see us? But he was standing on the road.”
“If that devil had seen us, we would have become imbeciles. That is the least of what he could do. Even the most powerful army on Earth cannot survive his onslaught.”
“Are you sure?”
“Boy, I am very sure. Before I served in the village army, I was a proud hunter. I have plenty of experience running through this baldhead. Anyone he sees will be useless. He doesn’t even need to cast a spell before one becomes a nit.”
Nihu took a deep breath. “What do we do now?”
“Nothing!”
“Nothing? What if he comes after us?”
“Then we would say our last prayers, while we book a passage to the silent world!”
“But you have a gun—can’t you use it on him?”
The old man chuckled. “Guns have no use against him. You can only deal with Anjonu when you follow the rules that were handed down to us by our ancestors. I expect you to know the rules. You don’t go out late at night, you don’t go to the stream on a sunny afternoon, and you have to watch your back when you go to the farm very early in the morning.”
“Let’s try another way. Or let’s go back.”
“I can’t take that risk. Something tells me he is not out for us. You can see he is not facing this direction. That means he might soon leave.”
“How soon?”
“I don’t know. We have to wait. Patience wins the race of exploit. Whether in the farm, forest or on a market day, you can run into Anjonu very early in the morning, in the sunny afternoon or late at night.”
The explanation began to work in Nihu’s mind. Now he began to understand what he had seen that sunny afternoon he went to the farm to get the tubers of yam his father had left in a basket. He got them and decided to rush to the river to wash the tubers to take them to the market. Earlier, his father told him not to do this, for it was an abomination for anyone to go to the farm on market day. But greed and eagerness to start earning money at such a tender age led to the disastrous act. Anjonu always roamed the forest or the farm on a market day and could destroy anyone he found.
While Nihu waited for the tubers to dry, he heard a strange sound behind him. He turned to see a short creature covered with raffia palms, whose legs were not touching the Earth, and spinning like a whirlwind. Nihu’s head began to swell. He took to his heels leaving the tubers behind.
While Nihu’s mind was still busy, remembering, old Phil tapped him, “Boy, he’s going away. My guess was right. He is not out for us.”
Nihu heaved a sigh of relief, “I was reminiscing about the encounter I had with Anjonu a few years ago. I was dumb for days afterwards. It wasn’t until after my father sacrificed a black goat and a white fowl at a three-way junction to appease the gods that I finally recovered.”
“You were very lucky. Because if he went for you, you would have been a dead person.”
“I disobeyed my parents. I went to the farm on a market day.”
“What? Do not do that again. Such an offense hanging on your neck, you are like a man that commits murder.”
“My father told me that too.”
They waited quietly behind the tree until Anjonu finally walked into the forest. Then they got up and went quickly away.

Inside of the tree was the strangest place I had ever set foot. I crashed through the roof of a compartment deep in the abyss, groaning in pains and gnashing my teeth as I rolled on the floor. Then I held myself to check for fractures, for my body seemed to hurt everywhere. Catching a breath, I lifted my head and looked around to see where I was. It was a little room and I could barely see beyond my nose. There was an opening in the wall to the left. So I limped to the place to see if there could be a way out of the mess. But there was none, and the light from the little opening almost blindfolded me. Then I took a deep breath and leaned on the wall like a mogul that has lost his place in the scheme of things.

For a while, I was lost and could not figure out how to get myself out of the wicked pit. The atmosphere was tense as if an adversary was underway. As tears gathered in my eyes, I lowered my head. Lost in the pool of nothingness and fear stood, as a pillar of salt in my heart, there was a movement behind me. The walls cracked and I fell into a huge darkness. I crashed through the roof of a compartment to another as the ground gave way beneath my feet. Groaning in pains and yelling up to high heavens as the misery ended me on a steep cliff where I finally regained my feet at the foot of the slope.

The air was still. When I rose to feet and looked around, I was troubled to see myself in a forest that was bitterly cold and there was no human presence. The deafening silence wrote frustration on my face and my heart skipped almost a million times.

After wandering aimlessly in the doom, and our mutual friend, the sun, came alive to her responsibilities and paraded herself on the bare chest of the beautiful earth. Three birds or more appeared from the quiet hands of the forest; they perched on a tree and began to thrill me with beautiful renditions. I thought they were singing a medieval ballad. The boughs of trees danced quietly and bowed carefully to the sweet movement of the morning breeze. Spiders were in a world of their own, hanging about on the warm hands of the beautiful bushes. Their fine nets of thin threads spanned far and near in their fortress, waiting for fortune to smile on their bravery. A fulfilled day will emerge after minutes of assault with wandering insects. On the other hand, swallows dropped from the trees like stones to snatch a bit of break fast from the restaurant of the morning.

Finally, I stumbled on a bush path, which was narrow like the way to eternity. Then I mounted on it, hoping the path would lead to a better life or possibly my home. After covering a huge distance with my pair of legs that were not at their best and in time like this was my greatest asset, I began to faint. My shoulders sagged as much as my legs that were already too difficult for me to maneuver. The sun was up there, raging in vengeance. Soon it would retire from the busy torment of the world that it was ordered to serve since creation.

When we are under a spell, it is difficult to tell the machination against our soul. We are not born to see everything. But it is wise to give attention to what is before you. Because you can never tell how much trouble you will save for yourself. All along a python was on my trail. I would have ended in the belly of the Leviathan if a man on the tree had not intervened. He pounced on the ugly beast and did not spare him a breath. The snake started to wind its long body around the little man to crush him to the ground. While the man fought to find his feet, the Leviathan struck with its tail. The tail almost cut through his left hand. The figure barely had time to get out of the way and prepare for a new defense. A fierce new battle for survival erupted between them, and they shared blows that had both of them falling in turn like packs of cards. Just as the Python seemed it would make good on its bid to crush him to death, the little man dressed in an animal skin coat transformed into a green boa and gave the snake a powerful blow that cracked its bones, eliciting an agonized roar. The python fought back and wrestled the boa to the ground as the boa tried to push his advantage and inflict more injuries.

They battled into the bush corners with rasping breaths, rolling on the ground and lashing hard. All of a sudden, they fell into a pit. As they disappeared into the abyss, I rushed to the place to see what would be the end of the creatures. I could hardly see the bottom of the pit to ascertain who was winning or losing his place in the game of life, for it was as dark as the midnight. As the death trap emits smoke, I had the luxury to hear agonized roar again and again.

Not long after, a strange fireball that almost blindfolded me emerged from the pit and stood before me. Overwhelmed by the presence of the light, I fell and sat on my elbow. The beautiful piece like the rising sun, formed into the old dwarf that saved me from the shackles of the python. He beautified his face with a smile that was as good as gold and said, “Yes, Dalmos welcome to our world!” he stretched forth his hand to fetch me.

I frowned and ignored him and threw myself on my feet. “Which world are you talking about? I am not supposed to be here. I need to see my family.”

The old man took a deep breath and crossed his arm over his body and looked straight into my confused eyes. “I see you don’t understand. Well, I won’t blame you. When I first set foot here, I thought I was in the wrong place. Today, all that is history. Dalmos, we have no time and it’s not safe here. Follow me!”

“Wait!” I said as he turned to go, “how do you know my name?”

The dwarf smiled like a fishwife that has rendered her husband to a toothless bulldog and said, “The world is a small place and things have changed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t answer you now, you will see things for yourself.” Then he turned swiftly and disappeared into the wooded forest, bidding me to follow. When I pondered that the man could help me find my way home, I did not hesitate. I followed the old man who walked as if unable to hurt a fly through winding paths until we appeared before a cavern. As soon as we entered the cavern, he smiled like a half-witted fellow and pushed me to one side. He turned to the entrance- the way we came into the cave, said a few words I could hardly hear and waved his tiny hands at it. All of a sudden, stones came out of the ground and sealed up the entrance. We were cut off from the forest and the world around. And no one would believe that humans lived there.

Then he held me by the hand. “I see you are worried and want to see your family.”

“Absolutely. If I may ask. How did I get in here?”

He inhaled sharply. “I thought you knew.” He looked about as if he wanted to be sure that no one was watching or listening to us and said, “Things have changed.”

“What changed? Can’t you show me the way out of here?”

The old man chuckled. “I would have done that if I have my way. But as things are, I am not better than you. Sodus and others who tried to kill you know they can’t.”

“Why can’t they? Is it not better to be dead than wallow on the highway to hell and be frustrated by blood thirsty demons?”
“Whatever the case may be, it is our duty to bend circumstances to our favor. What are we meant for if not for such a course? Dalmos, things have changed and for you to continue from where you stopped, you must forget about your past. It is gone forever and you don’t need it here.”
I was transfixed. “So you mean I can’t find my wife and kids anymore?”

“Yes. But you will soon overcome that.”

A ray of hope flushed on my face. ”Good. How soon?”

The dwarf burst into laughter and fell on the floor. “I told you things have changed and you still don’t understand.” All of a sudden, he stopped laughing and jumped to his feet. As I stood confused and drowned in my misfortune, he rode few steps nearer, drew his knife from his boot and stabbed me in the chest. I yelled up to the high heaven and pushed him away. The dwarf fell on the floor. He sat on his elbow and asked me to remove the knife, which I did and threw it away.

With a broad grin on his face, the old man jumped to his feet. “What did you observe? What happened to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” he smiled.

I rubbed my hand on my chest. “There is no injury.”

“Maybe I didn’t do it right.” Then he rushed to the knife and stabbed me below the ribs three or more times. Before I could make any move, he pushed me to the wall and shouted. “You are dead!”

Immediately he let go of me and returned his knife to his boot, I looked at my side and did not see any injury, no blood flow, and the pains that I felt I had was simply an illusion. With my eyes flooded with tears, I asked. “What happened to me?”

“You were killed like every person here.”

“Who did this to me?” I inquired and began to sob gently.

“It’s a pity, but change has come. Follow me. When we get to the sacred bowl we shall find out the devil behind your death.”