The book is a clear and
in-depth look at the power dynamics of contemporary African societies. Though
the plot is located within the Anieze community, it is not difficult for the
politically conscious peoples of Africa to see, identity with, and
appropriate as their own, the geo-political entity in which the
events unfold. Power, greed, impunity, subversion of the
law, sit-tightism, institutional weaknesses, poverty and lack of political
consciousness and docility of the people, all combine to make for a combustible
reading of the novel.
The Gathering of The Tribes goes beyond the presentation of the
daunting realities of our times and continent, and proffers that the
solution to the myriads of socio-political abnormalities in our
society must be indigenous, springing from the very people who are
always either the beneficiaries or victims of good or
bad governments.
The people of Anieze
have cast their luck with Chief Onyeonu in an election in which
Onyeonu`s political rival had inexplicably been murdered. Four years after the
elections and on the way to a second term, the people are left wondering
about the essence of their votes in the first place without visible
changes in their social and economic circumstances. Poverty has
continued unabatedly while propaganda has now been perfected as an act of
government. Not even the presence of the multinational corporation has
brought about any meaningful transformation in their lives.
But all hope is not
completely lost as a group of the villagers rally their fellow
tribesmen for a showdown with the decadent political class led
by Chief Onyeonu. Ike and Puze lead the way as the younger generation of
Nze, Chiedozie, Nduka, et al, inspired by their older ones, are willing to take
the battle to the next level—which is the change of government through
electoral participation.
Evans Ufeli. |
Evans Ufeli has shown in
this book, just how much conscious he is of his environment. He shows how
much, in spite of modernity, he cherishes positive cultural values of his
people as captured in the various cultural activities of Anieze. He has written
a novel that touches at the core of communal living
and highlights what eventually happens to those who have willfully
chosen to live on the fringes of societal expectations.
Evans Ufeli is just
beginning with us. He can only get better!
- Achike
Chude is social/political activist, novelist, and a public affairs commentator.
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