PREGNANCY OF THE GODS TAKES CENTRESTAGE AT A BOOK READING IN LAGOS

Story & Photo by Niyi Tabiti
Chief Reporter



Olaide Awobajo-Soetan, a Nigerian based pharmacist and owner of Reader's Haven, a book store in Lagos pulled men and women of the literary community to Ogba in Lagos for the reading of 'Pregnancy of the gods' by Odili Ujubuonu.
The book won the 2006 Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) award 2006. Ujubonu,a graduate of University of Nigeria took us back to the pre-colonial legal system in Eastern part of Nigeria.
Abomination! Ekemma, a widow is pregnant while still in her mourning cloth. To further humiliate her late husband, she chose to commit the atrocity with his rival in the wrestling game. When confronted, she claims the pregnancy belongs to her late husband, Udo. Alot of people found the claim hard to believe because after 10 years of marriage without any issue, she chose to honour him posthumously with a child.
Ekemma’s issue is further complicated when 10 months after Udo’s demise, she had not put to bed. The Ezeani council must meet to decide her fate for daring to desecrate the land with her action. The Isi-Ani seems to be taking a special interest in the case. Does he have something at stake and why is he plagued by a series of misfortunes?
Deserted by family and friends, Ekemma has only the gods as her witness. Are the gods going to remain silent or will they appoint someone to unearth the hidden truth?
It is a book rich in idioms and the cultural heritage of the Igbo people were well highlighted. The author who also attended Christ the King College,Onitsha, is one of Nigeria's most promising novelists. Ujubuonu is in charge of the commitee organizing a befitting progamme to celebrate the golden jubilee of Chinua Achebe's THINGS FALL APART. The event starts on 12 April 2008.

Pix shows-Chuks Ohai of National Mirror Newspapers,Ujubonu and Mrs.Olaide Soetan shortly after the reading this evening.