Literature
Ahmed Dodo?s review of Hoodlums (a collection of short stories) by Sumaila Umaisha, published by Hybun, 2010, pages - 110.
If there is one thing I have always loved in a good story, is the ability of the writer to intelligently weave a long story into a short captivating prose. As a writer myself I belong to the school of thought that believe a good story should not be too long and boring but should consist of almost all the embellishment of what really happened, or what is happening or probably might happen in the future. And this, Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Umaisha, I believe has been able to demonstrate.
I am literary convinced that the book, a 110-page publication by Hyburn Publication contains those elements that make up a good story without sounding too patronising. The journey of my life as a writer has also thought me that a good writer should be able to not only write a good story, but think and imagine them as well. That is, the ability to be able to bring about a story from a real life or non-existing situation. In Hoodlums, Umaisha, an old hand in the Nigerian literary circle, was able to exhibit, using his erudite knowledge of the journalism profession and his mastery of the Nigerian situation, to bring out some short captivating stories, laced with suspended ending, left to the reader?s imagination to either conclude or leave hanging like the writer did.
It it a first rate collection of short stories with the whole plots and counter-plots leading to thoughtful finale. In the ?Militants? and the title story, ?Hoodlums?, for instance, the thought-provoking questions are, did Mummy die from the last explosion that lifted her high and smashed her on the ground? Or was Tene lucky to embrace her dear mummy alive? Again what happened to the ambitious journalist Ben; was he a lucky survivor in Rigasa? Was the editor a victim of mob action in Kakuri? Umaisha has been able to cleverly conceal answers to these suspended questions, leaving the reader to independently conclude.
A critical analyses of the first four stories: ?Militants?, ?After the Riot?, ?Hoodlums? and ?The Last Hiding Place? portray a very important theme in the country and ?Militants?, ?After the Riot? and ?Hoodlums? brought to the fore the emotional, physiological and physical trauma associated with some of the ethno-religious crises that over the years have bedeviled this great country.
The author?s mastery of dramatic plots and his ability to give life to words and bring them into a dramatic climax is showcased in the ?Last Hiding Place?, Soul Mate? and ?Roadblock?, while the humorous side of the writer is noticeable in ?The King Himself?, ?Do or Die?, ?Roadblock? and ?The Honourable Minister?.
All in all, Hoodlums, I believe, is a thoughtful and well written book, if the reader would excuse the poor quality of the binding and the not too visible picture of the female figure on the cover. But for anyone who has the taste for a short good story, I strongly recommend the collection for that enticing suspense always associated with a well written story; quite educative, enlightening and entertaining.
Ahmed Dodo is the Production Editor of New Nigerian on Sunday.
Published in New Nigerian.
- Umaisha?s Harvest Of Crises
Title: Hoodlums Author: Sumaila Umaisha Publisher: Hybun Publication International Year of Publication: 2010 No. of pages: 110 ISBN: 978-49181-2-1 Reviewer: Usho Smith Adawa The spectrum of criminality in Nigeria cut across all facets of life....
- Gripping Tales Of Violence
Title: Hoodlums Reviewer: Uchechukwu Agodom Publisher: Hybun Publications International; Pages: 110 pages. A loud explosion desecrates the peaceful atmosphere of the six-year old Tene and her friends as they are going to a playground. Everybody...
- How Chris Ngige Inspired My New Book
In this interview with Henry Akubuiro, Sumaila Umaisha, literary editor of Nigerian Newspapers and two-time winner of Literary Journalist of the Year, awarded by Association of Nigerian Authors, speaks on his new book, HOODLUMS. Excerpts: What is your...
- Hoodlums: Portrait Of A Crisis-ridden Nation
Title of book: Hoodlums Author: Sumaila Umaisha Number of pages: 110 Publishers: Hybun Publication International Date of publication: 2010 Price: N500 Reviewer: Yahaya Ibrahim Over the years, protest writing has become the focal point for many Nigerian...
- Hoodlums: A Commentary On Society
Elizabeth Adeolu?s review of Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Umaisha, published by Hybun; pages ? 110 When one reads Sumaila Umaisha?s collection of short stories Hoodlums, one sees how the everyday mishaps, joys, and sheer insanity...
Literature
HOODLUMS: Long stories in short captivating tales
Ahmed Dodo?s review of Hoodlums (a collection of short stories) by Sumaila Umaisha, published by Hybun, 2010, pages - 110.
If there is one thing I have always loved in a good story, is the ability of the writer to intelligently weave a long story into a short captivating prose. As a writer myself I belong to the school of thought that believe a good story should not be too long and boring but should consist of almost all the embellishment of what really happened, or what is happening or probably might happen in the future. And this, Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Umaisha, I believe has been able to demonstrate.
I am literary convinced that the book, a 110-page publication by Hyburn Publication contains those elements that make up a good story without sounding too patronising. The journey of my life as a writer has also thought me that a good writer should be able to not only write a good story, but think and imagine them as well. That is, the ability to be able to bring about a story from a real life or non-existing situation. In Hoodlums, Umaisha, an old hand in the Nigerian literary circle, was able to exhibit, using his erudite knowledge of the journalism profession and his mastery of the Nigerian situation, to bring out some short captivating stories, laced with suspended ending, left to the reader?s imagination to either conclude or leave hanging like the writer did.
It it a first rate collection of short stories with the whole plots and counter-plots leading to thoughtful finale. In the ?Militants? and the title story, ?Hoodlums?, for instance, the thought-provoking questions are, did Mummy die from the last explosion that lifted her high and smashed her on the ground? Or was Tene lucky to embrace her dear mummy alive? Again what happened to the ambitious journalist Ben; was he a lucky survivor in Rigasa? Was the editor a victim of mob action in Kakuri? Umaisha has been able to cleverly conceal answers to these suspended questions, leaving the reader to independently conclude.
A critical analyses of the first four stories: ?Militants?, ?After the Riot?, ?Hoodlums? and ?The Last Hiding Place? portray a very important theme in the country and ?Militants?, ?After the Riot? and ?Hoodlums? brought to the fore the emotional, physiological and physical trauma associated with some of the ethno-religious crises that over the years have bedeviled this great country.
The author?s mastery of dramatic plots and his ability to give life to words and bring them into a dramatic climax is showcased in the ?Last Hiding Place?, Soul Mate? and ?Roadblock?, while the humorous side of the writer is noticeable in ?The King Himself?, ?Do or Die?, ?Roadblock? and ?The Honourable Minister?.
All in all, Hoodlums, I believe, is a thoughtful and well written book, if the reader would excuse the poor quality of the binding and the not too visible picture of the female figure on the cover. But for anyone who has the taste for a short good story, I strongly recommend the collection for that enticing suspense always associated with a well written story; quite educative, enlightening and entertaining.
Ahmed Dodo is the Production Editor of New Nigerian on Sunday.
Published in New Nigerian.
- Umaisha?s Harvest Of Crises
Title: Hoodlums Author: Sumaila Umaisha Publisher: Hybun Publication International Year of Publication: 2010 No. of pages: 110 ISBN: 978-49181-2-1 Reviewer: Usho Smith Adawa The spectrum of criminality in Nigeria cut across all facets of life....
- Gripping Tales Of Violence
Title: Hoodlums Reviewer: Uchechukwu Agodom Publisher: Hybun Publications International; Pages: 110 pages. A loud explosion desecrates the peaceful atmosphere of the six-year old Tene and her friends as they are going to a playground. Everybody...
- How Chris Ngige Inspired My New Book
In this interview with Henry Akubuiro, Sumaila Umaisha, literary editor of Nigerian Newspapers and two-time winner of Literary Journalist of the Year, awarded by Association of Nigerian Authors, speaks on his new book, HOODLUMS. Excerpts: What is your...
- Hoodlums: Portrait Of A Crisis-ridden Nation
Title of book: Hoodlums Author: Sumaila Umaisha Number of pages: 110 Publishers: Hybun Publication International Date of publication: 2010 Price: N500 Reviewer: Yahaya Ibrahim Over the years, protest writing has become the focal point for many Nigerian...
- Hoodlums: A Commentary On Society
Elizabeth Adeolu?s review of Hoodlums, a collection of short stories by Sumaila Umaisha, published by Hybun; pages ? 110 When one reads Sumaila Umaisha?s collection of short stories Hoodlums, one sees how the everyday mishaps, joys, and sheer insanity...