Rhymes from Africa: The reviews

My little poetry book, “Rhymes from Africa,” has just been published. And already the reviews and appreciations have been over the roof. That’s why I’ve been smiling from ear to ear for two days straight. Nothing can go wrong now. Nothing! Following are some of the reviews of the book, starting with the two written […]

My little poetry book, “Rhymes from Africa,” has just been published. And already the reviews and appreciations have been over the roof. That’s why I’ve been smiling from ear to ear for two days straight. Nothing can go wrong now. Nothing!

Following are some of the reviews of the book, starting with the two written by poets. 

“Apt metaphors, scintillating music, gripping images, striking symbolism, sharp tenderly lines and unmatched allusion…” Khalid Imam, a renowned author based in Kano wrote. He continued:

“Indeed, the poems, in this collection, are brief and precise, thrilling and gripping as well as rhythmically rhymed as if not just to tell the full story of Africa and the Africans, but to graphically sum its past as tragicomic. 

“Yes, Africa is land of cheers and tears,  a jungle of wild lions and a home to beautiful princesses. But, the thrill, in this so short a book is that the future of Africa is not cast in gloom, rather it is painted as an eagle which will soar so high, but its eyes, as it should, are sharply fixed on the giggling “chicks”. 

“Oh yes, the future of Africa would surely be a zebra – the envy of horses and donkeys. Indeed, the future of Africa would surely be a sunbeam exposing all the hyenas hiding within its jungle.

“Frankly, l am very impressed with this beautiful offering. What l failed to add was that most of the lines running through the stanzas are metric and musical. Kudos once more!”

– Khalid Imam

 

“I don’t know what attracts the reader’s attention most: the choice of colour ( the rare golden emblem of sunset), the matching pictures, the fonts or the vividness of the message contained in each of the 24 poems. The collected poems of Dr. Ibraheem Dooba titled ‘Rhymes from Africa’ is undoubtedly a fresh injection of talent into the contemporary literary world. Not self-limiting in any way, even the title has suggested to us that the book, daringly, defies local barriers. Not Minna. Not Abuja. Not even Nigeria. It is apparently his hope that even at the Library of Congress, the book would be under the genre of African poetry. 

“The book has been divided into four serial chapters, each containing nine, five, two and eight poems respectively. Curiously and interestingly the third chapter containing only two poems are tributes to the poet’s parents. No one and nothing else! 

Most of the poems are short. Two among them consisting of only four beautifully composed lines, I.e  “I’m the Gazelle”  and ‘’Her Portrait”.

This reviewer personally has more respect for rhyming verses because, arguably, they require more effort by subjecting the poet’s brain to a harder task. I therefore think I can appreciate the level of the poet’s hard work. This could be seen in my favourite poem in the collection “I’m the Lion” on page 8. One could clearly see the confluence of natural talent and hard work. The words are very clear in describing who the lion is and what he represents in perfectly rhyming lines. 

“The poems, because of their simplicity and carefully chosen words, are for everyone irrespective of age or gender. And as Charles Causley of the BBC once wrote, ‘a poem is in essence a private communication between a poet and a single member of his or her audience’, Rhymes from Africa truly affirms that truth. Thus, there is absolutely no need to aim at confusing the very audience one targets, wittingly or unwittingly. 

Since in almost every work of this nature there might be a need for improvement, I hereby suggest the following two points neither of which has anything to the with the poems themselves. 

One. At the beginning, chapter one is not introduced like the remaining chapters. 

“Two. The position of the page numbering is not uniform, although I don’t know whether it was done on purpose. 

This is congratulating the poet on this wonderful achievement. To borrow Richard Blain’s closing words in the Academy Award winning 1942 movie Casablanca, “this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.””

– Mustapha Adamu, poet

 

“I salute your effort in putting those lines together. Wallahi Prof., I am envious of your brain. I hope I could put up even a line like these. Congratulations, Sir!”

– Usman S. Abdullahi 

 

“Thank you soo much!”

– Dr. Aisha Imam Talba 

 

“Thank you sir, and well done for yet another milestone achieved. Allah Ya kara basira!! Amin.”

– Ummie Zaria 

 

“Wow! I absolutely loved each of them. More ink to your pen Doc.”

– Fatima Shettima, Lagos. 

 

“I love the rhymes”

– Asma’u Uthman 

 

“Wow. This is great. I believe you must have spent quite some time on it. Are you publishing the paper back version?”

– Dr. Musa Ibrahim 

 

“Masha Allah, Mr Dooba. It’s great.  I feel inspired.”

– Asma’u Sirajo Amin. 

 

“Wow! Interesting.”

– Fadilah Ismail 

 

“What a wonderful work!! Indeed wonderful…. More ink to your pen, dry will it never, smart and accurate shall it always be. Once again congratulations.” 

– Abdul Razaq 

 

Beautiful poems masha Allah,i love the creativity put in it. There’s this peace and hapiness that comes from looking at the cover. I love, love love  it, great choice.Allah ya sanya arheri Doctor. 

– Khadijah Muhammed Ado

 

“Masha Allah! Amazing poetry.. enjoyed every bit of it. I really love  it. Wonderful job sir. Am a proud student, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba.”

– Maryam Maitambari 

 

“Thank you a lot Dr. More ink to your blazing pen.” 

– Engr Usman Kabir

 

“How does one expresses uniqueness? It started short, grew lengthy but not verbose.

Of the depth of this work I found in rhymes, repetition and resonance. The simile, the metaphor. I especially like this lines:

 

“But am no ‘eagle’

‘Life for me’ has some struggles

 

As I stretch up to heavens

Count my days in sevens

 

‘I am useless

I am all that’s good and bad

 

‘I am trying hard to shed

The garment of ignorance and

Remember the little I learn.

I know today I will learn something new.’

This work is beautiful.” – Chiytwo

 

“People like this make me wonder if there is a missing chip from my brain resulting to me not being able to put words together like this. May Allah increase you in wisdom” 

– Maimuna 

 

“Thank you bro.”

– Nda Kwales 

 

Congratulations, Prof, more power to your elbow.” 

– Dr. Ahmad A. A.