AJO
ENYI: SYNW BOOK OF THE MONTH – April 2020
BOOK
TITLE: AJO ENYI
AUTHOR:
Izunna Okafor
GENRE:
Prose
LANGUAGE:
Igbo
NO.
OF PAGES: 117
YEAR
PUBLISHED: 2015
ISBN:
978-978-485-455-6
PUBLISHER:
Poner Printing Press, Nnewi.
ABOUT
THE BOOK
Ajo Enyi is a fictional
Igbo novel, which was partially set in a core Igbo village of Umuezike and a
developed city of Lagos.
It portrays the
quintessential image of the African Literature, and as the name implies,
narratively describes the cultivation, germination, crops and harvest of unhealthy
friendship.
Two local boys —Ifeanyi
and Ifenna, —a genius and a dunce (respectively) —grew up to become accidental
friends. They influenced each other, and ended up dropping pen and paper, after
which they switched over to Lagos in search of quicker money.
Not only did they shift
to Lagos unprepared and unannounced, their parents' savings also felt their
departure.
The journey was an
interesting one, but their stay in Lagos was full of adventures.
They met and roamed
with like-minded folks, caused nuisance, harassed and terrorized Lagos.
Sighting his mother
from a far (upon his return to the village to see his people for the last time
before his execution), Ifeanyi (handcuffed and surrounded by armed policemen)
ran out with tears to embrace her.
But one of the
policemen, thinking Ifeanyi wanted to escape, unprofessionally pulled the
trigger and released some bullets towards him.
And expectedly, Ifeanyi
fell at the feet of his beloved mother, and the people of Umuezike trooped out
in response to the uncommon gunshots.
What adventurous
happened to the two friends in the city? What were the crops and the harvest of
their friendship like?
Ifeanyi —caught in the
city and killed in the village, what was the fate of his corpse, as his people
trooped out to the sounds of the gunshot?
Ajo Enyi tells the story....
AWARDS,
NOMINATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS SO FAR RECEIVED BY THE BOOK (AJO ENYI)
1. SYNW/Pita Nwana Prize for Igbo Literature (2015)
—won
2. Nigerian Writers Award/Indigenous Writer of the
Year (2015) —won
3. Nigeria Heritage Icon Award (2016) —won
4. LiteraNation Indigenous Book of the Month
(December, 2016)
5. Nigerian Writers Award (2017) nominated
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR:
Izunna Okafor is an award-winning Nigerian novelist,
poet, journalist, essayist, editor, translator, publicist, Igbo language
activist and administrator who hails from Ebenator in Nnewi South Local
Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
He writes perfectly in English and Igbo languages,
and has published several books in both languages.
Izunna has received over 25 awards, and has over
2000 articles published online, both nationally and internationally.
He can be reached via: izunnaokafor70@mail.com
