February 6, 2025
Review

Jonah Okpabi’s ‘A Conquered People’ is layered storytelling of pains, resilience of the Niger Delta

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  • January 14, 2025
  • 4 min read
Jonah Okpabi’s ‘A Conquered People’ is layered storytelling of pains, resilience of the Niger Delta

By ThankGod C. Wanyanwu

IN A Conquered People, Jonah Okpabi paints a harrowing and heart-wrenching portrait of injustice, greed, and betrayal, told through the eyes of Osaro, a young boy caught in the relentless tide of a government-corporate conspiracy. The novel is not just a fictional account but a deep dive into the soul of the Niger Delta, a region blessed with boundless natural wealth yet cursed by the exploitation of its people. Okpabi’s storytelling transcends mere fiction- it is a call to action, a plea for awareness, and a celebration of resilience amidst despair.

The book has five chapters and spans 172 pages, with each chapter enriched by beautiful poems that perfectly complement Osaro’s ordeal. These poems add an extra layer of depth and poignancy, offering moments of reflection amid the chaos and heartbreak.

From the opening lines, the narrative grips you with its haunting imagery. Osaro’s recollections, filled with the innocence of youth and the pain of stolen heritage, are both intimate and universal. Through his memories, we are taken on a journey through a land of fertile soils and abundant beauty – a homeland rich in cultural traditions, communal bonds, and ancestral pride. Yet, this paradise is systematically eroded by external forces driven by profit and power.

The book is a powerful commentary on the double-edged sword of natural resources. In this story, the “black gold” buried beneath the soil becomes a curse, as it invites exploitation from multinational corporations and complicity from a corrupt government. The people of Eleme are stripped of their lands, their homes, and their dignity. Their cries for justice are silenced by violence, lies, and neglect. Through Osaro’s vivid recollections of Black Friday massacres, environmental devastation, and the withdrawal of scholarships, we see not just the destruction of land but the disintegration of dreams and futures.

Okpabi does not shy away from presenting the stark realities of life in the Niger Delta. The imagery of Osaro’s people being herded into a cattle ranch in the desert, forced to live in diminutive huts without basic amenities is seared into the reader’s mind. The hopelessness of their situation, contrasted with the once-thriving homeland they left behind, is almost unbearable. It is a story that demands outrage, but also empathy.

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What makes A Conquered People particularly powerful is its layered storytelling. This is not just a story of victimization but also a tale of resilience and memory. As Osaro narrates his journey, he honours his people’s sacrifices, their cultural identity, and their enduring hope for justice. Even in the face of overwhelming loss, the book captures the indomitable spirit of a community that refuses to be silenced.

Okpabi’s writing is steeped in vivid descriptions and evocative language. His depiction of the Eleme people’s struggles serves as a microcosm of the larger issues of environmental degradation, corporate greed, and systemic oppression faced by marginalized communities worldwide. The narrative flows effortlessly, interweaving moments of personal grief with broader socio-political commentary. It is a story that is as historic as it is prophetic, echoing the ongoing struggles of indigenous people fighting for their lands and livelihoods in the face of globalization.

At its core, A Conquered People is a tribute to the Niger Delta – its people, culture, and environment. It is a piece of eco-literature that sheds light on a region that is often ignored or misunderstood. The book challenges its readers to reflect on their own complicity in the systems that perpetuate exploitation, and it invites them to take a stand for humanity, justice, and the environment.

For those who care about the human cost of resource exploitation, the preservation of culture, and the fight for environmental justice, A Conquered People is a must-read. It is a book that will leave you angry, heartbroken, and profoundly moved. But most importantly, it will leave you thinking, and that perhaps is Okpabi’s greatest achievement.

Prepare yourself to be immersed in a story that is as gripping as it is thought-provoking. Once you pick up A Conquered People, you will not be able to put it down. It is not just a story; it is a testament to the resilience of a people who refuse to be forgotten even when they are said to be a conquered people.

* Wanyanwu, a multifaceted author, media consultant and Pan-Africanist, is the author of Jesus Is a Black Man: An Inconvenient Truth, among other works

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