Tams-Douglas’s ‘Orchids for Aziba’: Personal drama melds with regional trauma
By Don Kester Oshioreame
ORCHIDS for Aziba by Datton Kenett Tams-Douglas (Biz Pages, Port Harcourt; 2018) is a 272-paged prose work divided into 20 chapters. Tam-Douglas in this book undoubtedly reveals himself as a visual narrator in the class of the Wole Soyinkas of this world. Orchids for Aziba is a contemporary story narrated in a simple plot that revolves around the dual protagonists of Marcel Gordon and Aziba Adigwe. It sounds strange somewhat to address the two characters in the novel as dual protagonists. But the manner their destinies intertwine in the ensuing events narrated in this prose work makes it almost impossible for me to think otherwise. Theirs is like a relationship divinely constructed and consummated.
The story begins in the campus of a Nigerian university which begins to reveal that the campus is a model of the larger society in terms of social atrophy as expressed in cultism, sexual gratification, exploitation, insidious politicking, godfather-ism, malignant associations, etc.
Orchids for Aziba is a well-researched piece of prose communicated in very clear, concise and simple language that suits the characters and the various professions they portray in the text. In a manner that sounds unapologetic, the writer confronts the reader with a plethora of issues in life through thematic concerns like betrayal, fate, love, devotion, deception, desperation, confrontation, adventure, intrigue, survival, revenge, heartbreak, forgiveness, perseverance, resilience, economic sabotage, and other realities associated with contemporary life.
The reality that exists outside the walls of the Ivory Tower confronts a bright Gordon who though not an orphan is forced to live like one, because for some strange reasons, his Canadian father and Nigerian mother are not there for him. On graduation he has hopes coupled with the devotion and support of Aziba Adigwe, a young, promising female lawyer. Gordon’s search for a job makes his path and those of his rivals on campus to cross again and it is a bitter experience. Through Aziba’s resilience, Gordon eventually lands a job in a commercial bank in Port Harcourt which introduces an interesting twist to the narrative. Yulanda, a beautiful ex-prostitute with strange ways akin to that of a scarlet woman, casts a spell on Gordon such that he loses his job and Aziba. The emotions that run through the scenarios painted by the author are unmistakably captivating. An unexpected twist occurs, when Marcel under the influence of Yulanda decides to pay off Aziba, the author captures Aziba’s emotion thus – “So I’ll be leaving you for good.” — The next couple of hours before bedtime see her cleaning and re-arranging the entire house as if to leave a mark that a woman named Aziba once lived in it.
Gordon’s story at this juncture sounds every bit like “bliss presaging cataclysm”, as he is arrested in his first venture into illegal oil bunkering and vessel swap deal just for survival. The author skillfully weaves his narrative so much so that by a stroke of fate it is Aziba who has not been in touch with him for a while, but intelligently defends and has him cleared of the offence. She survives an assassination attempt on the score of that sacrifice. Aziba is honoured with a national honour by the president of the nation for her role in busting the syndicate of economic saboteurs through illegal oil refining and sales. It turns out that Gordon’s father is the new Canadian Counsel-General to Nigeria and he comes with Gordon’s mother. The reunion leads to a happy ending and restoration of all the years of pain, deprivation, sacrifice and love.
This prose work is communicated in vivid but realistic pictures such that what one sees reading is a good material for a screenplay, particularly because it employs effectively one of the missing ingredients in Nollywood — the element of suspense and surprise.
There are many morals gleaned from this work of prose, principally the need to be resilient in life’s pursuits and purpose by never caving in to lack, deprivation and discouragement. Secondly, the need to resist every lure to do evil, detour into evil paths or influences. Like the Holy Writ counsels, “Do not follow the multitude to do evil.” Apparently, we live in times where values have lost their lustre and people resort to self-help and all manner of shortcuts to make ends meet. Also, virtue of faithfulness is emphasized in an age where betraying the trust and confidence of confidants have become a commonplace practice.
In the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the oil wealth that is meant to be a blessing to the citizens has become more like a curse, as occasioned by the various conflicts that result in untold hardship and even deaths, rivalry and most painfully environmental degradation and its attendant health hazards on women and children and senior citizens especially. Carbon emission through illegal crude production makes the air unsafe as it is soot-infested resulting in various cardiovascular diseases. On a national scale, all of these illegal oil bunkering activities which often comes with a promise of quick and excessive returns translate to economic sabotage but results in punishment under the law eventually.
On the flip-side, communities have lost hectares of arable lands, aquatic life and sea foods which have adversely impacted the nutritional needs of the people and the region. Let’s not even contemplate more devastating issue of global warming.
In sum, my only reservation about Orchids for Aziba is that in a clime and time when reading culture is almost non-existent among youths and the Gen-Zs, this book requires a strategy not to only have it in physical bookshelves in homes, schools and libraries but in hearts and heads through reading and study.
Orchids for Aziba is highly recommended.
* Oshioreame is culture reviewer, script writer, art critic, author and publisher
