BOOK REVIEW

SILENT WHISPERS by Joe Osi

Number of pages: 312

Number of chapters: 29

PLOT/ SYNOPSIS

       The narrative is a comedy. It has a prologue and an epilogue. The narrative is a fast , thrilling and breath-taking story of ignorance interwoven in superstition and pride. The narrative tells the story of a vibrant community in Lokoja. The waterside community made up of mostly fishermen and farmers is held bound in ignorance, and mistake nature to be associated with a wicked spirit "Sefinatu." "...People could talk about Sefinatu in hushed tones in the safety of their houses."

      They associate the confluence with "Yaruwa," a mermaid spirit which they believe controls the Niger River and demands for sacrifice each year by the floating of water Hyacinth before the first rains in May (Page 43). "Annjenu" is the river goddess and dictates the time of sacrifice. "...O, great one, queen of the great river, Annjenu of the sea yonder..." (page 31)

      The strange death of people starting with the death of "Talatu Pam" sets the conflict between modern medical science interpretation and ancient superstitious beliefs in a mermaid (Sefinatu) (Pages 112-113;222).

       A young man who is a reporter for 'Daily Witness' named Sam Durueke and the Editor, Tunji Johnson are determined to get to the roots of the deaths in the villages and towns around the Niger River (pages 160-161). He unravels and reveals the mystery of the deaths as 'Lassa fever' (page 293). He meets Dr. Kay, an American who explains to him how this disease is spread and saves a dying girl she meets (page 290).

Sam also reveals the secret behind the flickering light on Ekitiva Island (page 310).

       Meanwhile, a ten year old boy begins to hallucinate after visiting Waterside to witness the scene of the place which captivates him in a poem written by Henry Fletcher titled "Elfinatu." "...A ten year old boy was going to unravel a mystery, and he was so excited about his mission..." (page 1). He is deeply entrenched in his belief in "Sefinatu" that he easily believes that Sefinatu has cast a spell upon him when he visits the Waterside. "...He knew he would never get away any longer. He had gotten the spell...He began to cry." (page 39). His name is Amaechi and he begins to hallucinate in fear (pages 65-71) and is taken to Dr. Williams shortly after Talatu Pam is taken out of the hospital by her father.

      Dr. Williams, Sam Durueke and Mary Bassey are able to unravel the mystery of the various deaths and enlighten the populace that Sefinatu is not real and superstitions are fairy tales (page 310).

      The narrative ends with the characters in a new dawn and the belief in herbal remedies are emphasized not the belief in spiritual remedy which is false and leads to death (page 312).

       The characters are finally enlightened and they understand that nature is beautiful and harmless. "...Ahead, small bunches of water hyacinth floating down the river greet them with the same refrain: life and death are two sides of the same coin." (page 312) 

POINT OF VIEW

Third person Omniscient point of view

SETTING

 The narrative is set in Lokoja, Lagos, Abuja, Aburu village. The era is the post colonial era in Nigeria.

CHARACTERS

Sam Durueke

Jamiu Garba

Amaechi

Dr. Momodu Williams

Nyarinya Mai Karfi

Talatu Pam

Engineer James Ugwu

King Tobias Chenge

Tunji Johnson

Dr. Jeremiah Ameh

Dr. Kay

Rajiv Singh

Dr. Mary Bassey

President Maman Nurudeen

THEMES

1. Superstition and ignorance

2. Death

3. Religion

4.Corruption

5. Poverty

6. Enlightenment 

* There is also a clash of beliefs: modern medicine against ancient religious practices and superstition (page 222)

* "SILENT WHISPERS" is about the misconception of nature by ignorant people. It is a book about the beauty of nature degraded by superstition. "...A light flickering over the isle and whispering silently to the ears that listened." (page 32)