TITLE: Smiling Songs for Farida
PAGES: 70
PUBLISHER: Poetry Enclave
AUTHOR: Ebika Anthony
REVIEWER: Taslim Abiola Layonu
In a rollercoaster ride of poetic adventures, Anthony Ebika, in his usual witty fashion of creative writing, took us on a curious journey, through the exciting world of the ebullient Hajia Farida Mohammed, a leading candidate for the exalted office of the President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), acclaimed as the largest umbrella body of creative authors on the African continent.
My concern here is to give a review of a 70-page timely compelling poetic book, titled, Smiling Songs for Farida, written by a renowned wordsmith, Ebika Anthony, the president of Poetic Enclave.
In ‘By her, with her’, we saw Farida, a woman of virtue, decorated-to-teeth, with honours so priceless that only the Faridas of this world can posses: blameless, supportive, patriotic and optimistic.
In ‘The smiling woman’, like an onion, we opened yet another layer; a fresh and laudable chapter into life of the enchanting Farida. Here, we saw beauty, one that blossoms so beautifully from the heart until it spills to the outside. A smile so bright that it lightens the gloom of people around her, so potent that even the devil can be wooed to repentance, a feat that only Fari can achieve.
In ‘She took the narrow road’, we saw the brave Farida; armed with a golden sword like a knight, glazing out all impossibilities from her path, destroying stereotypes to take the road not common, among women folks, a brave and daring journey into the world of literary leadership.
In ‘A faithful goddess’, we saw Fari the teacher, a humble steward of the society, a faithful ally and a determined builder of institutions. We saw Fari, a dedicated public servant.
This book of only a few chapters, rich by every line and depth, lays Farida bare, in all her virtues, each reading adventure leaves the reader awed, with a yet stronger curiousity to turn the next page.
If you keep turning till the last page, you’re certain to leave, learning a big lesson, ‘the best way to live in a dark world is by lighting yourself as a candle, burning out and becoming a light for others’, and this, wholeheartedly, defines the personality of Farida, the woman everyone else dreams to be like.
Except for a few typographical errors, the author of Smiling Songs for Farida should be well commended for his great strides in mirroring Farida to the reading public. This book is worth reading. It is rich with poetic verve.
‘A taste of the pudding is in the eating’. In the light of this, I commend Smiling Songs for Farida to all readers in all walks of life.
* Taslim Abiola Layonu is the Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Oyo State Chapter
