ORCHIDS FOR AZIBA: A Review by Don Kester…

Book Title: Orchids For Aziba

Author: Datton Kenett Tams-Douglas,

Reviewer: Don Kester Oshioreame,

Publisher: Biz Pages, 37, Wogu Street, D/Line, Port Harcourt

Year of Publication: 2019

 Number of Pages: 272

ORCHIDS FOR AZIBA is a 272-paged prose work divided into 20 chapters. Tam-Douglas in this book undoubtedly revealed 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 intertwined in the ensuing events narrated in this work of prose makes it almost impossible for me to think otherwise. Theirs was like a relationship divinely constructed and consummated in divinity.

The whole story began 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 presents as 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 sounded 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 confronted a bright Marcel Gordon who though not an orphan was forced to leave like one because for some strange reasons, his Canadian father and Nigerian mother were not there for him. On graduation he had hope coupled with the devotion and support of Aziba Adigwe a young promising female lawyer. The search for a job by Marcel made his path and those of his rivals on campus cross again and it was a bitter experience. Through Aziba’s resilience Marcel 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 cast a spell on Marcel such that he lost 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 wanted to pay off Aziba, the author captured Aziba’s emotion; thus, “So I’ll be leaving you for good” The next couple of hours before bedtime saw her cleaning and re-arranging the entire house as if to leave a mark that a woman named Aziba once lived in it.” 

Marcel’s story at this juncture sounded every bit like “bliss presaging cataclysm” as he was arrested in his first adventure into illegal oil bunkering and vessel swap deal just for survival. The author skillfully weaves his narrative so much that by a stroke of fate it was Aziba who had not been in touch with him for a while who intelligently defended and had him discharged of the offence. She survived an assassination attempt on the score of that sacrifice. Aziba was honoured with a national honour by the president of the nation for her role in bursting the syndicate of economic saboteurs through illegal oil refining and sales. It turns out that Marcel’s father is the new Canadian counsel general to Nigeria, and he comes with Marcel’s mother. The reunion led 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 screen play particularly because it employs effectively one of the missing ingredients in Nollywood which the element of Suspense and Surprise.

There are many morals gleaned from this work of prose, principally is the need to be resilient in our pursuit of our life purpose by never caving in to lack, deprivation and discouragement. Secondly, we must 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 morality has lost its value and people resort to self-help and all sorts of short cuts to make ends meet as we proverbially call it.

Also, the virtue of faithfulness is emphasized in an age where betraying the trust and confidence of our confidants has become a comforting 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 results 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 come with a promise of quick and excessive returns translate to economic sabotage, but result 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 nutritional needs of the people and region.

Let us 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 in the morgue among youths and the GenZs, this book requires a strategy not to only have it in the physical bookshelves in homes, schools and libraries but in the hearts and heads through reading and study.

ORCHIDS FOR AZIBA is highly recommended.

Don Kester Oshioreame

Reviewer, script writer, art critic, author and publisher