Going through my library yesterday, I came across my well-thumbed copy of a celebrated novel by the author who first inspired me with the zeal to pursue a career as a writer - THE PALM-WINE DRINKARD by Amos Tutuola, based on Yoruba folktales, and recorded in his own inimitable 1st person pidgin English. Leafing idly through this celebrated work, I was caught in nostalgic reminiscence as I recalled the touching details of how it first saw the light of day. The author scribbled out his work in barely-literate long-hand and sent it to Faber & Faber, a leading London-based publishing concern, who within a month of its receipt, sent him back an acceptance letter and a cheque for 200 pounds (1952)! Thereafter Tutuola, a farmer by profession, became one of Nigerias most successful best-selling authors, penning a total of 8 novels in the same trail-blazing tradition of his first effort. The publishers could not resist publishing a page from his original manuscript showing their extensive house-style editing.I was tempted to try my own hand at pidgin English and in 1968 submitted my efforts - a play titled YES, BLACK MAN BUSINESS - to M/s Sarah Gladeal, Senior Editor at Faber & Faber, who had expressed great enthusiasm in considering it if followed the same pattern as Tutuolas highly-successful pidgin English. It was turned down on the strength of its being Drama, which was almost impossible to sell in those days unless it had first enjoyed a successful West End production. The work was ultimately published in 1975 as a novel titled JUJU. God bless Tutuola for that inspiration, which was subsequently sold to five countries.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:14:14 +0000
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