Writing
relevant and interesting books for children is an art mastered only by few
wordsmiths. Imaginative works of this ilk should grip the attention and
imagination of proliferating youngsters in general.
As literary
critic, Pule Lechesa has pointed out: "We must be honest about it, many -
if not most - of celebrated children's literature in the western world leave
our African children cold and disinterested. Whilst writers like Enid Blyton
or J. K Rowling might have something of a mainstream interest to most children globally, it is usually
not the norm. But the great thing is that some African writers have managed to
produce very fine work for African kids,"
A few world
class African writers have written books specifically targeted at African
children - like Chinua Achebe, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, and Cyprian Ekwensi. But African writers who specialise in producing children's
literature include Gcina Mhlophe, Barbara Kimenye, and Efua Sutherland. (Onuora
Nzekwu, an accomplished novelist, also wrote the wonderful Eze goes to school beloved by countless kids).
But few, if
any African writers can match the dazzling and prolific ouvre of children's
literature produced by KOLA ONADIPE - in his lifetime he published well over 20
excellent books that hundreds of thousands of youngsters excitingly read, and
still remember with relish.
At first
brush one might not have expected such strokes of literary genius enthralling youngsters
coming from a personage like the late Mr Onadipe. He was a renowned, strict
educationist and disciplinarian; a School Principal for many years. And a
qualified lawyer too. Yet he was somehow able to enter the minds of the young
ones and create many enduring stories and escapades involving kids.
The range
and depth of Onadipe's published works was truly remarkable - his imagination apparently
knew no bounds; and African children over the generations continue to attest to
the sterling worth of this great man's literary creativity.
Life in the
village...life in the forests...life in the city...the horror of abduction, or hopelessness,
mishaps, or pure terror - for children. Onadipe
knew it all. It is no surprise that an astonishing number of people regard him
as the greatest-ever African writer of books for children.
Kola Onadipe
died in 1988.
- O Bolaji
Kola Onadipe's Works
The
adventures of Souza. Ibadan: African Universities Press, 1963.
The boy
slave. Lagos: African Universities Press, 1966.
Koku Baboni.
Ibadan: African Universities Press, 1965.
Sugar girl.
Nairobi: East African Pub, 1964.
The magic
land of the shadows. Lagos: African University Press, 1970.
The forest
is our playground. Lagos, Nigeria: Africa Universities Press, 1972.
The return
of Shettima. Lagos: University Press, 1972.
Builders of
Africa. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1980. ISBN 978-178-004-5
Footprints
on the Niger. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1980. ISBN 978-178-006-1
Sunny boy.
Ijebu-Ode: Natona Press, 1980.
Sweet
mother. Ijebu-Ode [Nigeria]: Natona Press, 1980. ISBN 978-178-001-0
Around
Nigeria in thirty days. Nigeria: Natona, 1981. ISBN 978-178-027-4
Call me
Michael. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1981. ISBN 978-178-017-7
Halima must
not die : and other plays for schools. Ijebu-Ode: Natona Press, 1981. ISBN
978-178-026-6
Happy
birthday : queen for a day. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1982. ISBN
978-178-005-3
Mothers-In-Law.
1982
The Other
Woman. 1982
A pot of
gold. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press Publishers, 1984. ISBN 978-178-008-8
Beloved
daughters. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1985. ISBN 978-178-022-3
The king is
naked : and other stories. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1985. ISBN
978-178-025-8
The
mysterious twins. Ijebu-Ode: Natona, 1986.
Binta :
beautiful bride. Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria: Natona Press, 1988.
