Laiwola
Adeniji
Lagos
From The Future in Yesterday, Dreams Deferred
Written on Tomorrow Left Us Yesterday
"Tomorrow Left Us Yesterday" definitely
makes an exciting reading and in scope and character (whatever
this is interpreted to mean), it is not an ambitious statement
to say that they contain real African stories. One thing the
author does that is commendable is in ensuring that his characters
come from different parts of the continent. These are stories
that touch on an author's concern for a world that is gradually
losing its humanity. Unfortunately for most Africans, they
do not know what they have to offer to the world in times
like this. These are some of the things that Olafioye is trying
to point out. The stories will find appeal across ages though
there is an obvious bias for the youths for whom there could
still be a tomorrow. This author is not just angry, he is
hopeful that whatever remains of our humanity could still
be rescued. This has nothing to do about colour or colonialism,
it is about what a people have done and are still doing to
themselves. Yes, tomorrow might have left us yesterday because
the world is filled with the Father Jacobys, Cisses and Zainabs.
Yet, there is still room for a rescue operation. These indeed
are letters of the times.