Down Memory Lane

This genre actually has a healthy existence for many decades in Africa, including "thrillers " for the young, written by the likes of Cyprian Ekwensi and Kola Onadipe.

With adult fiction in mind, considering that Africa's ace writers were always influenced by Eurocentric types, it is no surprise to see writers like Ben Mtobwa, Kalu Okpi, Dickson Ighavini and many others revelling in the hardboiled school of thriller writing, a school exemplified by James Hadley Chase, Mickey Spillane, and others. 

And looking back over the  decades it is gladdening that African women writers have not been left out, with delightful, humorous cerebral contributions by Adaora Lily Ulasi many decades ago; and in recent times, polished  world class, taut plots and characterization by South Africa's  Angela Makholwa.

Decades ago too, Fagbamigbe punblishers in Nigeria brought out thrilling mystery novels. Louis Omotayo Johnson and Sola Oloyede particularly excelled in this genre publishing works which excited so many.

Oloyede was a very good writer, a prose stylist who wrote proficiently indeed, rather reminiscent of Dorothy Sayers. Johnson wrote well too, the action more streamlined and gripping in his works. He always delivered the goods.

And of course Dillibe Onyeama can not be forgotten. In those early days, his works of fiction were published in the western world and they typified the genre. His novel, Juju was particularly celebrated, and well written. It had everything, a fine plot, intriguing characters, completely unexpected ending. Yet it was still very rooted in the African ambience.

Victor Thorpe was a brilliant writer too, both intensely "local" and at the same time, eclectic. He brought extraordinary humour - quips, jests etc into his narratives.  He brought the city of Ibadan in west Africa into vivid life, but his range was much more than this. His "hardboiled " genre was a bit different from that of Kalu Okpi's, but a bit similar to Ighavini's who had a zany sense of humour too.

Adaora Lily Ulasi, a lady was also exuberant in her own writings - and funny too. She was a most intelligent, witty writer who deserves to be much more celebrated even now. Certainly Makholwa in the current generation is celebrated for her contributions to the genre, and is at the peak of her writings.

Nobody should sell the genre of thriller-writing in Africa short ...