Of Intricacy, Futility, and Ephemerality of Life: A Review of Dr. Jim Osita Okeke’s ‘WHAT NEXT?’
“The swell of womb and breast is half human circle; on the crest of the grave’s rise reclines the other; The grave like the yam-mound is earth’s pregnancy life like a dance swing in circles.”
–Isidore Diala
I have in recent years, and days following the demise of loved ones, wondered what life really means and its actual essence. In being the subject matter of my recent cogitations, the above excerpt by Isidore Diala underscores the traditional patterning of life where one starts off, in most cases, as nothing; struggles and either succeeds or fails, births kids with a partner, trains them up till early adulthood and eventually dies, passing the baton to his/ her children who continue the cycle. Futile, isn’t it? I have also come to accept fate as an unbiased scale ready to strike a balance at all times. Life is adorned in pristine linen, yet, deeply marinated in the flowing larva of ephemerality. The talons and fangs of futility are always in collaboration with fate to remind us of the ephemeral nature of this scape we exist in, but have we been able to provide an answer to explain this drama called life?
The struggles across three generations and eventual success in the lineage of Ichie Odumodu – Agu – Ositadimma in this memoir can be somewhat likened to Buchi Emecheta’s Second-Class Citizen, barring the unfair hue of life. Ositadimma is an embodiment of zeal and determination who, clearly aware of the greatness in his lineage, never allowed poverty and difficulty to bend his quest. Like a myriad of successful men, Ositadimma had his own share of challenges such as the inability to further his education, and for this reason “He had always looked forward to the day he would break the bondage of poverty on his family” (17). Fate’s smile upon Ositadimma saw him complete his university education courtesy of a state government sponsored scholarship which surfaced at the eleventh hour after which he travelled abroad. Regardless, his journey wasn’t smooth in his quest for the golden fleece. Life tossed grenades at him in distinct shapes and forms which he overcame and forged on. His union with Nkem, his heartthrob, together with whom he struggled and built an empire, became a momentary-soothing-balm until the ugly side of fate showed up again.
Ositadimma’s journey in life is metaphoric of most successful individuals who encounter tough times that mold them in the hottest of forge before passing them into the corridors of greatness. Ifesinachi Nwadike’s description of What Next? as “a bildungsroman of sorts” is justified, given its chronology of Ositadimma’s odyssey from a nobody to an individual to reckon with. During the course of my musings, I always wonder why things go wrong moments after everything seems to be on track. Tragedy never fails to rear up its head; perhaps in its quest to strike equilibrium in this drama we call life. Even as things began to seem perfect in the lives of Ositadimma and his family, fate struck a balance in the guise of the breast cancer which eventually stole Nkem and plunged her entire family into grief.
What Next? made it clear that we are in constant motion from conception as time waits for no one. In my daily retrospections and introspections, I recall my conscious observation of mankind’s daily struggle all through his life to create wealth, and this gives rise to the question, “What’s all these for?” After we amass this wealth eventually and death comes for us all via distinct circumstances, what happens next? This is the book’s major theme, major question.
As shocking as it may be What Next? is man’s reality staring us in the face. Reading it was as though I was taking a stroll on the pages of long-discarded memories, having lost loved ones to the deceitful whims and caprices of fate. However, I admire Ositadimma’s perseverance, zeal, grit and doggedness. Amongst other things, this memoir addresses life itself, obviously leaving us all to answer the big question of “what next?” after all these.
What Next? is out to reawaken a post-life consciousness among readers. It is a memoir worth reading and immersing oneself in. I encourage everyone to grab a copy.
Contributor’s Bio
Iwuagwu Ikechukwu is an African Poet, Essayist, Screenwriter, and Dramatist. A native of Umunkwo in Imo state, Nigeria. His reviews and short stories have appeared in several literary magazines across the world both online and in print. He was a recipient of an honourable mention in the IHRAF Creators of Justice award in New York – 2020 & 2022 editions respectively and was also shortlisted for the 2022 Alpine Fellowship Visual Arts Prize in London, UK as well as the ANTOA essay prize in Africa. When he is not writing, he can be found researching, teaching, or reading the works of Christopher Okigbo, Isidore Diala, Soyinka, Adichie, Buchi Emecheta & Ifesinachi Nwadike. His publications “The Baptism (A Collection of Three Short Stories)”, ” After Dusk Comes Dawn”, “See History” & “Shakespeare Speaks Pidgin” are available on Amazon.
