Book 1: Tomorrow Died Yesterday by Chimeka Garricks

Chimeka Garricks is genius. If I didn’t have 19 other books to read, I’ll read  Tomorrow Died Yesterday over one more time! What I appreciated the most about this book is that it was not predictable. I couldn’t anticipate the suspense as I flipped the pages and that was captivating and very refreshing. Also, the emotions in this book were palpable: I grimaced, laughed out loud, blushed, and almost cried.

The book is divided into different time periods and goes something like: present, past, present, past. At each time period, the story is told by one of the four main characters: Kaniye, Tubo, Amaibi and Doye (two female characters are introduced later on). All four boys grew up together on Asiama Island, in the Nigerian Niger Delta region, in the 1970’s. On the surface, it seems like just another story about the wretched political corruption in the Niger Delta region, but it was anything but.  Don’t get me wrong, the book explores the violent conflict in the Niger Delta but it also tells the story of the real victims. The story begins in the present introducing us to the four friends, now adults “thriving” in their various walks of life. Then, the author effortlessly weaves in their childhood in Asiama, opening the reader to the history of the characters, and the impact of society, family and friendship in shaping the persons they have become. When we come back to the present, we have a richer and better informed view of who the characters really are. I find that such a window into the characters past really drew me in, creating a peculiar sense of intimacy with the characters. I was particularly intrigued by how the writer portrays the vulnerability, warmth and sometimes cruelty that can go hand in hand with friendship, even friendship amongst children.

Fast-forward to the present, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the love story between Kaniye and Deola. Kaniye seems like quite the special guy--sensitive, charming, funny and above all, knows how to treat a woman’s taste buds! Naturally, I paid special attention to the food throughout the story. Boy, I would do just about anything to try Aunty Eno’s edikang-ikong soup and Kaniye’s native soup.

Every single Nigerian should read this book. Nollywood (Nigerian Hollywood) should make a movie out of this so that people who don’t read will have no excuse. Prior to reading this, my knowledge of the situation in the Niger Delta was quite limited. At the end of the story, I am considerably more informed about the struggle in the Niger Delta. Knowledge is power--we cannot fix a problem that we don’t understand. When you read this book, I believe you will empathize with Doye when he says

“ There is no future for the children of the Niger Delta. Their tomorrow is already dead. It died yesterday.” 

But, you will also share Amaibi’s hope for a better tomorrow and be inspired to fight the right battle with the right weapon. On that note, I’ll leave you with Amaibi’s wise counsel: 

"We need to change the way we do things. We need to stop fighting the wrong battles. Our people must drop their arms and get off the streets and creeks. The war will not be won there. The war will be won in lecture halls as we expand the minds of our young people.”

Rating: 5 full bows

Tomorrow Died Yesterday is only $2.99 on Amazon. Click here to purchase.