Brides of Infidels: Novel, humanising pain of victims, sustaining attention on insecurity

If you have read the ‘Brides of Infidels’, you will appreciate the creative ingenuity of the author. But the intrigue of the novel lies in the author’s mastery of a unique technique of relaying serious issues in a lighter and readable mood.

Welcome to the world of Anote Ajeluorou, an award-winning journalist, poet, publisher and novelist.

Ajeluorou is also the author of Igho Goes to School, a children’s book, which is part of the “Igho” series that includes Igho Goes to Farm, longlisted in the Nigerian Prize for Literature 2019.

From advocating for education in his children’s book, Ajeluorou has taken his advocacy a notch higher in Brides of Infidels, his latest novel, where he is even more intentional.

He used the novel to highlight the plights of victims of terrorism, while drawing attention to the menace insecurity. But are all down in a very lighter mood that sees the reader enjoying the novel despite the pains of the characters in the novel and some unpleasant situations depicted.

“I seek to humanise the pain of terror victims with my novel, Brides of Infidels,” he said.

But beyond the humor, he sustains national attention on the rising insecurity, a tragedy that has persisted for more than a decade in the country.

Like other literary icons have done in the past and some are still doing, Ajeluorou sees his Brides of Infidels as one of the many conscious literary responses to Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity crisis, while tasking all for solutions.

The author noted that his novel unveils how an insurgent attack interrupted the education and destiny of a young girl in a rural community in northern Nigerian.

The author further delved into other issues of concern in the novel such as displacement, forced marriage, sexual violence, loss and survival.

As brides, the focus is on the girl-child, but beyond the girls, the author also captured the unpleasant experiences of the boy-child too, who are conscripted into fighting after their communities are attacked, handed weapons and compelled to kill under the threat of death to rescue their sisters and defend their communities.

There are also highlights on social injustice, early marriage, poverty and health complications such as vesicovaginal fistula, which further marginalised women and fuel cycles of vulnerability.

But another intrigue is Ajeluorou’s ability to separate religion from extremism, giving the reader opportunity to enjoy the novel without prejudice and sentiments.

As expected, Ajeluorou, a former Art Editor, Guardian Newspaper, took advantage of a book reading and an interactive discussion session, which was held recently at the CRIMMD Museum and Library, Ajao Estate, Lagos, to further push his advocacy.

At the Lagos literary event, which was part of the Book Trek Community Literacy Outreach programme, Ajeluorou took the audience to his creative world, delving into his passion for writing, the rationale for Brides of Infidels, why insecurity must not persist, among other relatable issues.

He did not fail to address the audience including; students, educators, writers, cultural practitioners and residents of the community on why Nigeria, which has steadily fallen behind the times in addressing security challenges, must sit-up now, considering that the onslaught by non-state actors over 12 to 14 years is long enough and has to end now.

Citing the recent abduction of worshippers by terrorists in Kaduna, he noted that it is about time the authorities stop the culture of denial, which he noted undermines public confidence and raises concerns about the government’s ability to protect lives and properties in the country.

Not sounding antagonistic, especially in this era of direct and indirect crackdown on contrary opinions, Ajeluorou used Brides of Infidels as a fictional attempt to interrogate the shortcomings of the authorities in the insecurity fight, with highlights on the growing victims and losses to the country at large.

Going down the memory lane, Ajeluorou recalled that the inspiration for Brides of Infidels came at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, and the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls in particular.

According to him, the scale of the violence then, the helplessness of victims, the hovering uncertainty for the parents, and the government’s little result all compelled him to respond creatively.

“Seeing that writing is my only weapon, as a writer I deployed it. I felt the need to lend my own small voice to this raging national tragedy,” he said.

Hower, Raphael James, founder, CRIMMD Library and Museum, also lent his voice to the author’s clarion call, while reeling out the feats, the vision and impact of the museum.

According to James, a Nigerian archivist and historian, the Centre for Research, Information Management and Media Development was established in December 2004 to provide young Nigerians with access to books, knowledge and historical resources.

He noted that the organisation recently relocated to Ajao Estate, making the Brides of Infidels reading the first major literary event at the new location. While the library had operated for years without charging users, he explained that rising operational costs have made modest fees necessary to sustain its services.

He disclosed that the library was founded to challenge the notion that Nigerians do not read, arguing instead that many lack access to books due to economic constraints.
Meanwhile, the audience are looking forward to meeting Ajeluorou during another booking reading or literary session soon.