The Adventures Of Souza: The Village Lad

by Kola Onadipe, Adebayo Ajayi (Illustrator)

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Eric]

How do we determine what is a 'classic' in any literature? In the western world works written by Mark Twain (eg Tom Sawywer), Stevenson (Treasure Island, Kidnapped), Alice in Wonderland etc are stated to be classics as far as children's literature is concerned. Alas in Africa we often sell ourselves short, or even undermine ourselves in inane fashion, mainly due to a chip on the shoulder mentality, or inferiority complex. Happily enough people like myself having read countless works published by both Eurocentric and African writers – I do not have such complexes. Nor the group of young readers at the time (of youth) who enjoyed such African works written by our African writers. Among such works for children The adventures of Souza will take pride of place - a magnificent, relevant book for young African readers. Pure entertainment and didactic to boot; a work which we read again and again during childhood, even as we enjoyed our 'Enid Blyton's' too. Souza's adventures were compelling, rooted in reality, in the cunning and confusion of blossoming African youths. The depiction of adventure, excitement, plot, planning, the bush, forest, the heat - and yes the horror and pain sometimes - made one break out in cold sweat intermittently... And it also propelled one to read the book again, and relish others of its ilk written by other African writers. An extraordinary work for African youth.

[Lupna Avery]

This book used to be in our house for years, many years ago. It was loved by my brothers in their youth, and later on I would read it too as a young girl, or young woman. It is a very good story for the young, exciting and also frightening. Souza's adventures seem very much real and realistic and quite dangerous too. I could have sworn then that these adventures did happen, and the boy, and others was NOT a good boy! Rural life brought to life in brilliant African fashion, with the author very much part of the society - hence the gripping reality. But having said that, with the benefit of hindsight one can say this book, and others like it authored by Africans, are essentially aimed at African boys, African males in their youth. I hardly remember such books aimed at the African girl with such popularity. So African female writers were rare, which explained why one did not see such books that girls like myself could identify with? Or maybe one just did not see such books then written by our female writers, eg Flora Nwapa? One did read the occasional Nancy Drew book, but such works of course were never aimed at the African young woman.

[Femi Usman]

We read this book when we were in Jss 2 and it was full of fun. It was one of the early books we use for our literature in english with other ones like 'the gods are not to blame', 'An African night entertainment', African child etc

[Iliya Benjamin]

I love this book since I was a child and it's so interesting and full of adventures. I have read this book over other books and it's worth it.thanks to the writer.

[Joshua]

I really love this book
My younger brother own this
I never knew it was very interesting
Not on till I started reading it.

[ANTHONY OLUWOLE]

Very interesting

[Fiyinfoluwa]

This book is a 100/100. No minus!!! 👍👍👍

[Ebube Ugwuozor]

How can I read this book again pls?? I'm in pains to read this book. If someone will help me I ll be grateful!