Book Review of Taduno's Song by Odafe Atogun.

Taduno's Song written by the remarkable Author; Odafe Atogun is a

beautiful activism story told in simple sentences. The book is the story of a popular musician whose music became a terror to the government of his time and a voice for his people. 

The musician by the name of Taduno, used his music to expose the ills of his society and the corruption in the government of the time which happened to be a military regime. While his music flourished and made the people happy and expressive, he in no time incurred the wrath of the government, who came for him. In order, to preserve his life, he goes on exile, leaving a simple note for his beloved Leila, "Where I go I know not."

Years have travelled by with Taduno living in a foreign land, then he receives a letter with no messenger but a stray dog, whose whereabouts, he cannot identify. The letter admonishes him to come home and he assumes it is from his beloved Leila.

Taduno packs up and returns to Lagos, to the house he lived in before he went on exile. At his return, he realises he is now a stranger to the people he once called neighbours. He is able to identify each of them by their names and their old habits, yet they find it hard to recognise him as the old Taduno, rather they think he's an impostor. Even his old friend Aroli, finds it hard to accept he is the same Taduno he once knew. Taduno learns his girlfriend Leila had been abducted by the military, upon the revelation by her younger brother Judah. 

In the book, Taduno wears a firm resolve to find Leila, just as his music overpowers him and forces him to become the terror he has always been to the government. This time, Taduno's music is the weapon he uses unrelentingly to find love and free his people.

One of the things that struck me with the story, was the inability of Taduno's neighbours and friends to recognise him upon his return. This may leave a reader to wonder if there was a backstory to Taduno's travail, which the Author didn't write about before he went on exile. 

This part of the story gives room for many guesses, perhaps Taduno had undergone a facial reconstruction surgery in detention before he was sent on exile without his realising or the people of his community had developed temporary amnesia of some sort. 

Whatever guess one chooses, we cannot forget it is the Author's creative license to design fiction that keeps us thinking and feeling the message of the story.

Over ten, I will rate this book a nine. The author's storytelling is a simple yet distinct style. It is admirable that he writes on sensitive themes like power, love and politics and does not lose the reader in a pool of esoteric vocabulary.

Did you like the review of this book? If yes then hurry and add it it to your list of 'Books to Read.'

If you also love this review, please share and like..... Thank you!