Ruyi's World of Books & Stories

It is cruel to negotiate some roads. One could spend several hours and who cares if you die trying. It is a silencer. It hurts. It could bring a man to his knees. The loser is a meal to the bald vultures. In the weakness, I was strong, tough and mean. Regularly counting the cost of my valor has helped my poor soul to tread cautiously. My loss if I ever had any was taken into consideration because smart people draw strength from their fall. The cost of finishing strong and staying alive against all odds is mine to bear. I drove through Lawanson road, an old narrow way leading off Itire and I had my first sight of the Palace of the Itire Monarch. It was old-fashioned. It was African with a fine red painted threshold. It was old. Things had changed. Here the more things change, the more they stay the same. Every day is a journey. The day we close our eyes upon the light of the world, the journey ends. Most times, it is out of our hands to choose how we will embrace the next w...

By Adeniyi Kunnu Twitter: @mautin777 No matter what anyone says, until we search ourselves and question certain things, the 'Light of God ' will elude many, especially as Individuals. I believe in the Almighty God, but when those who claim to have a relationship with God turn out to be those who keep their flock in bondage and impoverish them, or Stoke the embers of hatred and religious supremacy, then it simply consolidates what colonialism achieved and still does in these times. All religions are culpable...for the importance of knowledge; there are 2.3 billion Christians in the world, making it 29% of over 7.8 billion people across the globe - many of whom are in Europe, the USA even Africa. Sadly however, many of these nations were the colonist nations, which continue to impoverish Africa and other developing nations of the world. What then is the correlation between their professed faiths and the lives they live as well their relationship with others natio...

Las' Las'…It means "eventually" "Eventually what?" You may ask. Eventually, all will be well. "How?" We are not sure. "When?"   Nobody knows. But "God dey sha." That comforting clause that soothes us as we move from day to day and one "las las" to the next. There are not many solutions here. We have been struggling with the same issues from the beginning of creation—bad roads, no potable water, poor education, shameless corruption, poor health system, the list is endless. What do we do? We do not seem to know. Dying for the country is out of it. Nobody will remember your name, how much more remember what you died for. Jollof rice is a more interesting topic. It is all we have. It is all we fight for. Las' Las' We'll Be All Right AMAZON HAPPY READING!

By Omoruyi Uwuigiaren ldsomoruyi@yahoo.ca I went into the printing press and I have to tell you that it was the best press I have ever seen in my life. It was beautiful. There were customers. There was help on the floor. One of the staff approached me. He greeted, “Good evening sir.” Smile paraded his face. “Good evening, young man,” I replied, beaming with confidence. “Where is your boss? I came for my books. Are they ready?” He shifted his weight to one leg. He smiled and threw out a question, “Are you Mr. Robert?” “Yes!” I nodded affirmatively. “My boss is not in the office but he left a note for you!” He handed the letter over to me and moved to one side. Without wasting time, I browsed through the piece. In a couple of minutes, I was done. I let go a mighty heave, raised my head and turned to the young man. “Thank you, I got the message. Where are the books?” “They are over there,” he pointed to a corner in the press. “Please, follow me.” We walked to the corner w...

By Farooq A. Kperogi, Ph.D. Twitter:  @farooqkperogi The novel coronavirus is not only devastating humankind, it is also disrupting the settled certainties and spiritual verities of religious fanatics for whom atavistic and superstitious frames of reference are the only ways to make sense of the world around them. I’ll start from fringe members of my own religious community. When the new coronavirus first emerged in China, a lunatic fringe of the Nigerian Muslim community celebrated it and said it was Allah’s punishment against China for mistreating its Muslim minority population. They said the clearest indication that it was divine pestilence to avenge the persecution of Chinese Muslims could be seen in the fact that all Chinese people were compelled to cover their whole bodies in ways that were reminiscent of the sartorial choices Allah enjoined Muslims, especially Muslim women, to make, which China denies its Muslim minority. I recall telling a religious crackpot who...

DAVID ELLSION Rambling on Borrowed Time A unique memoir/travelogue/reflection-on-life… Santander  features poignant short stories that, like pieces of a puzzle, create a captivating whole exploring themes of personal growth, adventure, justice, wonder, disillusionment, and ultimately gratitude. Although  Santander  recounts a teacher’s wild exploits and perceptive musings, it appeals to anyone who has raised or taught children, who’s traveled the world of countries and ideas (or who’d like to live vicariously though someone who has); anyone who’s struggled to find compassion for oneself and others; who, in the words of Robert Frost, “had a lover’s quarrel with the world” and tried to make a difference.  Santander  pays homage to living an authentic life. “Terrified, I finally realized the federal agents answered to no one and could do with me whatever they pleased. I thought of the death squads who had “disappeared” so many others into the Cen...

AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE And other stores. Gabe never asked for an angel… Gabe Montana’s clumsy. He’s overweight, and he’s dyslexic. Worse yet, the bullies make his fifteen-year-old life even more miserable—so miserable he wants to die. Charley, his guardian angel, says no to that idea, and comes up with a different plan. He’ll give Gabe self-confidence so he can solve his problems, not run away from them. But Gabe wonders why the angel doesn’t just help with the bullies. What’s with this self-confidence stuff? Can Charley help Gabe stand on his own two feet? Will Gabe give up hope life can improve for him? Or will he finally listen to the angel’s advice? LEARN MORE AT  BOOK BUB HAPPY READING!