Deji Yesufu’s Humanity: A weaving of diverse narratives

A review of Deji Yesufu’s book, Humanity by Edmund Obilo.

WHEN Deji Yesufu wrote Victor Banjo, his first book, I said to myself, “here is a Nigerian with a keen eye for history.” Then I began to pay attention to his writing to understand his mind and happily he has captured his mind, ideas and thoughts in this book. So I call this book a comprehensive exploration into Humanity. Why is it comprehensive? It touches on the key aspects of man and that is politics, religion, economy and society. I like the cover page of the book; it is catchy – it looks soft. You have there the pictures of two babies – one (older) baby carrying another baby. The cover picture captures the title clearly, Humanity. Looking at the eyes of the child (being carried), you can clearly see a baby looking into the future. And the future is key in most of Deji’s writing.

So, we have a book of 401 pages. It is a big book; you need to be a patient reader to read this book. The book has 10 chapters. Each chapter has a central theme.

For example, chapter three is titled ‘Humanity.’ I can say this book is a weaving of diverse narratives, connecting the dots between the different aspects of human life. The author drives through the multifaceted nature of our world. Deji provides a holistic view that goes beyond ordinary writing; Deji is a deep thinker. If you read some of the article… take this one: “Surviving Nigeria as a Graduate Today” – in that article, the author connects politics, economy, and the aspiration of a people. You will see lamentation. But towards the end of the article, you will experience redemption. That is the mind of a thinker. The exploration of politics within the pages of Humanity is enlightening and empowering. The author advocates for a democratic system, where justice and equality can flourish. He makes a deep case for inclusive governance.

Chapter one talks about society. In that chapter, the author narrates the story of the death of Richard Gbadebo in the article ‘Death and a Look at the Casualisation of workers in Oyo State.’ That was a story I pursued and Deji tells that story here. That story is the story of our society – the story of negligence. Deji’s stories are not only insightful but they inspire me particularly to engage in deeper research about humanity. If you read some of the articles on religion, sometimes you feel this writer is a rude writer. And sometimes I will say, no; he is an inspired writer. He hits the nail on the head. Deji, in this book, emphasises the importance of recognising and celebrating our differences. He wants us to foster an inclusive society, where everyone has a meaningful place.

On radio this morning, I was talking to him about his visit to Germany – that trip inspired two articles in the book which are worth studying. Another interesting article is the one titled ‘Concerning Paul Adefarasin’s Escape Route’ – you want to read that very thought-provoking story. The book is rich; chapter six alone, titled ‘Nigeria,’ is a book on its own. The author could conveniently produce four books from this work. ‘How Nigeria will get better’ is an article within this chapter that is worth reading.

I recommend this book to anyone that is in love with reading. It is an eloquent prose; the writer is understandable – using words simply. He writes like a radio broadcaster – in a manner that all ages can understand.

The essays are not too colourful but colourful in his anger; colourful in his recommendations; redemptive in action. For anyone seeking a deeper understanding of that intricate connection between humanity, politics, religion, economy, and society, here is a book for you to read.

The author has connected the critical aspects of life and that is what humanity is all about. It is a lovely book and I will continue to review the book on ‘State Affairs’ because I believe we all should be connected to our humanity. And together we will build a better world.