Little but matters is the title of the drama authored by Israel Oyeyemi. It is an account of the academic career, moral statue and spiritual state of Toye, the main character in the dramatic work.
The book, according to the main thematic concern, is based on the importance of morality, honesty and dedication to hardwork in the degenerating society.
The morally-structured story is a skilful piece of dramatic work. The dialogue is at times terse and properly controlled. In all, it deserves reading for the quality of the thematic preoccupations, and the way it is simply shaped; its aesthetics and artistic uniqueness.
In this powerful, moral drama, Oyeyemi unfolds the eventful life journey of Toye, a symbolism of an African youth, the brilliant, conspicuously independent, a victim of immorally constituted peer group at school. The bad influence on him affected his forwardness in life, most importantly his educational life. This influence on him made him ridiculously degenerate in respect to morals and values.
Oyeyemi’s consciousness of morality, makes his work be categorised as a moral play. Therefore, the author can be regarded as a morality.
This is a story on a grand scale — a play about personal and social issues, but most importantly, based on human nature, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and family, and the consequences of right and wrong decisions.
Education, as a reformative tool, is formerly defined by the author. Oyeyemi shows the role of school and home in the formation of an individual life.
School, in the author’s view, serves a dual function; constructive and destructive purposes. Apparently, school serves as an evaluative means to understand and define one’s life. When Toye, the main character, belongs to the negative lifestyle and waywardness he failed woefully in his examinations. When he decides to change for the best, he passes all his examination.
Toye, as the main character, serves as a symbolism of African society. Oyeyemi uses the character to evaluate the African society in a way that is not satirically presented. As the life of the main character corrupts which results to a failed life. When he purges himself off the corrupted attitudes; success comes his way.
This is a strikingly picture of the African society, full of chaos, immoralities, corruption just to mention but few. The author is a preacher of virtue, hope uprightness and values in regards to growth and development in African society. The book is a must to read for leaders and stakeholders of public and private organisation. It is a constant reminder of the need for positivity.
Home, as a factor, plays a wonderful part in the rebirth of the main character. The role of parents in the configuration of one’s lifestyle is consistently emphasised in the play.
Family is of great essential prerequisite in the growth and development of an individual, which in the long run, has a powerful effect in relation to the society. It is a story made for home library. As a matter of fact, Little but matters is a must in one’s collection of books.
Significantly, Oyeyemi’s story is an enthralling, even surprising story of hope and faith. It is never too late for cure of one’s sickness, no matter how terribly shaped. This is the essence of the story.
Oyeyemi’s contribution to African society and dedication igniting the consciousness of African youth is the primary and underlying scope behind the birth of the drama. This forms its merits in corrective essence of reality.
It is never too late to start all over again. At the end, Toye becomes the fine knight in shining armor.
and then