ROYAL DEADLOCK

Travails and pains befall a community, and everybody is affected and concerned about what to do to resolve the situation. How would this quagmire be solved? When there is a problem, it is expected that a solution would be proffered. When the remedy is not effective to the prognosis, then the situation becomes acute.

A solution seemed to be in sight, but the solution seemed to bring about another problem. The problem brought by the solution needed another solution to solve it. When the problem seems to be changing context and content, the solution is expected to come with matching tendencies and efficiency.

Consciously or unconsciously a deed was done, and a taboo committed. The actors unknowingly carried on with life. The man was upheld to lead his community then his past hunted him. The sacrifice to make seemed too heavy a burden to bear. The abnormal became normal and the unassuming made to be interested. There seemed to be no solution, but how could there be, when royalty is in a deadlock.

How would this deadlock be resolved? An answer is needed, a rationale answers to a rational deadlock. The situation with the sovereignty is affecting the community. Solution is expected from the sovereign stool, but cold come from subjects or may come from the gods of the land.

People may have similar or related culture and yet have a different perception and understanding of the context of that culture. Situational circumstance may arise and put that cultural norm to a test and a challenge with diverse views being posited as solution or answer to the problem or the question being posed.

This story has an African setting of Nigerian influence with the Eastern Nigerian flair. But more of the writer's understanding and imagination are infused into the story, which everyone can relate to no matter your cultural belongingness. One is expected to journey through this book and try to walk the paths with the characters. Relate with the happenstances and take a stand with what appeals to you as you agree with, disagree with or doubt the presentation thus unfolded or played out in the course of the journey. It would be a journey filled with experiences for you.

Culture we understand is a peoples' way of life. At times happenstance occurs that tend to put that norm to a test. The challenge thus presented may bring to bear the true essence of the culture and may bring about a solution that would be an exception to the norm or a beginning of a new stance perception.

An African story that can be related to any of her similar contemporary cultural tales, objectively presented with the writer's subjective influence.