Kalakuta Republic

It also left me speechless with regard to myself. It reminded me of what is important in life and how important it is, at whatever level, to do the right thing, no matter how difficult.

The poet's tale of incaceration for his writing in Nigeria's old regimes is a humbling one. It is also an inspiring one. No other book in the last ten years has moved me as much.

The poems are beautifully balanced pieces with a clear narrative. The Language, while simple, achieves a complex poetic form - the rendering of life into words.

This book is a must read!!!!


The Real Deal - Abani has it all!   July 9, 2001
6 out of 9 found this review helpful

Chris Abani is that rare gift to the world -- someone who was born a writer and who suffered great atrocity. He has combined these two facts to bring back poetry from hell -- poetry that sings! that grieves! that laughs and rocks and wails! He breaks down walls and brings forth unimaginable pain only to lay it before you -- gracefilled and beating like an undeniable human heart. Here it is, he says, here is humanity in all its grand perversion and its unmistakable diginity and hope. I was lucky enough to see Abani read and he is someone who is in this closed off world who is out there sharing, must share, and he makes the world a better place by doing so. Let's only hope the world gives back to him now, finally, the rich fruits of kindness and love and understanding that he deserves! And he plays a mean sax too!!!


Light from Dark   February 27, 2001
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Abani's collection is one of the best examples of witness-poetry. In a genre overloaded by self indulgent writing, Abani's work is fresh and new. The voice is raw, the subject mater engaging, powerful and definately distrubing.

The poems themselves are actually quite easy to read - form wise that is! The contents on the other hand are difficult. They narrate the terror of the writer as a prisoner of consceince and where others hold back, Abani lets you have it in the face!

It is not often that a writer can pull off a piece of work this good, but Abani succeeded.

Read it!


A Stunning Achievement   April 26, 2001
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book is a stunning achievement. I went from poem to poem in amazement at this writers ability to capture those moments of horror he endured as a political prisoner and transform them. Like Yeats said "a terrible beauty is born"

This is a splendid example of the poetry of witness and I think it belongs in the company of Akhmatova's Requiem. When she was asked "Can you describe all this/and I said I can".

That is what this writer did, with words of power and grace, that will linger in anyone's head. It is fortunate to come upon them.

The poems on London filled me with longing for that city one never tires of.

Buy this book. It will change your life.


Superb work by a brilliant poet!!   March 17, 2007
D. Festus Okoro
The transformation of horrific experiences and psychological trauma into something more powerful than pain. Abani is simply sizzling and brilliant in this book. The poems, all heart-rending, represent voices that desire freedom. Each poem is full of vitality. This book is a testimony from an ex political prisoner and one of the finest poets of his generation.
--Dike Okoro
Milwaukee, WI
USA