*That pulsating quote which stands as the headline of this piece is from Maya Angelo, the American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist .
Since the beginning of human existence, threads of history interlace with cultural narratives— which keeps us all on one page. A journey through time, where past and ancient history settles within our perceptions, is what a cultural narrative is all about. From the pyramids of Egypt to the streets of ancient Rome, each civilization has left behind a permanent mark, resonating with timeless significance.
But, as we dig deeper into the pages of history, we find out about not only the glory of nations but also the sinister breaks where darkness holds sway. The blood-stained pages of conquest, genocidal colonization, and tales of slavery all cast a long and horrific shadow on the reality of this world. One cannot travel across time without encountering the spirits of injustice and atrocity that lurk around.
One of the primary targets of this dark side of history has been the Nigerian Community. Over the period of time, The Federal Republic of Nigeria has faced a lot of issues in terms of ethnicity, politics, overpopulation, poverty, religious dominancy, and racism. Being ranked 32nd in the world by total land area, Nigeria still hasn’t received anything that would help it recover from trauma. With high poverty, lower employment, and the lowest literacy rate, the Nigerian Community has been ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world—the biggest reason behind this tragedy is the high corruption and bad governance of the State. A lot of narrators, journalists, and authors have come forward to present the dark side of history in front of the world, and many have succeeded, too. One of those authors is Ohiro Oni-Eseleh. With experience in writing multiple books focusing on relationships, career guidance, marital problems, and mental health issues—Ohiro Oni-Eseleh has completed his book, Whenever Tomorrow Comes, to showcase empathy, self-love, fight against odds, and the dark side of history in relevance to Nigeria.
The fictional book revolves around the story of a young Nigerian man from the village of Ora. His fight for justice, filled with triumphs and challenges, shows the world the importance of a sound education system. A tale of struggles against the universal truth of inequality and injustice but the constant yearning for success and a better tomorrow. Igbuan’s story is proof that only with a relentless hunger for success can a person break free from the limitations imposed by external factors. One can fight for themselves, their nation, and for a better future for their country only when the shackles of poverty are broken.
This and a lot of other stories of inequality, injustice, and colonization in rural states remind us of the legacies of oppression that have co-existed ever since. Systematic racism and economic inequality are a constant reminder of the unfinished work of justice that lies in front of us.
In The End
Books like Whenever Tomorrow Comes, and others that shed light on the dark side of history are must-reads. It highlights the need to understand the struggles and challenges faced by the people residing in third-world countries, it is important to live life in their shoes, be it fictionally.
* reworked materials with additional input by The Newsturf team