By Art Koroma
I sat in my verandah this evening, surrounded by the warm glow of lanterns and the sweet scent of blooming flowers, reflecting on my journey as a writer. My manuscript, “Meet Me In Timbuktu”, had been stalled for weeks, and I was beginning to lose hope. That’s when I decided to revisit Amos Tutuola’s “The Palm-Wine Drinkard”, a book that had inspired me years ago.
As I delved into the world of the Drinkard, I felt myself transported to a realm of wonder and magic. The story of the unnamed protagonist, driven by his love for palm wine, resonated deeply with my own search for meaning in the ancient city of Timbuktu. I saw parallels between the Drinkard’s quest for his tapster and my own protagonist’s journey, Amadou, as he navigated the complexities of love, loss, and identity.
The Drinkard’s encounters with the wraith bride and the famished ghost sparked ideas for my own tale, and I began to weave the threads of Tutuola’s narrative into my own. I imagined Amadou walking alongside the Drinkard, navigating the landscapes of both Timbuktu and the land of the dead. The themes of morality, identity, and the human condition that Tutuola explored so masterfully began to take on new dimensions in my own work.
As the night wore on, I wrote feverishly, the words flowing onto the page as the stars twinkled above. The Drinkard’s journey had become my own, and I knew that my manuscript was finally taking shape. The city of Timbuktu, with its ancient secrets and mystical energies, was beginning to reveal its secrets to me.
In the silence of the night, I realized that “The Palm-Wine Drinkard” is more than just a captivating novel – it’s a gateway to a world of wonder and magic, a world that I was now a part of. The story follows an unnamed protagonist, often referred to as the “Drinkard”, who is obsessed with palm wine and embarks on a fantastical journey to find his deceased tapster in the land of the dead. Through his adventures, the Drinkard encounters various spirits, creatures, and supernatural beings, exploring themes of morality, identity, and the human condition.
Tutuola’s unique writing style, often described as a blend of pidgin English and lyrical prose, adds to the book’s enchanting and dreamlike quality. The novel has been praised for its innovative storytelling, rich cultural context, and exploration of African mythology, making it a must-read for anyone interested in African literature, magical realism, and classic novels that have shaped the literary landscape.
As I closed the book, feeling a sense of peace wash over me, I knew that I was ready to complete my manuscript. “The Palm-Wine Drinkard” had been the catalyst I needed to bring my story to life, and I was grateful for the inspiration it had brought me.
