By Emmanuel Daraloye

In the earliest days of Africans, before the advent of colonialism, African society was rooted in oral literature, to pass down histories, teach values, and also entertain.

Among the Yorubas of the Nigerian people, the hunters chanted Ijala, and from the mouths of the betrothed females were the Ekun Iyawo.

The Igbos told Ifo under the moonlight, and the Hausa Griots spelt out Tatsuniya, all laced with other elements of the oral tradition.

The Anansesem of the Akan people of Ghana, the Hadithi of the East Africans, the Izibongo of the Zulu people of South Africa, too can never be forgotten. This was the origin, when things had not fallen apart – also, the foundations of African literature. Hence, African literature has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from the oral traditions that once carried history in the voices of griots, storytellers, and praise singers.

The crossing of the colonial masters, and the arrival of the missionaries, brought about a chaotic disruption to these oral traditions, introducing Western education, literary forms, and a different mode of documentation. However, African writers resisted cultural erasure by reclaiming their histories through literature.

Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard (1952) was one of the earliest Nigerian novels written in English, blending folklore with surrealism in a manner that bewildered and fascinated readers. Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart (1958) directly tackled Eurocentric tales, portraying Igbo life before and during colonial rule with nuance and depth.

This work became a haven of the igbo culture, yet mirroring literally the countless cultures in Africa, and the invasion of men who came peaceably with their religion, and turned Nwoye to Isaac. Wole Soyinka, the first African Nobel laureate in Literature (1986), further solidified this reclamation with plays like Death and the King’s Horseman (1975), which not only critiqued colonialism but, also celebrated the complexities of Yoruba tradition and metaphysical beliefs.

Turbulence followed Nigeria’s independence in 1960, which earned a surge of literary expression that mirrored the political and social realities of the time. Literary artists used their craft to document the nation’s unforgettable moments. The Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) birthed powerful narratives that exposed the horrors of war and its consequences. Ken Saro-Wiwa’s Sozaboy (1985) pictured the devastation of the conflict through the voice of an uneducated soldier, written in “rotten English,” a blend of Pidgin and broken English that heightened its raw, emotional impact.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) revisited the war from a more personal lens, weaving love, betrayal, and survival into historical tragedy. These works serve not only as historical documentation but also as a means of collective healing, allowing generations to engage with their past through the power of storytelling.

Dr. Kelvin Alaneme is more than a wordsmith. He is a medical doctor, serial entrepreneur, and an empathetic mental health advocate who shapes conversations in multiple spheres. As the CEO of Mindhelpa, he challenges societal misconceptions about mental health, especially in Nigeria where psychological struggles are often dismissed as spiritual afflictions or signs of weakness.

His Ed-Tech platform, CareerEdu has been instrumental in helping young Africans seize global educational and career opportunities abroad, reflecting his broader vision of societal development beyond literature. Recognized among the GBR 100 Leaders of Tomorrow, Alaneme exemplifies how literature, medicine, and social advocacy can intersect to drive change. His literary work does not exist in isolation but is deeply connected to his advocacy, giving his stories a sense of urgency and realism. His commentary on literature, music and politics provide fresh perspectives on contemporary issues and offer unique insights into our collective societal psyche.

Alaneme’s debut novel, Nothing Spoil, immerses readers in the bustling, and hustling city of Lagos, where dreams and survival often collide in unpredictable ways, and moments. The story follows Stella, an independent young woman whose life starts to fall apart after she shelters a stranded man, Jide, for a night. What followed was a toxic relationship marked by manipulation, betrayal, and violence.

The single act of sheltering that stranded man, a seemingly kind act, ended her relationship with her boyfriend Dan, who in a fit of heartbreak, enrolls into medical school. The pair reunite eight years later, their new friendship blossoming just around the time that Dan gets engaged with Bola, his girlfriend and their wedding preparations begin in full gear. When Dan is kidnapped a week before his wedding, efforts to get him released will drag Stella into the dark underworld of kidnappings, ransom schemes, and human trafficking.

Nothing Spoil portrays the lived realities of many contemporary Nigerians. Stella represents the modern woman navigating financial constraints, societal expectations, among others. Jide, the seemingly helpless man, transforms into a master manipulator, hiding behind vulnerability. Dan, caught between privilege and responsibility, mirrors the silent struggles of men torn between tradition and personal desires. These characters breathe and pulse with authenticity, forcing readers to confront uncomfortable truths about power, gender, and society.

Unlike the traditional African literature that often centered on rural life, myths, and colonial struggles, Nothing Spoil captures the stark realities of modern Nigeria. It delves into urban survival, shifting power dynamics in relationships, and the entangled web of crime and economic disparity. Alaneme’s portrayal of human trafficking and urban crime aligns with the works of contemporary Nigerian writers like Chigozie Obioma, who’s The Fishermen (2015) explores fate and tragedy, and Oyinkan Braithwaite, whose My Sister, the Serial Killer (2018) examines crime and gender through a darkly comedic lens. The novel stands as a crucial addition to contemporary Nigerian literature, refusing to shy away from the brutal truths of its setting. Also, Alaneme’s novel brings Lagos to life through a shrewd mix of Nigerian English, Pidgin, Yoruba, and Igbo, weaving Stella’s story with raw emotions, resilience, and hope, while its nonlinear structure deepens the connection to her struggles and wins.

Despite the richness of African literature, a declining reading culture threatens its survival. In an age dominated by social media, where TikTok, Twitter threads, and Instagram captions command attention, long-form reading faces fierce competition. To combat this decline, Dr. Kelvin Alaneme offers fresh views in his belief that literature must adapt. He believes that to reignite the reading culture among Nigerians and African Gen Z, we need to meet them where they already are—on social media, digital platforms, and interactive spaces. Book discussions on TikTok and X can make reading more social, while digital and audiobooks on platforms like Bambooks and Audible fit their fast-paced lives.

Gamifying reading with leaderboards and challenges can make it more engaging, and updating school curricula with contemporary African authors ensures young readers connect with the stories. Literary festivals that blend books with music, film, and spoken word can turn reading into an experience, while influencers can help make it trendy. Modernizing libraries into cozy, tech-friendly spaces with relevant resources, would encourage Gen Zs to read. One of the heights of this is the influence from their celebrities or influencers on those social sites. Seeing a copy of a book with any of their celebrities would spur them to reading.

Literature has always been central to African society, preserving history, shaping cultural identity, and fostering unity – key pillars of nation-building. From the oral traditions of griots to the works of authors like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, who reclaimed African narratives and critiqued societal issues, literature has documented struggles and inspired change. Dr. Kelvin Alaneme continues this legacy with Nothing Spoil, a novel that captures modern Nigeria’s challenges through a cast of dynamic characters.

By blending Nigerian English, Pidgin, Yoruba, and Igbo, Alaneme creates an authentic story that reflects urban survival, gender dynamics, and crime, urging readers to confront societal truths. Through this novel, he makes a vital contribution to the discourse of authentic African stories, told by Africans. This book will certainly inspire young Africans to connect with their stories, ensuring literature remains a vital force for societal growth, cultural preservation, and nation-building.