Orchestra of Minorities: A tale of sacrifice and tragedy in the name of love
Shelve Romeo and Juliet, Chinonso and Ndali are the new star-crossed lovers you should be rooting for. One of the most heartwarming lines from the book that describes their love goes, “He has erected a figurine in the shrine of her heart.” Chigozie Obioma writes about an all-consuming romance that he warns from the first page is laced with tragedy. His first book, The Fishermen, laid a great testament to his storytelling prowess. Orchestra of Minorities is more refined and carefully constructed, connecting you with the characters quite strongly.
Narrated by Nonso’s guardian spirit “chi”, we follow as he comes to intercede for his host’s life due to the crime he just committed. He recounts his host’s life to his fellow spirits in a supernatural court. The narration leads to interesting interjections to fellow spirits across the story. “GAGANAOGWU, the daily life of lovers often begins to share resemblances, so that, in time, each day becomes indistinguishable from the one that came before it,” one of such interjection reads. Having a third-person omniscient narrator provides witty humour, like the part that talks about the challenges of dealing with a host who always misplaces his key and never seems to find his cell phone. He imbues the story with rich Ibo folklore, making it even more funny and interesting.
Set in modern-day Nigeria, we are introduced to the improbable and entrancing love between Nonso, the chicken farmer and Ndali, a trainee pharmacist. The bond begins when he talks her down from jumping from a highway bridge one night. When Ndali’s wealthy parents object to the union because of his lack of education, status, and wealth, he impulsively decides to sell his possessions to get a foreign education in Cyprus.
There’s little surprise when Nonso arrives in Cyprus to find that he’s been duped. He fails at his attempt for redress, has to deal with the city’s racism — as passers-by ask to touch his hair and call him a slave. He gets a helping hand from an ex-pat nurse, only for her husband to ruin Nonso’s chances of getting a degree or even going home. It gets more heartbreaking as the world seems determined to keep Nonso away from his love, Ndali and his dreams of returning to his farm.
Aside from the gripping plot, the book is a literary delight. It is narrated captivatingly and vividly. It is spell-binding when it describes their love — Nonso wished he would take the centre of her life, dwell around the boundaries, and seal up the limit. It’s a delight even when talking about mundane activities. In the description of things that move about in Nonso’s vision without making a memory emerged this gem: they “appear like weak animals who pound their fists against the sealed door of his noiseless humanity and then retreat.”
Given the litany of issues our continent faces, our literature — fiction and non-fiction — are usually interesting commentaries on our overall society. Chigozie Obioma’s book departs from this tradition and tells a simple story of a man who is determined to rise above his lot for the woman he loves. He fights against a world determined as well to relegate him to the sidelines. The inherent tragedy of battling fate for a lover elevates this ethereal romance above others.
Orchestra of Minorities is an all-round delight, from its gripping plot to its vivid language. We follow Chigozie in a world filled with magic but rooted in reality. It is a heart-wrenching tale of love, fate, and determination. Chigozie Obioma’s Orchestra of Minorities is a MUST READ, a beautiful story about lovers who attempt to defy fate.
If you liked this, find another published review of First Woman by Jennifer Makumbi.
Special thanks to Olamide Makinde for editing this piece
