Title: The Great Ponds
Reviewer: Ibn Yahweh
Publication date: May 1, 1973
Genre: Prose Fiction (African)
If there is a book that tells the story of African life in ancient times in such lucid and fluid prose, it will be Elechi Amadi’s “The Great Ponds.” The rustic charm that pervades his fictional prose sparks a brilliant imagination in the mind of the reader about life in Africa in ancient times. With intelligence, the author scripted a story that remains central in the discourse on ancient African life.
Amadi weaves the tale of two tribal villages, Chiolu and Aliakoro, in ancient Eastern Nigeria, which dragged its feet into the colonial and imperial interests of the so-called “Christian” British Empire. Both villages are embroiled in a feud over the ponds of Wagaba which seem to hold economic benefits as in these ponds are housed fishes which served as a source of livelihood for the people for Chiolu. The people of Aliakoro came encroaching on the pond claiming rights to fish in the ponds as it belonged to their ancestors, but the claims, based on oral history, could not be proven.
The villages engaged in armed and bloody fisticuffs which led to the exile of men from both sides to the world beyond. In the center of the plot is Olumba, a warrior of no ordinary repute from Chiolu, who was appointed to halt the poaching activities of the men of Aliakoro upon the pond and Wago, the Leopard killer, who would not retire from laying claims to the ownership of the pond. The war becomes so severe that other villages had to wade in and a conclusion was reached. Olumba is to swear an oath and if the oath is against him, he dies. Olumba shakily survives the terrible influenza disease that invades the land which the villagers attributed to the judgment of the god by which he swore.
Amadi, through his pen, has presented to us the communal African life in ancient times coupled with its beliefs and practices. As proof to the pontificating hypocritical “Christian” missionaries who mauled Africans in false narratives, he deftly shows us how ancient democratic government was organized in the ancient Igbo society and this is evidenced in the way the villagers would gather to discuss issues affecting the land. In such gatherings, everyone had a say. No one was gagged. Beliefs are also exposed in the book.
Cleverly, Amadi points out the ignorance of ancient Africans in the way the great influenza disease 1918 which invaded the earth was attributed to the gods. Herbs were used in treating sicknesses, incantations, and sacrifices were made to propitiate the gods.
The pond, which became a bone of contention became useless when the disease invaded earth as everyone fell ill. The author points out an important message in crisis management_that little crises if not properly managed can descend into a Hobbesian state of harmony.
In the book, the author further teaches that leadership without wisdom, is a call for disaster. Wago, the Leopard killer, led the men of Aliakoro into the senseless battle over a pond. He died and the pond was of no benefit to him. This reveals a salient truth; that mankind shouldn’t be tight_fisted over the things we met here as it is worthless. A philosoher_king from the Middle East of ancient times put it succinctly; “vanity over vanity, all is vanity.”
The author can be placed in the league of Chinua Achebe and this is due to his use of simple diction to pass a powerful message about Africa and Africans in ancient times. In conclusion, the book remains a classic of African Literature for lovers of African writing.
Ibn Yahweh
