MEASURING TIME
Helon Habila
The novel is essentially about the time and life of a family – the Lamangs. It follows the birth and growing-up process of two twin brothers; Mamo and Lamamo – how their mother died while giving birth to them and the role their father played contributory to her death. It showed the bitterness that grew in them when they heard all the exploits of their father and how their mother, desperately in love, was ignored by him. This bitterness would define their path and shape their character in life.
Lamamo was the more vibrant, ‘strong’ and extroversive of the two brothers. His dream of fame and wanting to escape from home leads him into series of adventures outside his village where he joins rebel groups fighting in various part of Africa as volunteer soldiers. In the course of doing so, he losses an eye, then marries in far-away Guinea but eventually returns home to lead a revolt in the village.
His brother Mamo, though equally ambitious and also eager to escape the clutches and over bearing shadows of his father, could not leave the village because he was sickly. But where his ailment would have been a major draw-back to his dreams, the young man makes a success story of his time and stay in the village – rising to become one of the most revered and admired youths.
The story captures lively images of the two brothers’ lives; describing in some details, mamo’s first sexual experience to when he met and fell in love with his true love – Zara.
Psychologically, the novel shows how much of nearly all human behaviour is anchored on unconscious process – so we see that all of the two main characters; Mamo and Lamamo’s actions were mere reactions to the their father.
But then, there were several other characters that added the grains and spices to the nutritious fulfilment and enjoyment of the story. These other characters includes the twin brothers’ aunt; aunt Mariana; the Christian, uncompromisingly devoted to God as she is to the twin brothers, then there is the three vivacious widows; in-love with the boys’ father, there is also their atrocious, drinking and deviant cousin- Asabar, the two old, white and unmarried American sisters living in the hills, and Zara; Mamo’s exoteric lover who twice went and married and divorced two other persons, yet remained endearingly in love with Mamo.
The language is very descriptive, giving the story a realistic imagery as if the narrator; an all-seeing observer is with a camera reporting the actions of the various characters as he takes the reader through the locations.
The novel is also full of beautiful dialogues that appeals to the senses. For instance, there is the reference to the hills, the trees and general greenery, the whiff of marijuana smoke, all of which appeals to the sense of smell and sight. Then, there is the violence; the fighting at the various war-fronts, the suffering long walk, burying the dead, carrying the injured and killing of the village witch.
The plot is straight forward and simple, arrange in the order of occurrences and the sub plots helps to reflect and reveal the unique personalities and stories of the different other characters.
The work is of the life and time of the Lamang at a defined physical location – a village somewhere in the northern part of Nigeria. But what is most interesting is that the author then takes the reader on an exploratory journey through the other countries of Africa. The reader through the activities and encounters of Lamamo, is exposed to the manipulations, corruptions and senselessness of the various wars that have raged and still on-going in various parts of Africa.
The lessons are subtly delivered but very poignant. The tone, though light-hearted has serious undercurrent. Parts of that lesson are that life is largely unpredictable and love, true love that is, is a very powerful emotion that can endure adversity. But for me as a reader, the beauty of the novel is the end story of Lamamo. All his suffering form for me, as animal lover, is palliative; life will always have its revenge, thank God, I declared at the end of reading the novel.
Helon Habila’s novel ‘Measuring time’ is a historical and psychological fiction made real by a combination of well crafted symbolism and naturalism. It is an exciting work and a delightful read.
The novel is essentially about the time and life of a family – the Lamangs. It follows the birth and growing-up process of two twin brothers; Mamo and Lamamo – how their mother died while giving birth to them and the role their father played contributory to her death. It showed the bitterness that grew in them when they heard all the exploits of their father and how their mother, desperately in love, was ignored by him. This bitterness would define their path and shape their character in life.
Lamamo was the more vibrant, ‘strong’ and extroversive of the two brothers. His dream of fame and wanting to escape from home leads him into series of adventures outside his village where he joins rebel groups fighting in various part of Africa as volunteer soldiers. In the course of doing so, he losses an eye, then marries in far-away Guinea but eventually returns home to lead a revolt in the village.
His brother Mamo, though equally ambitious and also eager to escape the clutches and over bearing shadows of his father, could not leave the village because he was sickly. But where his ailment would have been a major draw-back to his dreams, the young man makes a success story of his time and stay in the village – rising to become one of the most revered and admired youths.
The story captures lively images of the two brothers’ lives; describing in some details, mamo’s first sexual experience to when he met and fell in love with his true love – Zara.
Psychologically, the novel shows how much of nearly all human behaviour is anchored on unconscious process – so we see that all of the two main characters; Mamo and Lamamo’s actions were mere reactions to the their father.
But then, there were several other characters that added the grains and spices to the nutritious fulfilment and enjoyment of the story. These other characters includes the twin brothers’ aunt; aunt Mariana; the Christian, uncompromisingly devoted to God as she is to the twin brothers, then there is the three vivacious widows; in-love with the boys’ father, there is also their atrocious, drinking and deviant cousin- Asabar, the two old, white and unmarried American sisters living in the hills, and Zara; Mamo’s exoteric lover who twice went and married and divorced two other persons, yet remained endearingly in love with Mamo.
The language is very descriptive, giving the story a realistic imagery as if the narrator; an all-seeing observer is with a camera reporting the actions of the various characters as he takes the reader through the locations.
The novel is also full of beautiful dialogues that appeals to the senses. For instance, there is the reference to the hills, the trees and general greenery, the whiff of marijuana smoke, all of which appeals to the sense of smell and sight. Then, there is the violence; the fighting at the various war-fronts, the suffering long walk, burying the dead, carrying the injured and killing of the village witch.
The plot is straight forward and simple, arrange in the order of occurrences and the sub plots helps to reflect and reveal the unique personalities and stories of the different other characters.
The work is of the life and time of the Lamang at a defined physical location – a village somewhere in the northern part of Nigeria. But what is most interesting is that the author then takes the reader on an exploratory journey through the other countries of Africa. The reader through the activities and encounters of Lamamo, is exposed to the manipulations, corruptions and senselessness of the various wars that have raged and still on-going in various parts of Africa.
The lessons are subtly delivered but very poignant. The tone, though light-hearted has serious undercurrent. Parts of that lesson are that life is largely unpredictable and love, true love that is, is a very powerful emotion that can endure adversity. But for me as a reader, the beauty of the novel is the end story of Lamamo. All his suffering form for me, as animal lover, is palliative; life will always have its revenge, thank God, I declared at the end of reading the novel.
Helon Habila’s novel ‘Measuring time’ is a historical and psychological fiction made real by a combination of well crafted symbolism and naturalism. It is an exciting work and a delightful read.
Comments