Title: Dream Chasers (New Nigerian Stories)

Publisher: Nelson Publishers

Year of publication: 2013

Genre: Short Stories

Reviewer: Olutayo Irantiola

Dream Chasers is an anthology of short stories by different writers. However, in its diversity, the stories are relatively close to the Nigerian experience through the names, locales, and themes. The seasoned writers wrote wonderful pieces in few words, and the reader cannot easily determine each storyline because of the heavy use of suspense.

Major Nigerian cities mentioned in the anthology include Ibadan and Port-Harcourt in Camouflage; Nsukka, Orba, Onitsha in the Magic Ring; Iseyin, Okeho, and Oyo in the Great Discovery; Marina, Lagos in Love on the Marina; Ile-Ife, Onitsha, Surulere, Lagos in Tough Guys Write Poetry; and Bere, Ibadan in the House that Hunger Built. Other locations mentioned in the book include the USA, South Africa, Paris, and Zimbabwe.

The Nigerian content of the book is found in the themes of each story except in How I met Steve Biko and What Would Saffron Do? The themes include: deception, intricacies of intercultural marriage, armed robbery, single parenthood and depression in Camouflage; Incest, Western influences are evident in The Little Girl with Bussing Breasts and a Bubble Gum Laugh; Insecurity, Insurgence, HIV/AIDS, Death of Neighbour, Information shared via Social Media were mentioned in The Curtain.

Others are Voodooism, Gambling, Apprenticeship, Western education, Assumption, Religiosity explored in The Magic Ring; Traditions in The Great Discovery, Depression, Loss of a grown-child, Foreign education, dashed hope in Love on The Marina, Intertribal marriage, Affection in Too Much Pepper; Extra-marital affairs, Reminiscence in “Fur Elsie”.

Additional themes in the book include Fraud, Impersonation, Shame, and Financial challenge, as reflected in Double Wahala; the joy of reunion, joblessness, desire to travel abroad, daring nature, and love in Tough Guys Write Poetry. The House that Hunger Built is related to the tall Yoruba narrative, similar to Amos Tutuola’s style of Africanism.

The other two stories have African themes such as Xenophobia, supporting an acquaintance, bribery, doggedness, professional knowledge and assault in How I Met Steve Biko while suspicion, unaccomplished mission, and despotic leadership are themes in What Would Saffron Do?

The language is lucid and concise. Interestingly, the text is domesticated because Pidgin is infused into the book, which makes it relate closely to Nigerian readers. There are a few errors in the book; however, they might be limited to the particular copy, which is negligible.

The book is primarily and proudly Nigerian. It is a way of exporting our literary culture and nuances to other cultures and countries. It is another distinct piece by Nigerian writers.