"The Road to Bauchi and Other Poems: A Concise Review by Sani Gambo, PhD

"THE ROAD TO BAUCHI AND OTHER POEMS: A CONCISE REVIEW
by Sani Gambo, PhD

Denja Abdullahi's new book, "The Road to Bauchi and Other Poems", is a slim volume of 42 short poems grouped into 4 sections, namely: "Bauchi Poems", "Haiku Poems", "Of People and places", & "Receding Song". This poetic harvest is a carnival in a way, a feast of creativity which is lyrical, nostalgic, & contemplative in parts. It is a festival of life & a celebration of humanity. In this volume, especially in the section titled "Bauchi Poems", Bauchi, herself a symbol of Northern Nigeria, assumes the status of a protagonist, a heroine which the poet celebrates and interrogates from different angles, with allusions to several features, physical & historical landmarks, & personalities. 

The poems reflect the beautiful landscapes of Northern Nigeria through graphic description of her geography & natural environment. In this guise, the poet engages in critical social commentaries on human life & existence in Northern Nigeria in a language that is simple, lucid, & descriptive. In the section, "Haiku Poems", the poet, in his usual experimental approach, delves into the Japanese tradition of haiku poetry. A haiku poem is usually composed of three unrhymed lines of seventeen syllables. In his quest for novelty, the poet goes on to reproduce some of the poems in the Japanese script. "Of People and Places" is a group of poems either inspired by, or dedicated to cherished personalities & places in Northern Nigeria where the poet lives most of his life. Some of these poems are philosophical in the way they contemplate the nature of human existence, while others are nostalgic in tone.

 "Songs of My Fathers", the only poem in "Receding Song", uncovers the poet's relentless search for rest in a world of chaos & unrest. "The Road to Bauchi and Other Poems" is an arresting collection on various thematic subjects. The poet's adventurous imagination is manifest in the experimentation with haiku poetry. 

The language of the poems is simple & inviting to the average reader. As a book which can be described as poetry for everyman, Denja's work is undoubtedly a worthy contribution to the African tradition of letters.