Book Review : Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John

Born on a tuesday is a book that tackles modern Nigeria's extremely complex religious landscape with great insight, it shows the rise of Islamic extremism in Nigeria as experienced by a young man named DANTALA  which literally means "born on a tuesday ".

The story is set in far North Western Nigeria, and told from dantala perspective. Born on a Tuesday opens following a gang of street boys who are hanging in the streets and getting up to non good. They spend time smoking, pillaging, Committing random acts of violence. During the elections, the boys were paid by the small party to cause trouble, when their attempt to burn down the opposition local headquarters ends in disaster, dantala alias ahmad runs for his dear life leaving his best friend behind. He makes his way to a mosque that provides him food, shelter and guidance.

Before long, dantala becomes a favoured apprentice to the mosque sheik due to his
modest nature. During his stay at the mosque, dantala saw something he had only read and heard about, but catching his roommates Bilal and Abdulkareem in the act of sodomy was something dantala never bargained for.

Not long after that, dantala met jibril who later became his best friend and confidant also he met Aisha the sheik daughter whom he fell in love with. Over time, he is faced with a terrible conflict of loyalty as one of the sheik's closest advisors begins to raise his own radical movement. When bloodshed erupts in the city around him, dantala must decide what kind of Muslim and what kind of man he wants to be.



Rating : 8/10

Verdict : anyone seeking to see beyond the media's portrayal of BOKO HARAM must read this book.....its such a sad story with so much insight about life on the other side.



I hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as I did and am sure this review would be helpful. XXX