Question 4
BAYO ADEBOWALE: Lonely Days
How does Ajumobi’s death contribute to the development of the plot.
Observation
This was a popular question. However, many candidates couldn’t point out how Ajumobi’s death advanced the plot. They were only able to point out how events in the novel were narrated through the use of flashback.
The required answers should include:
* Ajumobi’s death brings to the fore the plight of Yaremi and other widows.
* It sets the chain of Yaremi’s suffering as a widow in motion, e.g. her loneliness, ostracism.
* It unearths some of the superstitions and cultural practices of the society.
* It engenders flashback in Yaremi which underscores her love for her late husband.
* His death does not kill his memory. He is used as a measure to assess other men, e.g. the three suitors at the cap-picking ceremony.
Candidates’ performance in this question was fair.