A blistering political satire that is by turns funny and deeply disturbing.

Wole Soyinka is one of Nigeria's most prominent and celebrated literary voices. Among his
many accolades, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Since then, he has
published plays, essays, memoirs and poetry, but Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest
People on Earth is his first novel in nearly 50 years. Chronicles is a vast satirical tome, an
absurdist political thriller that, whilst occasionally hilarious, is laced with broiling, bitter anger.
Set in a semi-fictionalized Nigeria, Soyinka's tale of political conspiracy rails against the rank
corruption of elites and condemns the rampant brutality committed in the name of religion.

In Chronicles, power is concentrated in the hands of two equally despicable, ridiculous figures
— Sir Godfrey Danfere, the prime minister (or "People's Steward," as he prefers to be known),
and Papa Davina, a self-styled spiritual leader. By working in collusion, the two men have
achieved a masterful stranglehold over the nation, disguising the depths of their corruption
under superficial acts of bravura. Sir Godfrey is a kind of political caricature, whose obsession
with appearing a good leader far surpasses any interest in being one.

Papa Davina cuts a more interesting and enigmatic figure. This is partly because he is given a
richly detailed backstory, but it is also because spiritual leadership is a far more insidious
disguise for personal greed. Through largely criminal means, "Papa D" has elevated himself to
become the head of a church, Ekumenica, which practices all religions (he comically appears in
a different religious "costume" each time he meets the public). Ostensibly designed to unify
Christianity and Islam, the church is actually little more than a vehicle for Davina's own corrupt
ends. Papa D's origin story could almost be called picaresque, were it not for the extent of his
moral decrepitude. Forced to abandon his studies in the United Kingdom after being accused of
rape, he embarks on a long journey of self-creation that takes him to America and across
Africa. Though Soyinka pokes fun at Papa D's warped conscience to great effect, he is also one
of the more frightening characters in the book. As long as it is in his own interest, he can
commit heinous acts without hesitation or remorse.

Within the landscape shaped and tended by these two corrupt leaders, the central storyline
emerges. It concerns two close friends, a contemplative surgeon named Kighare Menka and a
bombastic engineer named Duyole Pitan-Payne. Both have built successful careers, but their
lives are derailed when Menka is approached by a shadowy underground network trafficking in
the sale of human body parts. The business (dubbed, in blackest humor, "Human Resources") is
a lucrative one, as body parts are in high demand for use in ritual practices. Disgusted, Menka
confides in Pitan-Payne (who is due to leave Nigeria to work for the United Nations), and the
two become determined to expose those involved. This is a fraught task, as the network extends
to the highest echelons of power. However, the true danger lies closer to home, as the
corruption they have unearthed has roots extending far deeper into their personal lives than
they could imagine.

Whilst Chronicles is in many ways excellent, it would not be unreasonable to say that it is a
difficult book. The plot is so densely woven that it sometimes feels like wandering blindly
through a thicket, with so many layers that it veers towards the convoluted. Soyinka's writing is
a little baroque, and he has a habit of dropping you into situations first and explaining later. Yet
criticisms of style feel frivolous when placed against the importance of the themes he
addresses, and the power with which he conveys his message. To be able to do so with such
eloquence, not to mention humor, is a great gift.

There is little hope to be found within Chronicles; no light emerges at the end and no good
intentions are met with just outcomes. It's perhaps telling that, at the book's launch in Ibadan,
the capital of Oyo State in Nigeria, Soyinka described 2020 as "one of the most pessimistic
years I have known in this nation and it wasn't just because of COVID-19." However,
addressing oppression with brutal honesty can be a step towards resolution. If there is
something hopeful about Chronicles, it is perhaps that it has been written at all.

Mostly a social commentary. Mostly a satire. Mostly political. Mostly very long. Mostly enjoyable. Mostly read only half understood. Writing was complex. It really took an effort.

I started this book three times. Each time I came all the way to mid point and I ended up flipping the first page. I don’t quite know why but I couldn’t connect with the story. I expected to be an entertaining satire, but I had hard time connecting with characters. I’m hoping to reread this book at some point in time again to give it the attention it requires. But that time is obviously not now

This book is a powerful, deeply distressing read. For me particularly, given that the situation in my country is very similar to Soyinka's writing about Nigeria, it had particular resonance.
Dr.Menka, a dedicated surgeon, stumbles upon a macabre thriving business-the sale of body parts for witchcraft/religious rituals ( and this continues in several parts of India as well, to the extent that a famous rationalist, a man who would travel the country trying to dispel these beliefs, was killed for his pains.) The book traces Dr.Menka's efforts to expose this,and bring the culprits to justice, with the help of his friend Duyole Pitan-Payne, a talented engineer who's in the process of taking up an assignment at the UN. How this unfolds forms the rest of the book. THis might be the narrative force driving the story, but it serves more as a way for Soyinka to interrogate the the insidious creep of wide spread corruption, the institutional rot, Boko Haram and people just trying to survive, and the co-option of religion into government to sway the minds of a mostly poor, deeply religious populace. It's very darkly funny, but the situations he describes are horrifying, in countries where there isn't a free press, and where systems of justice are easily perverted. The book has clearly been written in a state of rage and despair, and Soyinka does not spare the reader at all. It's a stark depiction of institutionalised corruption, with an ending that's an absolute gut-punch.
This isn't an easy read, but it's deeply important. Please read this, for an unvarnished view at the state of societies in several parts of the world.

Hm...this one wasn't for me. I felt I had to navigate a maelstrom of plotlines to find the meat of it. I did like the Frankensteinian theme of selling body parts from a hospital for ritualistic purposes, but I overall felt the novel tended to pontificate a lot. I think anyone who likes a drawn out political satire that gets into the weeds would like this book, because it does cover a lot of interesting points related to economy, commerce, history, and politics. However, I was mostly lost and felt maybe I am not smart or informed enough for this novel.

"Chronicle from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth" is a scathing satire of a fictionalised modern Nigeria. There is a plot to this lengthy work but it takes quite a while before we have any understanding of it. The writer takes us on a journey into scenes from a variety of characters, from Papa Davina, a modern-day charlatan of a religious leader, to Sir Goddie, a prime minister whose main objective is to make sure he's elected for another term, to Dr. Menka and Duyole Pitan-Payne, two members of a gang of four from their youth who seem to be about the only ones with a moral compass in this story.

I will admit this was a difficult read, especially for the first half of the book. In the second half, we finally are into the real plot and it feels like things are happening. Before that, it kind of meanders back and forth between characters, giving the reader a background to support the story. There were times I didn't think I would be able to finish but I'm glad I stuck with it because there is a good story buried in there. I just think it perhaps could have been reduced in terms of the expansive background that was created.

One thing that did come of all the words is a real sense of the corruption that exists in the world, no matter whether it be first-world or not. There's a tedium to the process of effecting positive changes much of the time and one can never be assured of things right to the end. Someone is always plotting behind the scenes and second-guessing is part of the way things work.

For the most part, I did like this book in the end. I just thought it could have been better than it was. I'm also not certain how I feel about the ending. In a way, it does suit the style of the story but it also left a lot of questions in my mind. Overall I'm rating this 3.5 stars. I would like to thank Netgalley and Pantheon for providing freely an advanced reader copy. This review is written voluntarily.

I don’t know anything about Nigerian society or politics, so a book satirizing them is way over my head. This was just confusing to me. If the book had been shorter I might have soldiered on, but I didn’t enjoy the writing style and I wasn’t willing to spend 22 hours on the audiobook. I had not reached the events described in the blurb, when I abandoned the book. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

There is no doubt that Soyinka is a writer whose talents transcend time and place. Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth is a rich story that ties together commentary on society, politics, religion, and more against the primary backdrop of contemporary Nigeria.

A master of literature returns with a dense, clever novel of his nation’s politics. Fiction may not be Soyinka’s best form, but he’s always relevant and incisive.

This novel is Wole Soyinka’s first novel for a long time since Season of Anatomy (1972). I’ll have to admit that I picked this book solely because the label says that Soyinka won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986 and the premise in the description sounds interesting to me. Soyinka’s latest novel made me struggle a lot from the first chapter alone, what with the complexities of the story. The setting is an imaginary Nigeria, but I could take the cue of the satirical message behind the characters and the plots which seem to be a critique towards the massive corruption and religious intolerance plaguing Nigeria, which is said as the largest economy in Africa for the time being.

The writing style makes me confused, and at times I could not make a head or tail on the characters. In the first chapter, I thought Davina would be the main problem in this story, only to be introduced to several characters again in the next few chapters with description that seems sporadic. Sadly, I don’t have the necessary knowledge about Nigerian politics or socio-cultural contexts to understand the message underlined by Soyinka. I think it probably has something to do with the medium that Soyinka often use to tell his story is through plays. It’s as absurd as to think that Brecht attempt to write a novel, but again this is my first take of Soyinka, I have yet to read his first two novels which were published around 50 years ago.

I had to admit defeat with this one. It’s been described as “A political satire and murder mystery, and a lament for the spirit of his (Soyinka’s) native Nigeria.” This much I managed to glean. It’s Soyinka’s first novel in 48 years and only the third in his long and successful career, and essentially I don’t think it’s a very successful one. The plot is convoluted, it’s very long, there are just so many characters, it’s all a bit wild – though I believe based on reality – and I found it just too sprawling and heavy-handed. Corruption is the central theme, as is fundamentalism and the colonial legacy, but for me it just didn’t come together into a coherent whole. It’s perhaps aimed more at an insider readership, those who would understand the in-jokes and references. I personally couldn’t find the humour. My failing, perhaps, but there you are. Eventually I gave up trying. Maybe one day I will try again. But then again, maybe not….

OOf, not for me. If you spend more time flipping through the pages instead of reading or enjoying it, then you know something's wrong.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC, but this just wasn't for me.

Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth is a sharp and richly written political satire with interwoven plots and attention grabbing twists. Soyinka is a masterful writer and his thoughtfulness and skill shine in this tale of intrigue, corruption, and morality set in an imagined version of Nigeria. I enjoyed this story start to finish and highly recommend it. I'm looking forward to reading some of Soyinka's earlier works. His style is undeniably powerful and his biting political commentary shines.

Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth by Wole Soyinka is a satire in an imagined Nigeria that definitely has a bite to it. This novel is well written and beautiful at times and other times, it was dense and drawn out. Overall, the writing was great and the characters were well-written and complex. This novel was a lot. It was heavy, wordy, and required a lot of attention which was well worth it in the end, but it’s definitely not a “quick read” if that’s what you’re looking for. I couldn’t give it 5 stars due to the fact that it was so wordy and long and at times, I felt myself having to really “push” through to the end, but am happy I did and feel like it was a 4 star read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I won't dive too deep into the plot on this since, like with so many literary texts, the plot isn't really the point. The characters are super interesting and well-developed, and the writing is as beautiful and skilled as you'd expect from a Nobel prize winning author. I think this will absolutely end up being considered a modern classic.

So why didn't I give this a five-star?

Like so many "works of literature" this was not an easy read. The text is complex, asking more of the reader than any pop novel and even some "lighter" intellectual works. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who doesn't enjoy reading dense texts. If you do like intense writing but aren't looking for it just this minute, than put this on your TBR until the time is right.

Also, I didn't factor this into my rating but normally I consider myself reasonably intelligent and this made me think "wow, I'm not nearly as smart as I think I am." Anyone else get that?

Wole Soyinka is just as witty and incisive in this novel as he was 50 years ago! I am blown away by his ambitious return to fiction, seeking to demystify modern Nigeria in all its complexity, humor, decadence and human frailty.
This is an expansive story taking us on a journey from rural Nigeria to ICE camps in the US to country clubs and religious movements. The nexus between religion, government, business and emerging hubs like the media is unveiled in a way that highlights the web of the powerful and the ambition of those who would seek their due.
I found myself returning to deft turns of phrase, laughing over Nigerian jokes and just completely immersed in a dynamic narrative that never ceases to surprise and also educate.

Despite him being a living literary powerhouse, Wole Soyinka was an unknown figure to me until I was granted the opportunity to read his latest work, “Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People on Earth.” As soon as I started the book, the skills that won him a Nobel Prize immediately became obvious from the way I found myself immediately tossed right into the middle of comically exaggerated Nigeria crafted into being by his complexly detailed writing.

Unfortunately, after getting roughly a fifth of the way in I find myself unable to proceed much further. The denseness of the narrative may make the story rich, but it also makes it hard for me to progress without repeatedly getting temporarily lost along the way. Also, I confess that I have a very, very weak knowledge of contemporary culture, socioeconomics, and general knowledge of modern day Nigeria in general, despite it possessing the largest population and economy in all of Africa and being one of the most diverse countries on the planet, amongst other standout features. As a result, I think that not only is this lack of familiarity leading to my overall confusion and difficulty with keeping up with the story, but it’s probably also ensuring that 99.9% of all the satire that Soyinka is injecting into the book is going entirely over my head.

So it’s with a sizable sense of disappointment that I put aside this title, or at least for now. Not that it’s because of the quality of the story or writing. It’s just that this doesn’t seem like a good reading fit for me personally - and I suspect that others with a similar lack of familiarity with the book’s setting and who also don’t normally read such densely busy books will probably experience challenges that are none too different.

A long, complex book, capable of feinting with the reader, leading them first in one direction and then in the other, among politics, religion (or rather, superstition), tribalism, apparently paradoxical and humorous, with each page becoming more and more involving and profound, to the point of not being able to let go, until the final deception, which leaves one bewildered and completely breathless. An imaginary Nigeria that is the paradigm of the entire western civilisation is the background to this literary monument, in a text that chastises former oppressed and former oppressors alike, both categories driven only by greed.

I was captivated by the opportunity to read a new book from Wole Soyinka — a talent for words and story in many layers, worth re-reading and sharing.