The Beauty of Being, A Collection of Fables, Short Stories & Essays
by Abiodun Oyewole
with an Introduction by Felipe Luciano
APR. 2018 | ISBN: 978-1-940939-74-2 (Print)
JUN. 2018 | ISBN: 978-1-940939-83-4 (eBook)
BOOK INFO | AVAILABLE @ AMAZON
I first met Abiodun Oyewole in 2003. I was cohost to phatLiterature, A Literary TV Program, which broadcast on public access and college stations throughout the country. We did an episode entitled “The Politics of Poetry,” and I asked Abiodun if he would be interested in participating and he said yes. We’ve been in each other’s sphere ever since.
Abiodun is a man of many talents, but he is first and foremost known as the cofounder and a key member of The Last Poets. When I published his first book, BRANCHES OF THE TREE OF LIFE in 2014, I had a unique opportunity to see what most people don’t see: a multifaceted artist that has grown into the role of philosopher and internationalist.
When we were working on BRANCHES, Abiodun had discussed as a future project the publication of his short stories. In time, the concept of this book would evolve into something else along with the life changes that Abiodun would face in the intervening years. When he submitted the manuscript, at first, I didn’t know what to make of it.
But this is what Abiodun does, he makes you think. He does things unconsciously that magically and, in some instances, unexpectedly, fall into place. THE BEAUTY OF BEING? What is that? What does it mean? It took me a while to figure it out, but when I finally did, it was breathtaking.
It took several months to come up with an appropriate cover design, which ended up featuring an Orisha from the Yoruba religion. As I went through the stories, I slowly began to realize their value, their connection, and as a result added the subtitle, A COLLECTION OF FABLES, SHORT STORIES AND ESSAYS, with the travelogue stories the centerpiece of the book. What I discovered during this process is that Abiodun is brilliant at evoking social nuance and has an unfailing eye for the tiniest detail that shines light on the whole. It is the essence of this collection; it is the essence of his being.
This is a small book. It is 166 pages. Not all books have to be big and huge; sometimes small is better, more satisfying. Sometimes, short-story collections prove to be a solution to folks who are too busy to read. Sometimes, it’s a good way for publishers to test drive a new author, or for an author who wants to break into a new genre without committing to a long book. For Abiodun, it was about publishing work that he had been doing (unbeknownst to the public) for a long time, and he wanted to see it published. But it was also something else . . . he felt he had something to say, to get off his chest, to share of himself, these personal stories and life lessons that hopefully readers may find meaningful. And that really is what Abiodun and his book, THE BEAUTY OF BEING is all about.
