by
EZENWA NWAOKORO
AUTHOR’S NOTEI feel it very necessary taking up this emergency theme, of also our time, WAR.Human history is full of wars. Empires rose by wars, lasted on wars and all fell to wars. Nations still rise against nations. Mankind has witnessed two World Wars, while the third threatens for the worst, to be fought with supra nuclear weapons. Innocent people are the daily victims of new forms of warfare, including neo-colonialism and terrorism. Times have also seen all kinds of recurrent natural disasters. But man is still habitually active in many more suicidal global tragedies.Today the human family has arrived at the age when modern tools of communication are increasingly unifying the World in all spheres of life. War and other catastrophes in any part of the Earth are directly or indirectly felt everywhere. Each news of war creates international reaction that affects public life and upsets the peace of human society as a whole. Horrors of war come with irreparable damages. Humanitarian crisis often occurs. Genocide, mass displacement and other bewildering acts against humanity challenge sanity. Wars currently being witnessed all over the World show the notorious extent of human calamity consciously being caused by man. Yet, the outbreak of more wars continues to defile and frustrate International pacific efforts wanting to end war permanently on Earth. Huge funds, materials and human resources are yet, being wasted by peaceful but insecure states keeping armies whiles hunger, malnutrition, diseases, homelessness, death, tears and sorrow are the order of the day in war and poverty troubled areas of the World. Ironically enough, war is not a natural disaster. It is an artificial creation of man and it forms a big part of government policies. The wisdom of human civilization, is therefore questionable if war remains the ultimate means of conflict resolution between nations. This book is aimed at affecting young minds of the present and future generations. I use animal fables and other forms of folklores, inspired by my grandmother earlier in my life in making the story. That offers me better and familiar means of addressing young ones who will become leaders of nations. I do think that most national leaders, who take decisions to go to war, have done so mainly because the common literatures of their childhood had unfortunately glorified war. This narrative also shows animals with senses of humour, love, organisation, choice, friendship, survival and family etc. These, help us to compare our attitudes with the characteristics of animals, as a mirror of human behaviour. Such abstraction turns us into an audience, to observe a stage replica of man’s worst social vice, in a simple but unforgettable form. The text is written in verses of seven lines, for easy reading and clarity. The huge historic tragedy of the World War, is reduced into a small childish comedy. Although the story is principally meant for juniors of 10-20years old; it is not my intention to impose limits on the literary values that could be derived from it, by the adults. Human World is an Animal World and Animal World is also an Human World.Each animal in the tale represents a human profession. - Vulture (scavenger bird) represents business interest - Owl (informer wondering bird) represents public rumour- Bat (nocturnal - coal-dirty - a blacksmith) represents weapon industry- Weaverbirds (noisily clustering coloured birds) represent mass media- Lion, shark and hawk (flesh devouring animals) represent military profession- Mantis (seemingly meditative creature) represents religion- Dove (peaceful and friendly) represents pacifisms- Sheep and Ram (very feminine and masculine respectively) represent Love- Cockerels and Frogs (periodic noise raisers) represent state propaganda etc. The Earth is recreated into animal planet of three continental nations.These are: Amaland, nation of land animals Zaquinia, nation of water animals Airecia, nation of air animals Main characters in the drama are: Banetus a Vulture businessman Sadowin an Owl Sadist rumour monger Domigan an Elephant king of Amaland Megalord a Whale king of Zaquinia Hugozone an Eagle king of Airecia Patrick a Parrot diplomat Airecian Foreign Minister Titus a Lion Amaland Military chief and Defence Minister Chaka a Shark Zaquinian Defence Minister Morana a Dove Peace maker Babarube a Mantis Religious preacher Gregory and Gloria are Ram and Sheep Lovers…. The reader should always use symbolism in order to receive with ease the messages of this story of Nature. I set out with ANIMAL WORLD WAR to give a word to someone and leave a voice for all; against war and for peace. I hope the story will be a source of inspiration to the younger generations, helping to make wiser decisions and leading to a general life equilibrium among Peoples and Nations. Ezenwa Nwaokoro
