RovingHeights Bookstore in Oniru, Lagos, is set to host a captivating book conversation with Dr. Ademola Adesola, an Assistant Professor based in Canada, on Saturday, July 5 at 2pm. The event, according to a statement, will delve into Dr. Adesola’s recently released book, Representations of Child Soldiers in Contemporary African Narratives, a critical examination of how child soldiers are portrayed in literature and by international non-governmental organizations.
The discussion promises a deep dive into the complexities surrounding the deployment of child soldiers in both symmetric and asymmetric conflicts, and how these depictions influence the narratives of children caught in the throes of war. The book, lauded for its “brilliant exposition on the impact of portraying Africa as a war-torn continent,” offers an “eclectic form of evaluation predicated firmly on textual manifestations,” as one reviewer noted.
Dr. Adesola’s work is particularly compelling as it challenges readers to form their own “guided judgment on the portrait of childhood, innocence, war, and rehabilitation” within the context of Africa’s ethnopolitical conflicts. It serves as a unique synthesis of perspectives, inviting readers to become a “third party in the evaluation of the child soldier portrait: while the author provides the argument, the reader judges it.”
The event will also feature a review and critique of the book by a former undergraduate colleague and friend of Dr. Adesola from Obafemi Awolowo University. This promises a dynamic and insightful exchange, offering attendees a multi-faceted understanding of the critical issues raised in Representations of Child Soldiers.
