Bile in the Dish

"At first, Dele took it as a joke. Even when she (Funmi, his wife) talked about it for the fifth time in two days, he still did not take her quite seriously…
About two weeks before, she had claimed that she saw Dapo, their son, in her dream. Dapo, whom no one could say for sure was dead or alive. Dele had, as a man, made the issue a light one so as not to re-open the healing deep gash in their hearts."

‘Bile In The Dish’ is the story of a burning desire – a desire which percolates through three generations.
Written with charm, wholesomeness and bustling innocence, the book tells the story of how man, although born to be free, is made to find himself in artificial chains wherever he turns to.
The book takes the reader from the rural area to the metropolis in an unforgettable ride.
PREFACE
The need for collective security and welfare was part of the motive for forming society and for coming up with the idea of ‘government’. Indications from various parts of the world these days are however showing how the failure of governments in their duties and collapse of traditional values are making many, especially youths, to resort to self-help.
The definition of ‘self-help’ here being anti-social behaviour and criminal tendencies. This, in part, explains the rational behind the upsurge in acts like kidnap, robbery, drug peddling, prostitution, forgery, internet crimes and even terrorism.
Researches and empirical observations have established that societies or countries with effective social welfare record low crime rate and that standard of living of their people is high.
This novel, ‘Bile in the Dish’ is a testament of how dreams are being dashed and well-planned journeys are aborted. The fictional work mirrors the efforts being made by individuals to better their lot and how these efforts are thwarted by evil forces and corruptive tendencies.
The hero in this book, Gbola, wants to become a medical doctor. All efforts made proved abortive. He transfers this dream to his son, Dele. But the unwarranted seizure of Dele’s school certificate results shut the gate of the university to him. He could not easily surmount the hurdles on his way. Like his father, he is forced to transfer his own dream to his son named Dapo.
The two generations of parents – Gbola and Dele – experienced variegated vicissitudes of life common in many underdeveloped countries. Vicissitudes that have serious impact on their offspring.
This first novel by Jare Ajayi, ‘Bile in the Dish’ is like a mirror reflecting what the society is. It stridently demonstrates that for as long as the society continues on the same path being trodden today by many third world countries, especially in Africa, for so long will they continue to miss the track that can lead them to a humane society which their people deserve. And for so long will social, political and economic misdemeanour continue to be on the increase.
But ‘Bile in the Dish’ is not a propaganda tract. It is not sectarian sermon. It is a complete work of art. It is entertaining, refreshing, illuminating and reflective. It is a romantic book that gives a reader a sociological and historical insight into many third world countries using Nigeria as a pedestal.
‘Bile in the Dish’ is the first runner-up in a national literary competition when it was first published in 1990. Its author has won many literary prizes.