Zambian-American writer, Iris Nwanza, launches corruption-themed novel, ‘The Lion’s Den’

Zambian-American author Iris Nwanza launched her debut novel, The Lion’s Den, in Lagos on Saturday.

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The novel centres on prevailing corruption in the justice system of African countries. It addresses the struggles of Grace, a young female lawyer who was raised rurally in Zambia in the 1990s, seeking justice despite her naivety and discrimination in the legal and political environment.

While addressing questions on the inspiration behind the book at the Library, Alliance Francaise, Ikoyi, Lagos, the author said, “I wanted to write something that is a legal thriller, exciting to read, but will deal with essential topics; human and gender rights are very close to my heart.

“And as we know, in Nigeria, Zambia and many other countries, the LGBTQ community and same-sex relations are criminalised. As a lawyer, I could change the world, but the reality is different; internal politics, political and legal environment can conspire against you or the justice system.

“So, as a gender advocate, you can grab people’s attention with it, and you can enjoy the book while you are either conservative or progressive,” she said.

Characterisation

When asked about the link between the author’s personal story and the main character, the gender advocate clarified that the novel’s main character, Grace, has no connection to her. Still, the book was themed around African societal issues.

The human rights lawyer added, “She (Grace) is a fictional character. Grace is beautiful, dark-skinned, and almost 6ft tall, and I am not. But I could link it to when I was a student at the University of Zambia. I could relate to what was happening. It was a time of transformation, remarkable optimism, and hope.

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“The time Mandela was about to come out of prison, Berlin wall was coming down, we believed democracy was going to take hold forever, unfortunately, that was not the case, but it was end of colonial regime in Zambia and we were starting to feel that will be the end of history, end autocratic government and it will be a new day in Zambia, South Africa and all over the world, so I thought it was an exciting time to search the stories.”

Mrs Nwanza further reiterated the essence of her writing on the challenges of her Zambian justice system despite the country’s natural endowment.

“Though I love my home, we all do, but it does not mean we cannot recognise and speak about the challenges. But there are many descriptions of the beautiful flowers, the trees, the great weather we have; I want to incorporate all of that, the good, the bad and the ugly,” she stated.

Novel take-away

Reacting to questions on big lessons readers should expect from the ‘Lion’s Den’, the author said: “I want people to think about discrimination and how discrimination affects all of us at the community, national and global level.

“I want them to relate, see through the character, the consequences; like where you have corruption, you can not have justice, it becomes difficult to navigate.”

Sharing her personal experience, she stated, “We all understand these systems are fighting you. I will give an example of when I tried to get my driving licence in Zambia.

“The man was like, ‘Madam, you will never pass’, but I got annoyed because I was determined to get it clean, without bribing, until he sat me down to tell me the system is sealed and there is no way I can legitimately get the licence without paying.”

She lamented the consequences of corruption and injustices on societies, saying, “And I think the system is ripping our societies apart, and they draw us back to make progress. Technically, we are rich countries. Nigeria has oil, Zambia has copper, we have the riches and the talent, but corruption will make us feel so close, whereas we are so far.”

Book Review

The Zambian lawyer expressed her thoughts on the review the book has attained since its publication: “It is so gratifying, of course, you don’t know your debut will be published.

“When you put it out to the world as your baby, you would not want people to tell you that your baby is ugly. When you get the recognition, that is great, I will love the book to do well on the continent,” she added.

Speaking further on the following artworks to be anticipated by her readers, she said: “The first book took me 9 years, so I decided I don’t have 9 years to write another one, but I hope it will be ready in another year.”

She revealed, “So, I am working on two books; one will be a sequel to the Lion’s Den, and the other will be completely different and set in the US. It will also be a legal thriller around ‘Black Lives Matter’.”

In his remarks on the newly launched books in Lagos, the founder of Carpe Diem Solution, Edward Israel-Ayide, said the book will enrich readers with a sense of purpose to operate African societies optimally.

Mr Israel-Ayide said: “Across Africa, you will see that people don’t trust institutions or government because of a lot of injustice and corruption. I think it is essential for books like this to be amplified.

“People need to know what is at stake, for our economists to achieve what they must, and for our societies to operate optimally. Beyond optimal operation, people need to have a sense of purpose and justice. That is one of the key points in the book, and I think it is important for political discourse.”

Speaking further on the novel’s essence, the Carpe Diem Solution CEO said, “Books are so important. The more people read about specific issues, the more they understand their importance.

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“You can watch a video, or see many things, but they just transcend and then go. Books help you codify experiences, and I think it is essential for some of these issues to be codified so people can revisit them.

“Of course, through the lens of the author, you can see how important these issues are, and you know how to address some of these issues, which I think is essential for society.

“You found knowledge in the most unexpected places. I am thankful to my dad, who taught me how to read boring books from a tender age. So, my advice is that you need to read.

“There is a lot of information you can consume in other formats, there is just something about books that broadens your horizon, opens your imagination, and allows you to think critically about issues,” he added.

Also giving remarks on the novel, the founder and lead partner of Details Commercial Solicitors, Ayuli Jemide, stated that the book is a carbon copy of the injustice he experienced as a Nigerian lawyer.

The Nigerian lawyer further acknowledged the author’s efforts in the book, claiming it is rich in correct diction, precise vocabulary, and accurate context.

Mr Jemide claimed his remarks are evident in the author’s introductory chapter, where he claimed the writer essentially introduced her writing prowess.

Other dignitaries present at the book launch were Abiola Salami, the performance strategist at Peak Performer Africa; Nkem Onwudiwe, founder of Her Network; Olasunkanmi Ojulari, founder of SunkyO Lifestyle Company; and Alexandra Asogwa, filmmaker and convener of Alex Unusual.