Joseph R Alila

A Dream Unfinished Joseph R Alila

In the historical fiction novel, A DREAM UNFINISHED, Joseph R Alila (Birthright: a Luo Tragedy) bleeds his satirical pundit's pen to capture a glimpse of political maturity in democratic discourse in Africa, where dictatorial regimes are falling without firing guns. In this novel, the hero, Rateng, is fighting for his political life while he pursues his lifetime dream to become the President of Ebonia against a background of tension and dissent in his political base of Lolwe and coalition-Democratic Order National Alliance (DONA)-in which he has to manage rival ethnic kingpins with egos larger than Lucifer's and anxious disaffected youths envying his position. Tensions in DONA aside, Rateng's odds aren't great; he has to contend with President Prince, a battle-hardened, internet-communication-savvy royal from Central Ebonia and one Akamu, his deputy, both of whom have the advantage of incumbency, and ethnic numbers. After a bruising campaign full of criminal intrigues against Rateng and his allies, and fought in virtual and physical spaces, Rateng's Canaan caravan hits the same digital firewall President Prince erected against him five years before. Rateng claims his votes have vanished, yet again, in digital clouds in Europe! And Ebonian courts agree but to no effect on Prince's win. Rateng is not done, yet: encouraged by events elsewhere in Africa, where incumbents have fallen without anyone firing a gun, Rateng switches tact and adopts fast-paced, Gandhi-style civic disobedience and selective economic boycotts against businesses associated with Prince and allies. Tension and uncertainty grip Ebonia, with businesses reporting stress. Prince and Rateng have to seek compromises, and publicly shake hands for the sake of Ebonia's future. Both Rateng and Prince emerge from the handshake fighting corruption and preaching love of country, national unity and other egalitarian principles. Once again, Rateng confounds naysayers, as he manages to extend his political shelf life, for yet another presidential run. When sanity returns to the land, Rateng engineers and alternative democratic path to Presidency of Ebonia, thanks to Prince's support.