Ceasefire

The novel Ceasefire is a masterly crafted narrative by multi award-winning singer and university lecturer for many years, Buchi, who tells the story of a brilliant, well-brought-up student who unfortunately gets enmeshed in campus cultism. The young man graduates at the top of his faculty only to be hit by a bullet on his graduation day. And as he tumbled down from the dais, so did his dreams and future, the hopes of his heart-broken, mother, fiancée, friends and the university that had so much faith in him.

Maha took his room key out of the pocket of his trousers, reflexively located the key hole and turned the key in the lock, but just then his eyes were drawn to a mark on his door. It was the etching of a small coffin roughly outlined by the impatient blade of an angry knife. He had been marked; it was the Black Eyes. Maha had expected it...but that was about a year ago. the Black Eyes loved to revenge when the target felt safe. So this was it, Maha thought. Then he saw another mark in ink; it was a sketch of the skull and the crossbones. This was the Night Hawks messenger of death. Night Hawks! Maha, now the target of two rival gangs had no time to think, he had to fight. Soldiers of vain glory, they were in the trenches before they knew what the war was all about. Award-winning singer and university lecturer for many years, Enyioma Buchi Atuonwu tells the gripping story of Maha, a bright young man from a good home who gets enmeshed in the world of campus confraternities only to discover that it was more than he bargained for. Experience the suspense, the fear, the heartbreak, the love, the hate, the killings, the pointless bloody rivalry of gangs, not 'hoodlums', but of students trapped in underworld associations as they grapple with the realities of 'belonging' and the implications of living in a world out of which there is only on exit.

Born in Kaduna, Nigeria to parents of Abia State origin, Buchi’s early education began in Enugu and took him through Methodist College, Uzuakoli and Federal Government College, Enugu. In 1983, he came to Lagos to study English Language and Literary Studies at the University of Lagos, obtained a BA in 1986, MA in 1988 and later same year took up an appointment to lecture at the same institution alongside a PhD programme. Buchi remained at the Department of English until 1994 when he yielded to the higher calling to propagate the gospel of Jesus through writing and singing same in the reggae genre. While in the university, his casual involvement in black activism, through reggae club grew more intense after listening to Oliver Thambo and the officials of ANC (African National Congress) from South Africa, during the club’s exhibition on “Apatheid in South Africa”. Again, having studied the black activist literature of Dennis Brutus, Wole Soyinka, Muta Baruka and the likes, Buchi’s preoccupation with reggae music as an ‘outcry against oppression’ became deeper. Little wonder he also became involved in one of the campus confraternities which at the time prided themselves as anti oppression movements. This preoccupation with reggae music took a new turn when his friend Ras Kimono invited him to join the team of deejays on the floating Bukka – a reggae nightclub situated on a docked vessel of the Marina, Lagos Island. Foremost on the list of Buchi’s strong musical influences are Eric Donaldson, Joseph Hills, Burning Spear and Frankie Paul. In 1992, Buchi gave his life to Jesus in Christ Embassy Church and transited from nightclub to the choir of the ministry, where he has remained till date. 1st album released 1999 (These Days), 2nd album released 2002 (So Beautiful), 3rd album released 2005 (What a Life), 4th album released 2008 (Sound of Life). Married to Jane with four children. Has ministered in church concerts, crusades, gospel music festivals etc. Has won many awards including prestigious AMEN for Best in Gospel Category, 1999 Faith, POMP and TOMA Awards for Best Artiste, Reggae Artiste and Gospel album of the year variously.