Author: Fidelis O. Mkparu

Publisher: DX Varos Publishing

ISBN: 978-1955065603

“Ignoring all the eyes peering at me, I relished the sensation of the water cleansing my feet. I watched as waves cascaded up my ankles and bobbed to a rhythm like drumbeats, the ceremonial drumbeats of my ancestral home, the type that made dancing feet float in the air and twirling waists reach their breaking point.

 These drums raged inside my head for only me to hear, sounds I had missed in the four decades since leaving home for my university education.”

This is the first book that I have read from Fidelis O. Mkparu but it will not be the last! A remarkable tale about one man's return to the land of his youth, 'Soulful Return,' plants the seeds of a great novel and gives them room to grow into beautiful flowers. 

Revolving around a man named Afamefuna who leaves Boston to return to his home country of Nigeria, the details in this novel are truly in a league of their own. It is clear just from reading that Mkparu has a love of the beautiful country of Nigeria that he expresses through his clever and atmospheric writing in ways that we all benefit from simply by reading. 

Afamefuna is a character that has the decency and morality of some of the greatest literary protagonists of the last 100 years. Returning to Nigeria to reclaim his ancestral lands and keep them safe from his encroaching cousin, Ejike, Afamefuna finds that his beloved Nigeria has changed a lot since he last set foot in it. 

Not only are there now corrupt politicians in charge but bribe-seeking police officers patrol the streets as well as people who claim to be looking for “taxes” from Afamefuna until he must scare them away with a gun. 

Despite the changes to his country and the struggle of keeping his cousin at bay, returning to Nigeria and to his home village of Obodo reignites a fire in Afamefuna. A fire that rekindles the love of his people and his land, and the need to protect both. Afamefuna must fight against those who wish him harm to keep his father's lands intact and keep his little corner of Nigeria as it always was. 

This is an impactful and memorable read that any book lover would enjoy. 'Soulful Return,' is as deep as the name would suggest and twice as moving. 

About Fidelis O. Mkparu

Multi award winning author, Fidelis O. Mkparu is a Nigerian immigrant in the U.S. who wishes to speak to his experiences and those of his fellow immigrants. He is a professor of Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University and a senior attending cardiologist at Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio. Previously, he was a Spaulding fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School.

His preceding novels include Love’s Affliction and Tears Before Exaltation. You can find out more about Fidelis O. Mkparu and his books on his website.

Follow Here To Read Bee's Interview With Fiedlis O. Mkparu