The Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kwara State Chapter, Dr. Mohammed El-Nasir Al-Amin, is marking his birthday today, April 17, 2026, with the release of a new book titled The Broken Drum.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the ANA Kwara Secretary, AbdulHafeez T. Oyewole and made available to Factual Naija News today, who described the publication as a significant milestone in the author’s literary journey.
According to the statement, The Broken Drum features a foreword by Prof. Moshood Mahmood Jimba, Professor of Arabic Literature and Literary Criticism. The book also contains critical appraisals and endorsements from distinguished academics, literary critics, and creative writers.
In his remarks, Prof. Jimba, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) in Kwara State University (KWASU), describes the play as a powerful blend of “political allegory with lyrical intensity,” noting that its language “moves fluidly between poetic reflection and sharp political dialogue,” capturing both the grandeur of revolutionary aspirations and the intimacy of personal sacrifice.
Also endorsing the work, Prof. Isiaka Zubair Aliagan, an ANA Fellow and the Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, KWASU, characterizes The Broken Drum as “a searing, lyrical drama of betrayal, courage, and the cost of truth in a nation caught between its hopes and its hunger.” He adds that the play traverses “the corrupted palace” and “the defiant market square,” ultimately posing a critical question about what becomes of a nation after the fall of tyranny.
Prof. Saeedat Bolajoko Aliyu, a Professor of Gender Studies and African Studies, Department of English, KWASU; and Chairperson, Panel of Judges for the 2025 NLNG Nigerian Prize for Literature, highlights the play’s exploration of “the primal human reaction to change, especially in moments when societies must endure hardship before attaining a more just social and economic order. She further notes that while the play exposes vices such as greed, envy, and betrayal, it equally offers hope through characters driven by sacrifice and a vision for collective renewal.”
In a similar vein, Dr. Shalom Ibironke describes the book as “a masterstroke of political allegory,” praising its interrogation of self-determination, internal betrayal, and foreign interference. He particularly commends the elevation of market women, led by the character Sira, from the margins of history to the forefront of resistance and justice.
Through rich symbolism and culturally grounded dramatic imagery, The Broken Drum interrogates themes of leadership failure, political corruption, and moral resistance in postcolonial societies. Central to the narrative is the metaphor of the broken drum, a once-sacred symbol of unity, justice, and collective identity, whose destruction reflects the fragmentation of society.
The Broken Drum is Dr. Al-Amin’s second published creative work, following his earlier poetry collection, The Withering Tongue. You can get a copy via his email: elnasir11@gmail.com
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