Book Review: Vaults Of Secrets by Olukorede S. Yishau

This was my review submission for the review challenge and fam this is the longest review I have ever written 😩😩please I’m putting it here for you all to read.

This was my first ever pre-ordered copy and I’m proud of myself my library is gradually being built 😁😁.

I was attracted by the name, book cover and the competition, I felt it would be a win-win situation for me. This year the goal is to read across different genres and this was a lovely addition.

Vaults of Secrets is a compilation of ten stories based on secrets as the name implies. This was a really great read albeit filled with sad stories, funny too and filled with sarcasm.

Books come to you at different times and most times they fit your current situation, that was my experience reading Vaults of Secrets.

Olukorede released this book on First of October, 2020, Nigeria’s Independence Day and the significance is glaring.

In October 2020,the youths of Nigeria decided to say no to one vice of the government, despite its numerous vices, the penchant of killing of unarmed youths by men of a unit, The Special Anti-Robbery Squad, and this was when I read this book, it couldn’t have come at a better time showing me that for the past Sixty years Nigeria hasn’t established any growth. The vices eating deep have been there since forever.

This is supposed to be a bland review because to be frank the stories were sad but they were extremely realistic.

I would describe this book as a satirical political book, the undertones of politics and the state of Nigeria were present. The stories are based on secrets and it cuts across different themes. This book has its premise on Nigeria although most of the issues seen here are seen in almost every country. I would also say this stories here strongly represent Nigeria and its citizens. The lies, the secrets and all its repercussions.

Vaults of Secrets makes you reflect on secrets, makes us ask why we even keep them and if you are such a plain book do you have a right to criticise another’s secrets?

The first story, ‘Till We Meet To Part No More’ showed me that everyone lies, everyone has secrets. There is this saying that ‘Na who dem catch we go talk about’, goes to show that we are in no place to judge people’s decisions or mistakes, what will we find when we check your secret chambers?

Let’s use the example of the Big Brother Naija show which concluded recently, imagine if your life was as open as the show, what would we see in your closet? One of the housemates was bashed because her true nature was seen, but I wondered, so many persons act the way she did except most times they can hide it in public.

‘This Special Gift’ was hilarious, how can one have a gift of finding out people’s secrets unconsciously, like it’s her gift. I wouldn’t want that gift it’s too burdensome.

A major theme here was religion, in Nigeria we have taken religion to extreme heights. We discriminate, we hate each other. Christians do not support other Christians if they aren’t from the same church, while for those in the same church, we still see those who form cliques, gossip, backbite and hate on one another, refuting the essence of God bidding us to seek his face. The Muslims too have their issues. How would one seek God if when you attend church service you are judged?

I didn’t like that a man committed a crime, was caught and what he was more conscious of was his standing in church, what church members would say. What about God, your wife, kids? Misplaced priorities has always been a common problem.

Culture came in to play too, male children being the ideal gifts from God while females are just extras. It’s funny because without women how would you bear your beloved sons? And how does a woman having sons for you justify you cheating on one who doesn’t and is your legal wife? So hilarious. Then we see the devil blamed in every situation. I’m a Christian but let’s check this, God gave. us the power to choose, before you make a decision you are allowed to choose from two different outcomes, so why do we not make the right choice? The devil is who we all blame when we do something wrong. It’s actually very funny but sad.

‘My Mother’s Father is my Father’ was a bit sad. That feeling of wanting questions answered can make one think and make weird deductions.

‘Letters from the Basement’ made me ponder on terrorism. Nelson in the story was arrested for terrorism but for him he was helping his country. When we see the wrongs in our country do we keep quiet or challenge the government to do better? Let’s look at the #EndSARS protest, a front liner during the protests has been prevented from travelling and her international passport seized on the grounds of investigations to be conducted. It doesn’t make any sense. Different scenarios but seeking the same outcome, a better country, is it so much to ask?

We see the religious fanatics in this story, “pay this amount to get your problem solved.” No dear, God doesn’t need you to pay special fees to his anointed for your problems to be solved. This has been in existence over time and people still haven’t learnt, funny but sad.

My best story was ‘This Thing Called Love’, in a weird way. Keeping secrets brought about a good reward for the secret keeper compared to the other stories. It still begs the question: Keeping some secrets make one lie, should we do this then? Should we actually keep secrets?

This story is a depiction of Nigeria and its citizens, keeping a secret today can grant you a reward later in life but what’s to say it won’t bite you later? Questions, questions, questions.

‘Better than the devil’ , a very catchy name, which definitely describes the young man in this story. It was the audacity for me, how one can justify killing with, ‘God said we should obey’ , when he knew the killing was for a wrong cause.

It made me ask, what would happen to all government officials and law enforcement officers who are given orders to kill both in just and unjust cases? This story spoke to me a lot because I read it during the #EndSARS campaign. The current President of Nigeria, Buhari was given a spot in this book where he was fighting for the country but now a lot of persons want to be saved from him, an interesting turn of events.

‘Otapiapia’ was sad because it’s all fun and games, excuses too, when we decide to live life recklessly, the repercussions may be too much to bear. Society too doesn’t support persons and a lot of persons are stuck on what society perceives about them, which is a leading cause of depression, suicide and so many linking issues.

‘When truth dies’ was a bit bland, sad too, and as the stories have been, talked extensively on election issues in Nigeria and how the Nigerian system has been a failure.

‘Lydia’s World’ was a mess, showing the deplorable state of the Nigerian health sector. Reminded me of a story my mum told me some weeks back, how babies were stolen from the maternity ward when she gave birth to me and how some nurses mixed up babies. That is really an issue.

This was a long review but in its entirety, Vaults of Secrets is really a great book and you should read it.

You can get yours by sending a message to me or get it from Amazon or any book shops around you!

Dont forget to share this blog with a friend! I would love to hear your thoughts on Nigeria.

What are your thoughts about Nigeria and its economy? Do you think this Nation can get better? Till next time!