CHECKMATE BY BEN SIPO MULILANDUBA
GENRE: FLASH FICTION TITLE: CHECKMATE WRITER: BEN SIPO MULILANDUBA, ZAMBIA REVIEWER: LEBOGANG FAITH SAMSON, BOTSWANA
What is revolution? A sudden great change visible enough to be witnessed by all concerned. Does revolution as a theme manifest outstandingly in this flash fiction? Come-on; who doesn’t notice a sudden change of attitude in Nairobi? Wait! The revealing of the handgun by the kidnapper to Nairobi made the poor boy's mind to spiral and think like he is on steroids, before we know it... snap! He sang a chorus "checkmate!" Leaving the readers dangling on a thin threat of suspense.
One will wonder why Nairobi's dad tortured his toddler with a chess game? One way or the other the reader will concur with me that the kid was still soft brained to think of any sophisticated maneuvers to win against his dad that's why he registered a loss in all the games he attempted to play during his growing up.
Ben Sipo Mulilanduba, I just wonder what triggered him to use a chess game to bring about the theme revolution? Well, whatever the influence behind his thought was, showcased a high level of creativity which won the editor's heart. Ben, a Zambian writer, portrayed the protagonist as naive in playing chess, but who will blame the poor kid since he was dragged into the game by his father? My heart went out to Nairobi as his father flustered him with chess which I personally view it as emotional torture to the child who had to fulfill his father's dreams; "I want you to be a world class chess player..." Is that what really the child want? But why is chess so important to Nairobi's father? - This, also leaves us hanging helplessly.
The way change was instilled as a discipline in Nairobi, it was forcefully employed. I mean was it really necessary to decoy a kidnap of a teenager for him to shout "checkmate!" for the very first time in his life? Mockingly, his life was being threatened at the same time being enticed with his favourite salad, how ironic! I'm a bit puzzled here, I came to realize at the end that Nairobi was kidnapped by his father, but what disturbs me right now is that didn’t Nairobi recognize his dad's voice when he was talking to him all along? What even gave his father this strategy to use against his son in order for him to win the game is another twist in the story to reckon with.
Checkmate is a very interesting flash fiction, I confidently conclude that it serves its purpose. Great title very intriguing, the author ensured he employed brevity also there is an easy flow of ideas which correlates enough with the theme. What I picked from the story is that fear brings a great adrenalin rush enough to swift change one's thinking capacity to win against the odds. That was the case of Nairobi, how he was disciplined to have a revolutionary mindset against a chess game.
The question now would be; is he now a world class chess player which his father wanted...?