On Holy Pilgrimage - A Long Journey For Freedom by Rahman Oladigbolu

Paperback: 444 pages
Publisher: Oracle Publishers (September 12, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0976835401
ISBN-13: 978-0976835400





On Holy Pilgrimage - A Long Journey For Freedom is a beautiful true story about how a young man, Rahman Oladigbolu, dared to have a dream - his dream was to go to America and be a film director/maker. In the beginning, we are given beautiful vivid descriptions of Rahman's early life growing up in Nigeria, Africa. Rahman is a prince in the Yoruba tribe of the Oyo state. Due to his royal heritage and his father's prospering businesses, Rahman has a privileged lifestyle - being chauffeur driven to school and living in houses that leave his friends in awe and envy. After his mother and father separate, Rahman goes to live in another Nigerian state to live under the care of his maternal grandparents. He begins to see them as his parents and we are moved by the incredible love that Rahman has for his grandmother. The descriptions of Rahman's early school life are incredibly amusing particularly the incident where all the children of the town swarm to Rahman's house just to hear him speak some English - which they can neither speak nor understand. What the children do not realise is that Rahman himself is terrible at the language (at the time), but they are none the wiser!

The story moves on with Rahman's increased desire to become a filmmaker. A relative who studied filmmaking, in America, in the 1970's, inspires him. It is from this relative that Rahman gets to see a written screenplay for the very first time. After finishing his high school exams with top grades, he opts out of going to a Nigerian University to study for a higher degree as his plans obviously lie elsewhere. He contacts an uncle, living in America, for assistance to realise his dream however, his first hurdle is obtaining an American Visa, which he has heard is extremely hard to get. We watch Rahman as he goes through an agonising journey of trying to get the `golden' American Visa. He tries all avenues to get this American Visa, both crooked and straight, but all roads lead to nowhere. In the height of disappointment, we are marvelled by Rahman's unwavering faith and determination to realise his dream. Then comes the climax of his struggles, which sidetrack and delay his plans to travel to America. He develops a mysterious disease that cripples him both mentally and physically. The very long and descriptive account of his ordeal is almost unbearable to read and your heart cannot help but to bleed for him. It is unclear as to the cause of his illness i.e. whether his illness has a scientific explanation or his illness is as the result of witchcraft. The author goes into a lengthy discussion about this. However, whether the reason is scientific or witchcraft, the truth is that Rahman's agony, pain, and struggles are real and he needs a way out.

A glimmer of hope seems to appear in the midst of it all - he meets a beautiful girl called Nike. Rahman falls for her deeply and it seems that she is the compensation for all the `hell' that he has been through. Unfortunately, Nike betrays him with one of his best friend's. Rahman is heartbroken and we are left exhausted wondering whether the madness will end. However, through the loss of the love of his life Rahman gains a valuable revelation regarding the meaning of love. Through much deliberation, he realises that he did not actually love Nike - he used her to fill the vacuum of his life that was caused by the disappointments. He comes to a powerful realisation that the best love is when two independent people who are content with who they are, offer each other security, trust and understanding. The ability to offer this, Rahman says, stems from an understanding and trust of oneself. Rahman teaches us that true love suffers long and it casts out any trace of fear. His religion, which from his descriptions seems to be predominantly Islamic, provides a source of comfort and strength throughout his ordeal. He comes to believe that only God can save him from the darkness he has found himself in. He knows that God will be the light that will eradicate the darkness. He remembers his grandfather once saying to him -"You will win by the grace of God." Close to the end of the book, the author says that he has found a better faith. His faith is - 'the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want'. From this we realise that Rahman is transitioning from religion to relationship i.e. a relationship with the Lord. We wonder whether the Lord he refers to is Jesus Christ of the Christian faith, who is the Good Shepherd.

At the end of Rahman's journey, we are elated as Rahman finally realises his dream and manages to contain his health struggles. He injects us with a syringe full of faith to believe that all is well and that he is well. Through a series of agonising (some humiliating) events, he eventually crosses the seas to America. He has realised his dream. He has arrived at Freedom. A freedom which has come at a high price. The price is almost ten agonising long years of waiting, pain, ill health and the loss of people that he loves dearly. However, at the end of this Long Journey we realise that Freedom was not obtained just by entering America to pursue his goal of being a film maker - no! True freedom is coming to the knowledge of who you are and what your calling is. Rahman Oladigbolu experienced this true freedom. That is what he fought for - "You will win by the grace of God". He experienced the realisation of his calling and role in this our world that `God created out of his love for stories' (Ellie Wiesel). It took great adversity and great pain but the result, I am sure he would agree, is beautiful. Rahman Oladigbolu is presented as an intelligent, kind, very determined, compassionate, and incredible individual whose name we will continue to see `shining in lights' in the world of creativity in the years to come. This is not just a story about the Nigerian experience on the road to live in America but it is a human story. This is a true story of love, strength, pain and the audacity of faith. A must read for all dreamers - those who dare to believe that their dream can, and will come true. !!!