ANA President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, Releases New Book, Heritage of Loss

 ANA PRESIDENT, DR. USMAN OLADIPO AKANBI, RELEASES NEW BOOK, HERITAGE OF LOSS

By ANA Media Team 

The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, has announced the release of his latest literary work, Heritage of Loss, a gripping drama that explores family, inheritance, greed, betrayal, resilience, faith and the enduring power of character. 

The new book adds to the growing body of creative works by the agricultural economist, poet, prose writer and playwright, whose leadership of Nigeria's foremost professional association for writers continues alongside his active engagement with literary creativity.

Heritage of Loss confronts a timeless and deeply human question: What happens when the inheritance worth fighting for is not a house, a business or a piece of land, but a name? At the centre of the drama is Layiwola, who, following the death of his father, inherits not only a family business but also a solemn responsibility to preserve the values, dignity and good name that his father spent a lifetime building.

However, grief gives Layiwola little time to come to terms with his loss before conflict begins to engulf the family. Caught between blood and betrayal, tradition and survival, and loyalty and personal interest, he is compelled to make difficult choices. As family members and other interested parties seek to influence the future of his father's estate, Layiwola must determine how much he is willing to lose in order to remain faithful to the principles upon which he was raised.

The drama raises profound questions about the nature of inheritance and legacy. Buildings may disappear, land may be lost and money may change hands, but Akanbi's work asks whether a good name and the values that produced it can ever truly be taken away. Through this compelling conflict, Heritage of Loss examines the enduring struggle between material possessions and moral character, offering readers an engaging reflection on what ultimately survives loss.

A review of the book by award-winning writer Sima Essien, titled What Cannot Be Stolen: A Review of Heritage of Loss, describes the work as a powerful examination of family conflict, legacy and the moral consequences of greed. Essien observes that Akanbi stages the turmoil of inheritance across nine tense dramatic parts, framed by a prologue and epilogue, while inviting readers to consider the difference between what is genuinely inherited and what is merely owned.

According to Essien, the central character, Layiwola, comes under intense pressure to abandon his late father's wishes regarding the family business. The conflict, she notes, presents a clash between the desire to preserve the legacy and principles of the past and the pressure to liquidate, modernise and monetise inherited assets in pursuit of personal enrichment. The reviewer further identifies this tension as one that reflects broader social realities, particularly within a society where material advancement can sometimes threaten the values of integrity, loyalty and honour.

Essien also commends Akanbi's use of language, characterisation and Yoruba proverbs, noting that these elements give the drama cultural depth and moral weight. She describes Heritage of Loss as a work that blends social critique, moral reflection and literary appeal, while making a strong case for the continued relevance of ethically grounded literature. In her assessment, the book remains a significant work for students of literature and lovers of drama, particularly because of its insistence that some inheritances cannot be sold, transferred or signed away.

Dr. Akanbi's latest publication is also significant within the history of the Association of Nigerian Authors. As the 13th President of ANA, he follows in the tradition of the association's 8th President, Dr. Wale Okediran, a practising medical doctor and renowned author who has successfully combined a distinguished professional career with sustained literary accomplishment. Dr. Okediran is also the founder of the Ebedi International Writers Residency, one of Nigeria's notable platforms for the nurturing and development of writers.

In a similar demonstration of the productive relationship between professional achievement and literary commitment, Dr. Akanbi, an agricultural economist, continues to contribute actively to Nigerian literature while providing leadership to ANA. Beyond his role as National President of the association, he is the founder of the Imodoye Writers Enclave, a literary initiative committed to providing opportunities for writers and strengthening the culture of creativity and intellectual engagement. His publication of Heritage of Loss further reinforces the example of a literary leader who remains actively committed to the creative practice he represents.

Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi is the author of several works across different literary genres, including Verdant Verses, which emerged First Runner-Up for the ANA Poetry Prize in 2009, Weevils on Grains, Tales Across the Plains, Connecting With My Past: A Midlife Memoir, Labake I Sale Eko and Other Plays, and Surpletness in Tightangles. 

With Heritage of Loss, the ANA President once again brings his sustained engagement with the human condition, society, culture and contemporary life to bear on a story that reminds readers of a fundamental truth: when everything material can be lost, character and a good name may remain the inheritance that no one can steal.