Book Review: The Drummer Boy by Cyprian Ekwensi

Akin was a boy who was blind because his parents decided that the hospital was not the best choice to save his eyes. They took matters into their own hands. Akin had a talent; he was a very good drummer.

The name of the drum he plays is what West Africans call the Samba. Every time Akin played his samba, a lot of people would start dancing, and people loved his playing, and Akin liked being praised by people who listened to him, but Akin had sadness in his heart because he wanted people to understand him and how he feels.

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One day a woman named Ayike was sad because a man burned her eating house down because she turned his hand down in marriage. Akin heard this and asked if he could help her, which she agreed to. From that day on, Akin and Ayike helped each other. One day a group of 3 musicians came to him and said they knew and liked the songs he was singing and playing; they asked to join, and Akin agreed.

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A few days later, he kicked them out, and Akin was angry and left Ayike, which made her very sad. Later Ayike saw a man who was working with the 3 musicians; after some time she realized they were thieves and ran into the crowd and shouted, “thief thief” .

In the end they all get caught in different places.