Man, in the pursuit of food, shelter and medication, is gradually transforming the world into a wilderness. In this poetry collection, Chiaboh, through beautiful verses, reveals the disastrousness of man’s greedy exploitation of the fauna and flora. The eco-poet shows that the senseless destruction of the environment affects not only elements of nature but man as well. He lampoons anthropocentrism by showing how elements of nature are indispensable members of the biosphere. At a time that global warming is a global concern, man’s persistence in ‘rape’ of the environment that makes the world habitable is, simply, incomprehensible. To say the least, it is self-betrayal.
However, Fidelis Chiaboh demonstrates that it is possible for the situation to be salvaged through a positive behavioural change in our daily interactions with the environment. He harps on collective efforts to preserve animals, trees, water and air, and the time to act is NOW. The poet’s simple diction, albeit imbued with literary ingredients, is meant for the poems to be understood by people who cut across demographic and class strata. Wails from the Wild is a must-read piece of creative writing that shows how the fight against environmental degradation is winnable.
Khan Siefred Nchifor (PhD)
University of Buea
