One Chance Dance by Efua Traoré

One Chance Dance is such an inspiring and heartfelt book! Sometimes, we forget what it means to dream and not let anyone or anything get in the way of those dreams…

Uche Anaekwe

Published on October 21, 2023

2 min read

Word: SERENDIPITY
Meaning: Good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries

Jomi had always believed in changing one’s ayanmo (destiny) just like his mother, so when he runs away from a wicked aunt to Lagos in search of his mother with no money, three vague letters, and a cute bush baby, he has no idea what lies in wait for him.

One Chance Dance is such an inspiring and heartfelt book! Sometimes, we forget what it means to dream and not let anyone or anything get in the way of those dreams, and that’s exactly what Jomi and his friends did.

There are so many lessons to be learned from One Chance Dance, including resilience, courage, kindness, and the knowledge that no matter how old or rusty something looks, it can still be cleaned and made not just shiny but functional again.

One interesting thing for me is the use of a bush baby as a pet for Jomi, an animal that has always been mythically associated with bad luck and witchcraft, turned around to serendipitously show Jomi the one thing he’s been longing for.

I also found the style of writing very descriptive and imaginative.

One Chance Dance is an amazing story that I’d recommend for children and young adults.

Kudos to the author; it was a delightful read!

Written by Uche Anaekwe

Uche Anaekwe is a self-acclaimed book reviewer and aspiring Book editor. She reads and writes reviews of over a hundred books yearly and works closely with some publishing houses in Nigeria like Masobe and Narrative press publishers to promote the best of African and Nigerian Literature. When she isn’t reading and sourcing for her next read, she spends her day flying around Nigeria as a flight attendant. She lives everywhere but has shelter in Lagos, Nigeria.