By Ozolua Uhakheme
He is a man of many parts. For over four decades, he has remained a force to be reckoned with in the literary landscape. 70 hearty cheers… widely-acclaimed poet, polemicist, essayist and journalist, Odia Ofeimun is 70.
With the theme: “Taking Nigeria Seriously: A conference in Honour of Odia Ofeimun”, the intelligentsia rolled out the drums to celebrate him with diverse activities even as they revisited the ‘Nigeria Project’.
Born on March 16, 1950 in Iruekpen-Ekuma, Edo State has remained an inspiration to young writers for his consistency. He is a recipient of many awards the latest of which is the prestigious Fonlon-Nichols Award for literary excellence and propagation of human rights, which was conferred on him by the African Literature Association in 2010.
The two-day conference was put together by his committee of friends led by Prof. Wumi Raji. According to him, celebrating the poet whose works have greatly impacted the world of literature was long overdue. “Odia is a force to reckon with. For years, he has remained consistent and an inspiration. We, his friends to thought it wise to celebrate the highly-cerebral Odia with a conference that would bring scholars and writers from all over the world to interrogate Nigeria, which he is very passionate about,” the convener, Raji, said.
It was hosted by the University of Lagos, was held at Julius Berger Hall. “His involvement with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo makes him a veritable oracle,” began the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, UNILAG, Prof. Olufunke Adeboye.
“May the poet’s crusade not end in a lie. May the fire you carry continue to burn,” she said.
In attendance were Prof. Femi Osofisan, Chief Wale Oshun, Mr Wale Osun, Dare Babarinsa, Emeka Izeze, Prof Tunde Babawale, Prof Duro Oni, Mr. Tola Adeniyi, Mr. Tunde Fagbenle and Chief Femi Esho.
Other were Prof Hope Eghagha, Mr. Sam Omatseye, Dr. Tunji Sotimirin, Molara Wood, Owei Lakemfa, Kayode Komolafe, Onookome Okome and Iquo Eke, among others.
Book Ofeimun must write this book – Aregbesola
Widely anthologised and translated into many world languages, Ofeimun has read and performed his poetry in several countries of the world.
He authored 10 significant volumes of poetry and published two books of political essays, four books on cultural politics, and editing two anthologies of Nigerian poetry. However, according to the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who chaired the event, Ofeimun has a bestseller he is yet to produce.
“His personal involvement with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo makes him a notable orator and source of historical information of the politics of both colonial and post-colonial Nigeria. He was the private secretary of chief governor Awolowo.
“Odia, let us have the story of your years with Baba Awolowo. It would turn to an instant blockbuster. Write it. I appreciate his advocacy for the contribution for his equity. He has paid his dues,” he stated.
Economic state of writers, intellectuals interrogated – Aregbesola
Aregbesola called for a change in the economic state of the Nigerian literati that would impact on economy of the country, while observing that intellectuals and writers are not well-materially endowed.
“This is because for most part, they belong to the economy dependent category. It is the prosperity of the economy that will make the work of the poet or writer of any benefit to him. It could be economically challenging, but if the economy is bad who will buy the poems… writers economic value and their contribution to national wealth determined, even when their value to society is priceless.
“We should work out our writers, poets, and other intellectuals to be materially comfortable. The high social capital of the society has to be well-maintained so that they can continue productivity in the society.”
He commended the organisers for celebrating the celebrator with the conference, saying “it is always a thing of joy to celebrate worthy people in their lifetime, in the case of the iconoclastic voice, Odia. He has paid his dues. As he begins a new chapter in life, it is my sincere wish his later years will be more beautiful and rewarding than in the past.”
In a literary career spanning four decades, Ofeimun is distinguished for his poetry and essays that “challenge the imagination and the intellect, crossing cultural borders and establishing new benchmarks in the articulation of the African narrative”.
It was on this bedrock that the literati and politicians interrogated the man and his works.
The poet as public Intellectual – Jeyifo
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Emeritus and Research Professor, Comparative Literature at Harvard University, Prof Biodun Jeyifo. His citation was read Mr. Kunle Ajibade, executive director of The News magazine.
While examining Ofeimun as a public intellectual, the scholar focused on “Odia, Master and Servant of the world. He linked Okigbo and Ofeimun poetry, observing that what unites both poet ís that, “in the presence of their poetry, you have the “This is because for most part, they belong to the economy dependent category. It is the prosperity of the economy that will make the work of the poet or writer of any benefit to him. It could be economically challenging, but if the economy is bad who will buy the poems… writers economic value and their contribution to national wealth determined, even when their value to society is priceless.
“We should work out our writers, poets, and other intellectuals to be materially comfortable. The high social capital of the society has to be well-maintained so that they can continue productivity in the society.”
He commended the organisers for celebrating the celebrator with the conference, saying “it is always a thing of joy to celebrate worthy people in their lifetime, in the case of the iconoclastic voice, Odia. He has paid his dues. As he begins a new chapter in life, it is my sincere wish his later years will be more beautiful and rewarding than in the past.”
In a literary career spanning four decades, Ofeimun is distinguished for his poetry and essays that “challenge the imagination and the intellect, crossing cultural borders and establishing new benchmarks in the articulation of the African narrative”.
It was on this bedrock that the literati and politicians interrogated the man and his works.
The poet as public Intellectual – Jeyifo
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Emeritus and Research Professor, Comparative Literature at Harvard University, Prof Biodun Jeyifo. His citation was read Mr. Kunle Ajibade, executive director of The News magazine.
While examining Ofeimun as a public intellectual, the scholar focused on “Odia, Master and Servant of the world. He linked Okigbo and Ofeimun poetry, observing that what unites both poet ís that, “in the presence of their poetry, you have the Nigeria.”
A call for equity – Falana
Calling for equity and social justice, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) blamed Nigeria’s problem its leadership. Commending for Ofeimun’s diehard belief better Nigeria, he urged men and women of progressive ideas come together to challgene the political statuesque.
He said: “Those in charge of Nigeria, at the helm of affairs have not taken Nigeria seriously. They don’t believe in Nigeria. But the likes of Odia believe very seriously in Nigeria.
“We have to fight for a new Nigeria. Just like members of the ruling class are fighting to sustain the statuesque, all revolutionaries must come together to wag a battle that would dismantle the oppressive statuesque in the interest of our people.
“Odia has done a lot of wonderful writing and has been very consistent in his believes and preaching his ideas and so we now have to move to another stage. I’m challenging him to try and actualize his dream before the next ten years. I wish him well and more fruitful years.”
Restructuring is inevitable – Mimiko
For former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the way forward is restructured country where the sub-nationalities have some level of autonomy to independently govern themselves within the Nigeria nation. “I believe in a big Nigeria but there must be a Nigeria that is centrally governs. A Nigeria that is unitary govern can never move forward. Restructuring is an idea whose time has come.
“Odia has impact especially the development of creative scene in Nigeria. He is somebody that has worked and agonised for our country, Nigeria. One interesting thing is that he is still very optimistic despite everything. My prayer is that the beauty of nigeria would come in his own life time.
“As I sat down there and saw the array of nigeria’s revolutionary writers when we were students – the Biodun Jeyifos of this world, the Osofisans of this world. I was just wondering, “Would they really say they have succeeded.”
The founder of Poets in Nigeria (PIN), Eriata Oribhabor, “I wish Odia many more years of service through poetry to society. I pray that he would continually live strong, healthy and the one we all would lean back on as Poets in Nigeria (PIN).
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