Last weekend in Lagos, artists, book lovers, playwrights and the literati gathered to celebrate the eleven playwrights on the longlist of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Literature Prize for 2018. It was time to zero down on the thematic thrusts of their works and what burning issues the writers have raised that earned them the longlist. Termed Book Party by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), it was a moment to engage in drama, music, acting, dance, reading and also interrogating the writers themselves. Edozie Udeze was there
It was a book party at its best. Everything about books, literature, entertainment, drama, dance, music, poetry, reading, name it, was celebrated during the CORA – The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2018 Book Party last weekend. It was held at Terra Kulture, Lagos. Interestingly, nine out of the eleven longlisted names for this year’s Nigeria Literature Prize were present. Except for Obari Gomba who could not make it and Jude Idada who spoke online to the gathering from his base in Canada, it was indeed a full house, with the usual candour and spirit of literary enthusiasm burning in the hearts of the laureates and other book lovers.
Those present were Chidubem Iweka, Diran Ademiju-Bepo, Soji Cole, Akanji Nasiru, Dickson Ekhaguere. Others were Denja Abdullahi, Dul Johnson, Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan and Peter Omoko. Each was given an opportunity to summarise his work and to comment on the topical issues that dominated this year’s themes. The event was moderated by Deji Toye, a lawyer and entertainer whose love for literature spans years of dedication and commitment. Before the event proper kicked off, Greg Mbajiorgu, a senior lecturer in Drama at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) performed a-one man show and delivered a song on what will be will be. He directed attention to those basic issues that should make for love, unity and tolerance in Nigeria. There was also a dance troupe that beat the drums provocatively to raise the tempo of the evening.
Toyin Akinosho of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) told the audience that the book party has been on for nine years; nine years of ensuring that Nigerian literature is constantly kept alive. “Today we have gathered for drama. Indeed this afternoon presents a rich harvest of conversations around Nigerian drama, for the Nigeria Prize for literature is the biggest cash prize award for a literary competition on the continent. Last year, it was N30.5 million. This year, it is N35.7 million. That’s quite some significant amount of money in anyone’s account”, he stated. And with that remark the event proper kicked off.
With the intermittent interjection of the programme with the readings of the books by Nollywood stars such as Norbert Young, Bimbo Manuel, Tina Mbah, Toyin Osinaike, and others, the book party proved to be an avenue to spice drama and add plenty of live to the spoken word. Each presentation gave an insight into the play and what it will look like when presented on stage. As it turned out, all the books paid attention to the myriad of socio-political, religious and economic issues plaguing the nation-state. These issues are on leadership, palaces, corruption, et al, using theatre of fiction to explore what all these mean to the people. How can writers use their pens to change Nigeria and make for a better society?
But even as this goes on, do leaders; those concerned, pay heed to the issues raised by writers? However, writers owe it to the conscience of the nation to continue to write; to constantly dwell on these problems that militate against the progress of the society. All the writers drew their ideas from what they live with from day-to-day. The general understanding is that we live in a society where problems never seem to end; it is one moment of joy, and hundred moments of sadness, rancour, retrogression, bitterness and more. This is why the themes are not just deep, they x-ray a society where there seems to be no hope, no signs of progress and serious commitment on the part of leaders and the so-called opinion molders.
Authors and their works
August Inmates is the play written by Chidubem Iweka III, the Igwe of Obosi, Anambra State. The play is deep and follows an unconventional setting and plot by the military to expose the nefarious activities of political office-holders. In the main, the essence of the plot which involves detaining important office-holders in a VIP detention room along with a notorious armed robber, an American arms dealer and a journalist, seems lost to the audience. Yet in the end, the journalist was made to become the president of a new democratic dispensation due to his honesty. Iweka studied Theatre Arts at the California State University, USA. He is a producer, musician, playwright and author of many books.
Sankara is Jude Idada’s entry and it is a play on the last 100 days of Thomas Noel Sankara of Burkina Faso. In a military coup of 4th August, 1983, he came to power as a revolutionary leader, poised to change the face of Burkina Faso. He changed the name from Upper Volta to rank well with his Marxist and pan-African leanings. From a state of poverty and squallor, within the three years he was in office, he made the people and the land proud of who they are. The play is on leadership, on vision, on boldness, faith, patriotism, treachery, betrayal and one man’s indefatigable love for his people, his country and the African continent. Idada is now based in Canada and he is author of many plays. He is also a multiple award winner and had made the NLNG list before.
No More The Taming Hawks by Diran Ademiju-Bepo also tinkers with the incursion of the military in the societal affairs. But it is basically anchored around the squabble for a throne. Yes, several years ago, in the present, The King Dove dies… This was the take off point. Then the throne becomes vacant. A dove returns from the defence academy, just to usurp the throne of his childhood friends. Promptly, he suspends the customs and traditions of the people. He also disbands the Council of Elders, labeling them with unprintable names. So, the story goes on and on and on, until three moons later when another Hawk rides in on the crest of the bungled dreams… Ademiju-Bepo is an associate professor of Drama and Film Studies at the University of Jos, Plateau State. He has equally written a couple of plays and articles on the problems confronting the nation.
Embers, is from Seyi Cole. Embers concentrate on the turbulent relationship that ever exists between a governor and his people. Now, this governor is coming tomorrow and the people have prepared another dance for him. He will then get on the news again to announce all the things that he had donated to the camp. (This is IDPS camp anyway). Thus foreign aids will be there with their own supplies. The newspapers will report about it; so also will the TV Stations. People will see all these things. Then at night all these will disappear. The IDPS will be hungry again and then ask who took away our foods, our water, our all…? Such a pathetic scenario! Cole is of the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Ibadan. A former Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Drama Prize winner, he also writes plays for radio and other stations.
The Rally is from Professor Akanji Nasiru. It is harped on generational leadership change, this time in Irepodun community. The youths now come together to take over responsibility through an association. The ultimate aim is to control the affairs of the land and push things forward for a greater tomorrow. Some elders also give their unalloyed support, for in the past years, some well-meaning people had pushed for such a change in the place. Yet, some people, much older ones though, do not stand for this change. This is where the intrigues and intricacies come into play. For Nasiru, this is the play. He is a professor of Performing Arts, formerly at the University of Ilorin. He is also author of many plays, including Our Survival that won the Third World Playwrights Competition organized by the International Theatre Institute in 1981.
Unstable is Dickson Ekhaguere’s offering and it is a story stepped in love and power. It uses multiple metaphoric connotations to explore conflicting forces of divergent ideologies. Based in the old Bendel region of Nigeria, it shows the intricacies of true love and that truly love can triumph over evil. The place of a woman and the power of a king can come together to save a kingdom. Ekhaguere himself is a poet, playwright, whose works have won a couple of awards. A graduate of Theatre from the University of Benin, his song Happy won the 2017 Hot Sound Music award for the best pop single.
Death and The King’s Grey Hair by Denja Abdullahi captures the old story of a clever king in Oworo, a Jukun location in the Niger-Benue confluence area. The law is that no king shall reign for too long. It is to stop him from developing into a tyrannical despot. Once a grey hair is discovered, he is poisoned by his people or by the wise men. But Esutu, this clever and selfish king tries to outsmart his people who quickly rally round to avoid a calamity. He flees the palace and thus begins a new era. Abdullahi is the National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He is a poet, playwright and a deputy director with the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC). His works have won various local awards in poetry and drama. He is a graduate of Literature from the University of Jos, Plateau State.
Melancholia by Dul Johnson is purely a political play on satire and innuendoes. It is set in Africa where political leaders are not duly committed to the people. Now, through the campaign and the aftermath of the election, the play moves with quick action, spirited wit and beautiful use of language to reveal much that would leave the audience smiling. It hereby captures the minds of the people, showing in essence what political intrigues is all about. Johnson is a seasoned broadcaster, administrator, writer and dramatist. A graduate of Bayero University, Kano, he is also a teacher, filmmaker, short story writer and more.
Guerrilla Post is the work of Obari Gomba which centres on the current happenings in Nigeria where security forces are unduly overzealous.
People are suppressed, writers are harassed. The play is done in a clever way with deep dramatic playfulness that commands attention. It excavates and interrogates recent social and political events. It talks of unlawful detentions. It dwells on what democracy can be where there is no clear and clean environment for people to operate. It harps on rule of law and so on.
Gomba is a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He is also an award winning playwright who has made the NLNG longlist before. In 2016 and 2017, he won the ANA prizes in poetry. A distinguished scholar, he is also a fellow of the Iowa, USA, writing school.
Once Upon An Elephant by Bosede Adimilua-Afolayan explores the horrendous and tyrannical reign of a king in quest of immortality. But can that be possible? Even when he is not the rightful occupier of the seat of power, he still clings to it. With the help of a priest of the local shrine he is empowered to unleash more terror on his people. It goes on and on, until he rapes a virgin to embolden him the more. But then death comes to knock him off and usher in a new respite for the people. Afolayan teaches Drama at the University of Lagos. She is also the author of Look Back in Gratitude. She is the only female writer among the eleven longlist this year.
Majestic Revolt comes from Peter Omoko and it goes into history to unearth events of 1927. It excavates the problem of taxation in the colonial era. It is on that pensive issue of compulsory tax imposed on the local people by the British overlords. This time, it is set in Urhobo land stretching across to Itsekiri, Ijaw, Isoko and Ukwuani, affecting all the people of the same province. It makes reference to the Aba Women Riots of 1929. The play is a protest play; it is a revolt against the old and the new, lampooning leaders and making a caricature of those who have institutionalized marginalization and oppression and the control for natural resources. Omoko is from the Niger Delta and is of the Department of English, Delta State College of Physical Education, Mosoger.
The Literature Prize goes for 100,000 dollars and in a few weeks from now, the shortlist of three will emerge. The annual prize rotates among four genres of literature – prose, drama, poetry and children’s literature. It is the turn of drama this year.