Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

Representatives of 32 national writers associations from African countries recently converged on Ibadan, Oyo State capital, to reflect on how literature has contributed to African agenda for peace, security and cultural development in the last six decades. The two-day conference also witnessed the election of new executives that will run the association for the next three years. Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the promotion of African languages and translation of African literature into African languages. It also remains committed to the promotion of research into recording and retrieving of lost or undiscovered African heritage whether on the continent, in the diaspora or in museums and libraries of the world.

The association, in a communiqué issued at the end of its conference and General Assembly held between June 24 and June 25, at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, called for the promotion of peace and understanding in Africa and the world through literature.

The conference, which attracted no fewer than 32 national writers organisations from Africa,  had as theme: Literature Since Makerere 1962 The African Writers’ Pan African Agenda For Peace, Security and Cultural Development. It was organised by the Pan African Writers’ Associations (PAWA), Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL) and the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

According to PAWA, these are parts of its ideas and principles as an association, which also include the defence of freedom of expression for all Africans and the material and spiritual interests of African writers and their associations, promotion of literacy and the eradication of illiteracy in Africa, the encouragement of the inclusion of African literary works in the curriculum of educational institutions.

The six-point communiqué called for the inclusion of literary activities for young writers in all PAWA’s activities and the  urgent need for governments of African countries to fulfill their financial obligations to PAWA in order to enable the association to actualise its mandate as laid down by its founding fathers.

The following writers were elected as members of the PAWA Council to run the affairs of the association for the next three years. They include Hon John Rusimbi (Rwanda) as President, Dr Wale Okediran (Nigeria) as Secretary General, Mr Elfatih Hamadto (Sudan) as Vice President (North Africa), Madam Imela Oyono Anyigono (Equatorial Guinea) as Vice President (Central Africa). Others were Prof Koumealo Anate (Togo) as Vice President (West Africa), Prof Egara Kabaji (Kenya) as Vice President (East Africa), and Ms Monica Mpambawashie (Zimbabwe) as Vice President (Southern Africa).

As part of strategies to strengthen the association, the following members were appointed into the Constitutional Review Committee for a period of six months. They are Mr Eric Joel Bekale (Gabon) as Chairman, Hilda J Twongyeirwe (Uganda), Mr Baseim Abdelazeim Abdelkader (Egypt), Dr Cherno Omar Barry (Gambia), Prof Egara Kabaji (Kenya) and Mr Carlos Paradona (Mozambigue).

Earlier at the opening ceremony, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo called on African writers to raise critical minds that will reduce the spate of insurgency, extremism and coups in the continent. He stated that for decades, African continent has witnessed several incidences of civil wars and insurgencies, noting that in recent years, it has also witnessed several coup d’états in some countries, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, and Sudan.

The continent, he said, is also dealing with security challenges from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP in the Sahel region. According to him, collaboration is required across the whole of Africa, to effectively tackle the continent’s security challenges, including terrorism, mercenary bandits, arms and drug trafficking, and transnational crime networks. He said “It is possible to reduce the menace of coups, insurgencies and bad governance in parts of the continent by breeding a critical mass of young Africans using their creativity and energies in culture, entertainment and technology.”

He stated that ‘already our young people are at the vanguard of advocacy for good governance and the enhancement of citizens fundamental human rights and this is as it should be.’

The Vice President who spoke as Special Guest of Honour was represented by the DG, DAWN, (Development Agenda for Western Nigeria) Seye Oyeleye, said: “In preserving democracy in Africa, leaders must continue to promote tenets of good governance and avoid actions that often lead to the interruption of democratic rule. Nigeria has been a clear and strident voice for the promotion of democracy on the continent and have been firm in condemning unconstitutional seizures of power.”   According to him, “as leaders who believe in the efficacy of democracy and good governance, we will continue in our efforts to encourage dialogue rather than violence/conflict in the resolution of our various problems. We also believe in the ability of governments to promptly provide the impetus for social harmony such as basic services for their people, as well as tackle corruption and weak state institutions.   “In addition, we must continue to improve the quality of governance across the continent as this is a prerequisite for a more peaceful relationship between the government and the governed. With good governance, we can better harness the potential of our people. I would also like to commend the efforts of the organisers in putting together this important conference. In this regard, let me congratulate Dr. Wale Okediran, himself a tested politician and distinguished writer whose many writings and contributions remain notable and praiseworthy.”

Professor Emeritus, Bernth Lindfors, a professor of English and African literatures at the University of Texas at Austin, has disclosed that of the 32 works of Nigerian fiction he examined in his doctoral dissertation between 1952 and 1967; only four novels of Chinua Achebe have survived as fit subjects for further studies. According to him, Amos Tutuola’s The Palm-Wine Drinkard might still retain some interest among scholars as an example of the transition from oral to written storytelling, while Gabriel Okara’s The Voice may yet have some shelf life because of his experimentation with the English language.

He said Wole Soyinka’s The Interpreters was not a great novel but written by a great writer so it may continue to be examined as a lesser part of his legacy. He noted that no one would be tempted to write a comprehensive history of Nigerian fiction today because there are now just too many Nigerian novelists to include, some of whom are living and working outside Nigeria.

“And this should be a cause for celebration, not regret. In fact, the proliferation of African literature in English in the 21st century is something we should cherish, for there are now more writers producing more works of quality than ever before, and their achievements are being heralded by a new generation of African literature scholars who want to call attention to them.

“Works by less talented writers will inevitably fade from the scene, as they did during the 20th century. So we should be happy to be living in our present state of Pan African plenitude. We are getting bigger as an academic discipline, but we are also getting better,” he said in his paper: The emergence of African Literature as a Robust Academic Discipline via virtual.

One of the high points of the conference was the honouring of one of Nigeria’s foremost promoters of arts and culture, Dr. Bukar Usman among others. The award ceremony was presented to him on behalf of PAWA by Tunde Odunlade, Proprietor Tunde Odunlade Art Gallery, Ibadan. Dr. Usman was honoured with the award of the Noble Patron of the Arts award as a result of ‘his longstanding commitment to the arts and literature in Nigeria and Diaspora.’

House 24 Aggrey Road, downtown Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is synonymous with agitation, freedom and activism. There lies the Ken Saro-Wiwa’s house, where the martyr, before his execution, articulated his agitation for environmental rights and justice for Niger Delta region.

Though the building has become a monument with its archaic outlook, it recently became a rallying point for fresh issues bordering on women, their rights, stigmatisation and freedom of expression.

Celebrated writer, poet and performer, Wana Udobang, literarily resurrected Saro-Wiwa and his ideals by choosing the Boys Quarters Project Space, an art gallery founded by Zina Saro-Wiwa in 2014, to present her mixed media installations titled, Dirty Laundry.

It was part of her traveling exhibition, supported by Ford Foundation, that started in Lagos in 2022. Literary geniuses, poets and lovers of art gathered at the arena and listened as Udobang read audibly from well-selected words that formed Dirty Laundry.

Creating a metaphor of a laundry line, Udobang hung his poem printed on canvas at the gallery. A woman with features of a mother, was seen washing some dirty linens in front of the gallery conveying an image of freedom from shame. The laundry line was decorated with thought-provoking poems that navigated issues on womanhood, sexual and gender violence, fatherhood and family lifestyles.

Like a social crusader, Udobang in her voyage subverted the old saying, “don’t wash your dirty linens in public” to provide courage and encouragement to women on the need to kill the shame and speak out instead of hiding the dirty laundry and dying in silence.

It is a pushback platform where women are encouraged to discuss difficult issues such as domestic violence, harmful culture, rape, and other forms of injustices they hitherto bottled up, to shame the society and save them from premature deaths.

“Everyday, we see how our culture and societies repress the voices of women and girls. We continue to lose women and girls to sexual and intimate partner violence”, she said.

Quoting Nina Simon’s statement that an artist must reflect the time, Udobang added: “As an artist, I hope this exhibition is not only documenting and reflecting the insidious ways that women are violated in both our domestic and public lives but that it shows the ways we utilise our imagination to heal”.

Speaking on the theme, Udobang said: “It is collection of poems printed on canvas, hanging on laundry line. It is the metaphor to hang dirty laundry in the public. The idea originated from the fact that all the poems I write talk about women issues, gender violence, sexual violence and the insidious ways the society treats violence against women and suppress women voices.

“Women can share things that are happening to them especially things that are connected to how the society treats us and what they do to us. If you put the dirty linen in public, it is a way of saying you can’t shame the shameless.

“The idea is that you can’t silence me. In a way, it is resistant. It is also awareness. It is also an indication for people to share their stories as well. Women are also finding ways to tell their stories”.

Udobang noted that her poems sometimes explored different ways women try to build a happy life amidst their unfavourable situations. “There are also poems of reclamation of joy and how women find ways to build happy lives regardless of what the society does”.

On why most of her works centred on women, she said: “Basically I am a woman. I experience the way the society treats us. The Dirty Laundry is an idea that talking about your own story is a way of shaming people. You are not just shaming yourself”.

Udobang said she would continue to tackle injustice against women through storytelling to widen the conversation. Though she said nobody should be forced to tell their stories, Udobang urged women to realise that shame is a tool of silencing.

“Arts can also be a tool for activism and a tool for dialogue. Awareness and conversation are all part of social change. Knowing that everybody is different.

Nobody should be forced to share their stories. Women need to understand that shame is a tool for silencing. So they have to break it up”.

The Government of Dubai  has merged its tourism department with the department of economy, in an intentional move to position tourism as a huge starter in the economy of Dubai.

This was disclosed by  Regional Director International Operations, Dubai Department of  Economy and Tourism (DET),  Stella Fabura, during the recent  annual Dubai  Roadshow in Lagos.

The event, which featured 33 partners across hospitality, medical and entertainment sectors, also held across key cities. Fabura pointed out that the event aimed at creating interactive sessions between Dubai tourism stakeholders and its Nigerian counterparts.

According to her, “We spent the last two years during the pandemic improving  the attraction in the hotels and in the offerings. We have so many African restaurants now in Dubai and Nigerians when they travel, they love to eat their food and now we have that. We have also opened quite a few new attractions Dubai, Ain Dubai, Madame Tussauds Dubai, and Museum of the Future, these are all new things  probably happened in the last six months and some of the hotels took their time off to refurbish and new hotels opened.”

Describing the extent of transformation, Fubara said, “Dubai literally rebrands frequently. Every three to six months there is something new to see.”

With these redecoration on hotels and newly opened restaurants among other facilities across  Dubai, DET firmly believes that Dubai would provide favourable time for Nigerians who aspire to travel to Dubai for tourism and business adventures;  considering that new resorts and museums have also opened to give tourists and travellers that touch of home-away-from-home.

On the growing relationship between Dubai and Nigeria, Tareq Binbrek, Assistant Manager, International Relations (Africa) for Dubai Tourism said: “Nigeria is of significant importance to Dubai and we will continue strengthening our relationships and developing strategic activities in this fast growing market. The  road show gives us the opportunity to reach out to all of our partners, to align on future trade opportunities and ensure Dubai continues to remain front-of-mind for Nigerian travellers.”

To this end, Binbrek stated, “The road show would further increase DET’s promotional efforts in showcasing Dubai’s ever-evolving tourism proposition to African tourists. Experiencing strong growth in tourism numbers from Africa, Dubai Tourism sustained its momentum by strengthening relationships with all industry stakeholders in the region.”

Recalling, in 2019, Nigeria was one of our top performing source markets with a year-on-year increase of 33 per cent in visitor numbers, supported by the increase in seat capacity from Emirates Airline between Dubai and Nigeria in the summer”

‘Accompanied by 32 Dubai-based partners,  he said,  “Dubai Tourism began the 2022 Road Show in Abuja on June 7; followed by Port Harcourt on June 9, and Lagos on June 14. The roadshow highlighted Dubai’s affordable experiences and the diversity of the city’s offerings to key travel partners in Nigeria. Some of the products showcased at the road show, span across travel, accommodation, entertainment and citywide events, with a focus on family travel and medical tourism. Key elements of the event include breakout network sessions, partner presentations, one-on-one meetings, and Medical facilities updates.

“Nigeria is the giant of Africa and they travel the most and they are the most exciting when it comes to entertainment and adventure and it is really important we focus  on Nigerians and find out what they like to do when they travel.  And Nigerians being the number one visitors from African countries to Dubai for the past six years and so it  is important to us  to pay attention to  Nigerians.

The event witnessed a showcase of offerings from hotels such as; Al Khoory Hotel, Atlantis The Palm Hotel & Resort, Copthorne Hotel, Emaar Hospitality (Address hotels, Vida, Rove, Armani), Hilton Garden Inn, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah Group  among other facilities.”

He said: “Dubai Tourism has the ultimate vision of positioning Dubai as the world’s leading tourism destination and commercial hub. Dubai Tourism’s mission is to increase the awareness of Dubai among global audiences and to attract tourists and inward investment into the Emirate.” *Chibuzor is Lagos-based journalist.

In addition, Managing Director, Flyzone Tourism, Ayodeji Awonoyi stated, “I am happy that Dubai tourism came to introduce most agencies to Dubai hotels, Dubai tours, Dubai packages and visas. Basically, why I’m here is  to showcase our own products like Dubai visas for Nigerian travel agencies. Most of the travel agencies are already using us and we are here to make new partners. The event is fine and new companies are springing up.”

Organisers of this year’s edition of Wole Soyinka’s 88th birthday anniversary have unveiled speakers at the advocacy session of the 2022 of Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange (WSICE), holding virtually today. The speakers include Dele Farotimi, Bimbo Manuel, Ier Jonathan and Ireti Bakare.

Treating the theme: Citizenship and Nation Building… The case for Rights, Freedom & Justice speakers will discuss the essential ingredients towards effective mobilisation of the citizens for nation building. It will also feature students essay writing and youths essay writing and screening of three films.

According to Executive Producer WSICE project, Dr Teju Kareem, the theme is to capture the main issues of preoccupation in the socio-political situation of Nigeria in the global space.

The advocacy session will be prefaced by Prof. Segun Ojewuyi, the Dean of College of Arts & Media, Southern Illinois University, SIU, Carbondale, Illinois USA, and co-Executive Producer of WSICE.

The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN), an umbrella body for private operators in tourism, travel and hospitality, has described Nigeria’s hosting of United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s first world conference on cultural tourism and creative industries as a wild goose chase of no benefit to Nigeria and Nigerian cultural tourism and creative industries. The association said the private sector strongly believe that the world conference is of no benefit to Nigeria and its tourism industry. It said that it is rather self–serving and more of personal aggrandisement and these can be deciphered from a critical analysis of the present state of our tourism and culture.

FTAN said the latest in the quest by the Minister and Ministry to turn Nigeria into ‘Father Christmas’ and ‘host country specialist’ for anything labeled UNWTO, is the holding of UNWTO conference at the National Theatre, Lagos in November between 14 to 17. Nigeria was given the hosting rights at the 64th meeting of the UNWTO in Cape Verde in 2021.

In an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the association alleged that the supervising ministry for tourism, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and the Minister in charge, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, have neglected tourism, with no basic policy direction, programmes and activities wholly initiated and/or in partnership with the private sector to drive tourism in order to improve its contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The Ministry and Minister appear to have an avowed disdain for domestic tourism and working with the private sector as the fulcrum to change the narrative and disruptive innovations in the sector as has been done in other climes,” the association said.

It lamented that priority has not been translated into physical reality and transformation of our sector, which is globally acknowledged as a multi-layered sector and the largest employer of labour with every ‘one’ employment out of 10 from tourism sector.

“Not even in the difficult era of COVID-19 when most of the MDAs worked closely with the private sector to devise palliative for survival strategies did the minister and ministry think it wise to court the private sector.

“The only reaction from the minister was to set up a ‘controversial’ creative industry committee to work out palliatives for the sector. Unfortunately, the recommendations of the committee and the review committee are today gathering dust and cobwebs in the ‘golden’ cabinet of the minister; neither disclosed nor recommendations implemented,” it added.

According to the association, the common dominator of the pre-COVID -19 era all over the world is tourism recovery strategies championed by the UNWTO. But, that sadly, ‘the minister has not felt the need to work in this direction especially given our peculiar situation; with our economy bleeding and our tourist destinations gripped by insecurity that does not repose confidence in tourists and investors in revamping our neglected tourism.

“Rather, what we have seen over the last seven years is that the minister and the ministry have been more focused on merely attending international events and meetings of the UNWTO and thus becoming ‘biding specialists’ by lobbying to get hosting rights to any UNWTO related events without putting in perspective the attendant economic cost and benefits to the country,” it noted.

In an interactive session with the media in Lagos, President FTAN, Mr. Nkereuwem Onung recalled that in his almost one year in office, he has written three letters seeking audience with the minister without success.  He said: “My pain right now starts from the treatment of the industry concerning COVID-19. And that pain is in my bones. Aviation got over N4 billion, transport got about N2.6 billion, and the industry that was the hardest hit got nothing till date. If I have the privilege to meet the minister, these are parts of what I would have discussed with him on the way forward. These are issues that bother us as private sector leader.”

From the warzone in Sambisa Forest to refugee camps, communities torn apart by violence across the northern and southern parts of Nigeria, our fellow countrymen are in dire need of support for prevention of illicit drug activities and effective intervention in wellbeing of children, youths, families and communities.”

That clarion call by the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Special Area Command, Idiriko, Archie-Abia Ibinabo set the tone for the commemoration of this year’s International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking held recently at Idiroko, Ogun State. This year’s theme was: Addressing drug challenges in health and humanitarian crises.

She said that the severity and high prevalence of drug use, abuse and trafficking has become worrisome in the country, noting that it has significantly impacted on public health, fueling insecurity and terrorism as well as distorts national economy, human security and the rule of law.  “Knowing that Nigeria occupies a strategic position in the West Africa drug trafficking routes and a huge youthful population who are vulnerable and susceptible to drug abuse and trafficking with its attendant consequences. It is therefore, expedient for Nigerians to be oat the top of the drug situation. If there is a genuine will, together we can tackle the national drug problems,” she said in her keynote address at the grand finale of the one week event.

The World Drug Day week-long activities were organised by the Area Command to help raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drug use, abuse and trafficking pose to the society.

She noted that it is common knowledge that Nigeria had continued to witness widespread humanitarian crisis in Zamfara, Katsina, Borno, Imo, Anambra, Oyo and even recently at Igangan, Owo and many other places in the nation, while the COVID-19 pandemic is still a major global health crisis.

“We are called to study the tides and address the eminent drug challenges in health and humanitarian crisis as it is with us today. We need strength and courage to redirect and re-strategise our intervention practices. It is time to unlearn certain approaches that are inimical and move to more pragmatic and balanced intervention method in addressing illicit drugs as it relates to health and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria,” she added.

The Commander reiterated that the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command will continue to advocate to protect the rights to health for the most vulnerable and young persons with substance disorder.  The NDLEA, she said, is playing vital role in the elimination of drug challenges being faced globally using its four strategic pillars of supply reduction, drug demand reduction, access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific purposes, governance and coordination.

She disclosed that in drug reduction, the command has visited no fewer than 19 secondary schools taking the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaign to places such as Ikolaje, Ihumbo, Oke Odan and Ajilete kingdom. She added that in supply reduction, the command has arrested 12 persons seven are in court while five persons including females have been convicted. According to her, a total of 2,322.98kg seizures of cannabis sativa and 120.76kg of psychoactive substances were made, which were made possible by the active collaborative efforts of the Nigerian Custom Service.

Custom Area Controller Ogun 1 Area Command, Mr. Bamidele Makinde who spoke on behalf of the military paramilitary organisations and strategic agencies at Idiroko Border, lamented that the nation is at a time when criminal activities have risen to monstrous heights, which are induced or influenced by the abuse of hard or psychoactive drugs and other prohibited substances, especially by the youths.

The event, which featured cultural performance, lecture and health talk by Dr. Moses Olaleye also witnessed presentation of prizes to winners of the football contest and essay writing competition among secondary schools.