The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Authors

  • Authors and corporate sponsorship

    Authors and corporate sponsorship

    Live music, spoken poetry, bright lights, book reading and colourful murals created an alluring ambience that enlivened the mood of the eclectic crowd that gathered at the unveiling ceremony of Dr Ebidenyefa Tarlia- Nikade’s tragic novel: “When Tomorrow Beckons”.

    The book launch, which was held weekend, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa Capital, attracted the Bayelsa Governor’s wife, Justice Patience Diri, government functionaries, literary enthusiasts, writers, academia, poets and the traditional institution.

    Justice Diri, who was special guest of honour, urged the private sector and development partners to support authors by sponsoring reading programmes and endowing prizes for research and writing.

    According to her, “ideas are the raw materials for innovation”, stressing that “when we invest in knowledge, we compound progress”.

    She reiterated the imperatives of discipline and cultivating a strong reading culture, stressing that knowledge, hard work, and integrity remain the surest path to personal growth and lasting impact.

    Diri emphasized the vital role of books in shaping ideas, preserving memory, and inspiring future generations.

    She described the occasion as more than just a literary event, but a celebration of knowledge, culture, and progress that resonates with the values of society.

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    Commending the author for her effort, Justice Diri, stressed the value of book which she said came at a timely moment, noting that literature preserves memory, sparks public debate, and inspires young people.

    “When Tomorrow Beckons is a work that arrives at a timely moment for our society and those who care about ideas, culture and progress. I congratulate the author for the courage, discipline and generosity it takes to bring a manuscript from a quiet idea to a book we can hold and read.

    “I love literature, I love books and I love to write. Books are unique, they travel farther than their authors and they live longer than their first readers. They preserve memory, sharpen public debate and give young minds something worthy to aspire to,” she added.

    She said the novel provides clarity, balance, and lessons that makes it useful for literature scholars and readers alike.

    Chairman, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) Ambassador Godknows Igali, who chaired the occasion, praised the author for telling the Ijaw story with candour, courage using literature to of an indigenous riverine people.

    His words, “The book touches on the Ijaw identity and who we are as a people in the Niger Delta. Young people should turn to writing about their origin as a way to preserve our history.”

    Dr. Ebidenyefa Tarila-Nikade said proceeds of the book launch would be channelled towards the Spelling Bee Bayelsa competition which is in its fourteenth year.

    She said the Spelling Bee competition targets children in primary and secondary schools across the state.

    She said, “The Spelling Bee is to encourage children to develop interest in mentally rewarding activities. We plan to give financial rewards, educational materials, and, if possible, scholarships to participants.”

    She further noted that When Tomorrow Beckons was written to promote Ijaw culture, stressing that the book shows the people’s cosmology, traditions, and values beyond oil struggles and poverty.

    “It is to tell the world that we are strong people with our norms, our taboos, our worldview, and our rich cultural heritage. Our food, our dressing, everything is embedded in this work,” she said.Dr. Tarila-Nikade urged young writers to be intentional and disciplined in their craft, stressing that, “For you to carve a niche for yourself, you have to take time to engage in deep research in your area of interest and come out with something laudable that will be worthy of accolades,” she urged.

    She encouraged young people to balance social media with serious reading and research, adding that consistent engagement with books remains the key to greatness.

  • Authors promote reading culture

    Writing as a craft is a lifelong continuing learning process: To write well need some application and special aptitude. Some writers seem to have been born with the instinctive feel and ability to do it effortlessly. Still, even the best writers like other artists still need to develop their power. Not only by putting words to writing but the many activities the writers engage in, particularly, the engagement with the readers for feedback on what they make of the writers’ work. That opportunity to engage the writers by the readers is one of the major aims of the WIN writers’ group monthly assemblage. WIN is a new writers group that holds its monthly meeting at the beautifully nestled QuickSpace hall; 44, Community Road, off the popular Allen Avenue, Ikeja-lagos.

    As has become the tradition, the meeting of the members is for two hours after which follow a Guest Readers’ Session. This time, unlike last month, there were two readers who also, happened to be Writers; Mr. Theodore Chikelu: an author; poet with three volumes of poems published, and a fiction writer. He is also the CEO of an Aviation, Tour Guide and Tourism Company and Ms. Grace Austina Okpo; also an Author of several books, is a Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and, Business Consultant.

    Chikelu presented three poems; “Throes of the lost Generation,” “The Oracle Weeps” and “Forces of Disorder.” One poem each, from his three volumes published books of poetry. His presentation was detailed and insightful. The poems, like most African poems had much more than written words to share. They were music to the ears and senses; serenading with an inner rhythmical sounds that reach the soul. “The Oracle Weeps” like the other two poems Chikelu presented are written in elaborate exploratory language that stirred the audiences’ emotion with his play of metaphor, simile and symbolisms. The objective was obviously to grab and hold the attention of the audience but the poems did much more than that at the end, they succeeded as well crafted narratives, to converge emotion, ardour and desire. These were shown through: “The Oracle Weeps;” ‘The Chief Priest tired, watches aghast as the witches howl,’ ‘Blood, blood blood…wasted blood.’ In “Throes of a Lost Generation;” ‘Keeping our generation in futuristic speculations,’ ‘While today is dying.’ And in “Forces of Disorder;” ‘Stripping me of my alibi of silence and secrecy,’ ‘That the night hid so well.’

    It was refreshing and reassuring sharing so many aspects of the African social experiences of life.

    The book Grace Okpo presented is titled, “My Friend the Returnee;” A story revolving around Akachukwu, the providence child who had a chance encounter with Angela, who became the love of his life. Okpo really delivered a beautifully crafted love story. Thoroughly enjoyable and I was particularly fascinated by Akachukwu and everything he was going through.

    There is a lot to this story, not just Akachukwu and Angela’s relationship but the deeper, complex and touching storyline and message, sumptuously narrated.  There are so much sentiments in this book. For instance, Akachukwu who lacked prompt and confidence when it comes to taking the gauntlet of relationships though his heart always was in the right place and Angela, an angel of love. Okpo, like a good writer did a fascinating job setting these two up in beautiful love tango that it was obvious that there was going to be some downwards spiraling twists and tumbles, so I was not surprised or shocked when she uncoiled the twist. Yet, though, a writer who knew it was coming, still when it happened I felt full of grief. I love the web; the way this story all came together. It was easy to follow, a page turner, written in simple, and short sentences. She really delivered a touching and eloquent story with characters that are bound to linger in the readers’ heart a long time

    The session ended in delight with food and drinks in plenty. By next month, another very interesting guest would be reading. The WIN group is always looking for writers, authors and lovers of books interested in reading to us. And, as writers, we know life often gets in the way of writing so, whether you’re stuck halfway through writing in whatever genre you write, or find yourself in the midst of an existential crisis, the WIN group is set up to remind you of why you want to write and will help bring you back to focus.

     

  • Twin brothers launch platform for authors, artistes

    Publiseer, a platform that publishes the works of Nigerian authors and artistes for free, has received top reviews by prominent websites and blogs.

    The identical twins, Chidi and Chika Nwaogu, are computer programmers.

    Publiseer has published over 60 books and musical albums on 400 online stores across 100 countries including Holla, a song by Klever Jay.

    They said the platform was informed by the need to expose million of undiscovered talents who lack funds to express themselves in the nation.

    Reacting to the incredible impact of the innovation, Tech Gist Africa said: “The company is built on the belief that every good work deserves to be published and released to the wider masses.

    “To achieve this belief, they created their platform that allows artists and authors to publish their works online for free.”

    Start Up Beat, a Colombian technology news blog, said: “A Nigerian startup under the name of Publiseer provides authors and artistes with a chance to have their work seen by the rest of the world.

    “The platform allows artists and authors to publish their work on Amazon, Play Store and Apple store – free-of-charge.”

    The platform was given a 4.5 rating of 5 by Tech Next.

    “I will give this startup a 4.5 rating of 5, seeing the innovation is another good step in the digitization of Nigeria and is also timely and almost altruistic, although time will tell if it will be truly beneficial to the Nigerian creator.”

    Founders Africa said: “Publiseer is providing a very valuable service that would be useful to many.

    “ With millions of aspiring authors and artistes in Nigeria, who have not been able to get themselves out there as a result of lack of funds, the platform has a lot of potential of making a name for itself and being a go-to place for publishing within a short period of time.”

    The platform has been reviewed by Disrupt Africa, Innovation Village, Tech Moran, Inventive Africa, The Spirited Hub, Page One and a host of others.

  • Bayelsa 12-year-old authors book

    Bayelsa 12-year-old authors book

    It was not surprising that a Bayelsa State born Master Biboye Afenfia became an author at the age of 12. He is simply a chip off the old block. He takes after his father, Michael Afenfia, one of the prolific writers from the Niger Delta region.

    Afenfia, the father of Biboye, who is currently the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, is credited with some notable books like ‘Don’t Die on Wednesday’. So, like father like son, Biboye developed the brilliance of his father showed some super-intelligence with his book, ‘Paxoid’.

    Biboye is a class three pupil of Aiyedumo Premiere School (Junior Secondary School) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital. He says the fictional novel is aimed at using the character of Patrick to inspire youths and kids.

    He says kids like him should not be limited by their age. He wants children to aim higher in life and use their talents to help humanity. The young writer, a proud Ijaw boy, is excited at his debut novel. He attributes his success to fail to the important roles his father and mother played in making the novel a reality.

    He says:  ”My dad played an important role. He helped me a lot. He believed in my story and gave me the courage to write. When I started, he was there for me till the end.

    ”The book was clearly my idea. My father was only my mentor. I am not quite sure if not for my dad, I would have got the support and encouragement this early.

    ”What I set out to achieve with this fictional novel is to encourage people, particularly the young people that they are not too young to achieve great things. You are not too young to do everything you dream of.”

    Giving insight into the prose of the book, the young writer says it is all about a 14-year-old boy called Patrick, an only child, who now begins to expect another sibling.

    ”Patrick has been an only child all his life and so the news that he was going to have a junior really sounded strange to him. He decided to go somewhere alone in order to ponder and digest the strange news properly.

    ”On his casual observation of his environment, Patrick met two strange men who gave him a medallion which conferred certain magical powers on him with a piece of advice to use it to save humanity”, Biboye says.

    According to him the book explores Patrick’s ability to use his new status for positive reasons by preparing to shoulder an additional responsibility of a big brother to his would-be sibling.

    On the reason behind Paxoid, the young writer notes that the title is inspired by the heroic name Patrick. He says the name is adopted to hide the real identity of the character. The title ‘Paxoid’ is a mixture of the first two letters of his name with the heroic name of his choice, ‘Android’.

    Biboye says: ”Kids can learn that they can be someone in the society, no matter who they are or their background. They just need to be themselves.

    ”Kids should also learn to use any power or talent they have to help others and remain humble in greatness. In the book, we can see that Patrick got the medallion because someone who had it before him misused it and arrogance consumed him.”

    On the reception of the book by his friends in his school, Biboye says he has grown taller among his friends, adding that his cousins, friends and mates have been pouring encomiums on him for his effort.

    The young writer says he is not yet done with writing books, adding that he has started working on the continuation of Paxoid.

    ”My ambition as a writer is to write books that will give good values to children. I want to go into full-time writing and take it as a career,” he adds.

    Biboye prays for God’s strength and grace, explaining that he usually uses his free time to write.

    The 12-year-old says: ”Whenever I have free time I will use it to write. As for the course I intend to study in the university, I have yet to decide on it as I have interest in many different things. But time will surely tell.

    “But I can tell you that I want to be an author. I will soon start work on the continuation. The story is not over yet.”

  • ANA mentors teen authors

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) wishes to announce The First ANA National Teen Authorship Conference holding at Logos International Secondary Schools Awommama, Owerri Imo State, from September 27-29, 2016.

    With the theme: Mentoring Teen Authors for National Development, the conference will feature talks and a number of literary presentations devoted to encouraging literary creativity, reading and writing among young persons and teenagers in our schools.

    According to ANA President, Denja Abdullahi, the occasion will also feature the launch of A BOOK-A CHILD-A WEEK Nationwide project of the Association, which is aimed at encouraging every child in secondary school to read at least one literature book a week outside the school syllabus. The event will also feature a one day, TRAINING THE MENTORS, seminar designed to train prospective mentors for the ANA teen authorship project.

    Keynote Speaker: Prof Sam Ukala, Professor of Theatre and Drama, Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria; winner Nigerian Prize for Literature, 2014

  • Write for basic education, commissioner urges authors

    Write for basic education, commissioner urges authors

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, has charged authors and publishers to produce more books for basic education to improve writing skills.

    She spoke at the Edistyle Company’s launch of two books: ‘Writing Masterpieces’ and ‘Smart and Brilliant Writing for Senior Secondary School Students’.

    Oladunjoye, who spoke through the ministry’s Deputy Director, Curriculum Services, Mr Segun Osibote, identified technology, environmental factor, laziness among others, as hindrances to effective writing and learning.

    She said there were indications that pupils show more dexterity in using the computer than writing.

    Oladunjoye said: “We need to look into our educational system. You see children of between two and four years today making use of the internet perfectly; but when you ask them to handle manuscript, they cannot. You see some authors today getting into the educational system without having anything to do there and this is also affecting our children and our education.

    “Let’s look at our environment like Lagos. In the early hours of the day you see people on the road – Daddy and Mummy leave home early and this makes the kids lack necessary attention and subsequently loss of reading culture. Social media is good but we need to return to the basics first to help generations.”

    Oladunjoye also urged parents to teach their children to write well and learn.

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ipoola Omisore, appealed to the state government to allow the new books circulate round schools in Lagos.

    Author and publisher of the books, Mr Michael Omisore, said his interest and passion for ‘good read’ prompted him to produce the books.

    Omisore, who is an architect, said he packaged the books for both students and professional to improve on their writing and learning habit.

    “Sport is packaged, comedy is packaged, music is packaged and that is why I have packaged these books to secondary schools for it to be a supplementary text to their English text books.”

    While “Writing Masterpieces for adults and professionals” is a resource on writing for authors and readers, “Smart and Brilliant Writing for Secondary School Students”, is “an adaptation for students to appreciate and get used to good quality writing, and be able to reproduce it.

    Omisore promised to produce many more volumes under the Smart and Brilliant Series from the nursery to secondary school levels.

    An educational psychologist, environmentalist and CEO of iRead Mobile Library in Nigeria, Mrs Funmi Ilori, lamented that most authors of local books are not doing enough to improve on their contents so their readers can get the best.

    “What we are failing to realise is that reading is done with a lot of concentration and dedication unlike watching a movie or a play which you can do subconsciously at times. In watching a video for instance, the images are already made, and the person watching does not need to have to a lot of imagining. But with reading, the reader would have to translate words into images in his mind for him to. So the quality of writing needs to be taken seriously if we want the reading to greatly improve,” she said.

  • ‘In publishing circles all over the world, Nigerians are the most sought-after authors’

    ‘In publishing circles all over the world, Nigerians are the most sought-after authors’

    For someone who didn’t really know which career to choose initially, Helon Habila has done well for himself in the world of English Language and Literature. His success story dated back to the decision he made to return to the university after his father and sibling died. The story goes that young Habila did not really find anything challenging in school. So somehow, he found his way home. But while at home, his father and sibling died in an accident.

    It was a provoking time for him; a time that eventually gingered him to return to school after he discovered a new picture of himself from the numerous novels he read in his closet while at home.

    He showed a promising start at the University of Jos where he studied English Language and Literature, and that encouraged him after bagging the degree, to head for Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. He found a place in the media, and from there, the literary awards came tumbling in. From awards received for a poem, he moved into books, and even had the rare privilege of working with the renowned Late Chinua Achebe.

    Said Habila: “I was invited by the late Prof Chinua Achebe in 2005, to become the first Chinua Achebe Fellow at Bard College, New York, where I spent a year, writing and teaching and after my fellowship, I stayed on in America, as a Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.”Habila had moved up. And in the last fourteen years, he has lived in and out of America, a place where he has created a home with a family. Right now, he is still winning literary awards. Just a few weeks back, he won another that brought in several thousands of dollars. Habila shared his excitement: “The award is called the Windham-Campbell Prize for fiction. It is given every year by Yale University, and the sponsor is the late Donald Windham, who was a writer. He left the money for this purpose after his death. He knew how important it is for writers not to have to worry about money, so in essence, he is buying writers’ time. Instead of spending time looking for money to pay the bills, he wants writers to focus on their work. Writers are anonymously nominated for the award, and you don’t hear about it till you are chosen. Up to now, I have no idea who submitted my name for the award.”

    According to him, “the award brought with it a great feeling.” His citation at The Windham-Campbell Prize perhaps had the most superfluous words. It read: “Helon Habila is that rare combination of storyteller and stylist who challenges expectations while deepening our empathy for ordinary people confronting extraordinary times.”

    The words truly depict the poet and the author. “His first novel, ‘Waiting for an Angel,’ came out in 2002. It went on to win the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best First Book (Africa Region).” And the author did not look back. Take for instance the plot for another of his books, ‘Oil on Waters,’ described elsewhere as “a genre mixing environmental political thriller, which has become an international bestseller.”

    The plot goes: “In the rich and environmentally devastated Nigerian Delta, the wife of a British oil executive has been kidnapped. Two journalists- a young upstart, Rufus, and a once-great, now disillusioned veteran, Zaq- are sent to find her. In a story rich with atmosphere and taut with suspense, oil on water explores the conflict between idealism and cynical disillusionment in a journey full of danger and unintended consequences.

    “As Rufus and Zaq navigate polluted rivers flanked by exploded and dormant oil wells, in search of the ‘white woman,’ they must contend with the brutality of both government soldiers and militants. Assailed by irresolvable versions of the ‘truth’ about the woman’s disappearance, dependent on the kindness of strangers of unknowable loyalties, their journalistic objectivity will prove unsustainable, but other values might yet salvage their human dignity.” And this too went on to win another award.

    ‘Love Poems’ was that which did it for him in the international scene. It won him the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2001, and that went ahead to change his general literary outlook. Habila became a literary bride in the international circle with an invitation to be the first African Writing Fellow at the University of East Anglia. He was there as a Chevening Scholar, and later as a PhD Candidate, from 2002-2007.

    “Habila’s second novel, Measuring Time, came out in 2007. It was nominated for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, the Dublin IMPAC Prize, and it won the Virginia, Library Foundation Prize for fiction, 2008. In 2010 Habila published Oil on Water, which was nominated for many awards, including Pen/Open Book Award (shortlist, 2013); Commonwealth Best Book, Africa Region (Shortlist, 2012); The Orion Book Award (shortlist, 2013)”.

    So what do the awards mean to him? Habila replied; “Yes, I have won quite a few awards over the years, for which I am grateful. They all have their emotional meanings to me; they all happened to me at important points in my life. The first major award I ever won was of course the MUSON prize for poetry in 2000. It is significant because it was my very first major award, and it was here in Nigeria, in Lagos, with all my friends around me. I still have the pictures. So, in that sense it will always be special. Also, it is my only prize for poetry; all the others are for prose.”

    However, for every successful writer, there existed the early days of struggle. Did Habila experience much of that? Or did he start writing right from his mother’s womb? The Commonwealth Award-winning writer replies: “Writing started quite early for me and mostly it started from reading and from listening to stories. I fell in love with stories from a very early age and that determined everything that happened after. I read quite a lot as a kid, it was my way of escape, I guess. I didn’t really start writing till I was about 16 or 17. I know I wrote my first full length novel at 17. I published my first short story at university when I was 21 or 22. I have been lucky to have around me encouraging teachers and friends who believed in me and encouraged me. I have been really fortunate, I guess.”

    Habila’s response suggests that he had access to books and other literature materials to choose from to read. But at that time he was growing up in Nigeria, was there such availability and access to books, and how really has the reading culture been then and now in Nigeria? And where does he have his largest number of readers and his biggest fans?

    “As much as I’d wish it were otherwise, I have to admit that yes, we don’t read as much as we should in Nigeria, at least in comparison to other cultures. We mostly prefer to read newspapers and non-fiction, especially of the inspirational variety. So, definitely my biggest reading base is not in Nigeria. I have sold more books in England and USA and Germany, for instance, than I have in Nigeria. But in defence of Nigeria, I should say that we still don’t have the infrastructure and the marketing facilities that you see in Western publishing. We are getting there. But I believe my most ardent supporters and well-wishers are Nigerians, that’s enough for me.”

    With little known about his background, except of course for his early years of award winning, what kind of background does the author have?

    “My background, well, there isn’t much to tell. I am from Gombe State. I went to the University of Jos, and I worked as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic in Bauchi, before moving to Lagos to become a journalist and a writer. Currently, I live and work in the US. I have been here for about nine years now. I teach Creative Writing at the George Mason University. Before then, I was in England for about five years at the University of East Anglia. So, I have been on the road for a while now.”

    His family life?

    “I am married with three kids, two girls and a boy. How does my family affect my work? They make it better, I guess. Like every family, we have our challenges and ups and downs, but I am blessed with a kind and understanding wife and my kids are the best in the work. They make me a better person; so, that means they make me a better writer.”

    Can an interview with him be complete without looking back at the good old days of African Writer Series, and the big names that have made African literary scene vibrant in the past years? Names such as Cyrian Ekwensi, J.P Clark, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Prof Ola Rotimi and quite a handful of other renowned writers like that. Would he say that the new breed writers can hold their own in the face of such early works of these earlier writers?

    “Of course they can,” declared Habila, “but only time will tell. The surest and best test of what work is good or bad is time. Some of the works being celebrated today might disappear in five to ten years’ time, and some which are not even being talked about might begin to rise to prominence as time passes. Do you remember that Hermann Melville, author of the greatest American novel, died penniless and in obscurity? But I can tell you that in publishing circles all over the world, the most sought- after authors are African authors, and the most sought-after African authors are Nigerian authors. That says something.”

    And sometimes one really wonders about the lifestyle of an author. Ordinarily, people find leisure in books and writing. But writers find work in the same place, most often always seriously buried in pages of manuscripts. We asked Habila, doesn’t that make authors boring people?

    His reply: “Yes, I have been accused of being boring. But the truth is that, what others find interesting, I find boring. I am a self-sufficient sort of guy. I can remain indoors alone for over a week without needing to go anywhere or to talk to anyone. I know, it’s not very healthy, but it is the only way I can get any work done. I read or watch movies when I have time on my hands. I also travel a lot because of my writing. I love to travel. I love to meet new people, as long as I don’t have to socialise too much with them. I love discussing politics and art. I run, I go to the park with my kids.”

    From his reply, one could tell that the most part of his life is interwoven with his family. And that he gladly accepts. So where does the writer in him go from here? What further hopes and aspirations is he targeting?

    “Where do I go from here? Forward, I hope. I have a few books I have to finish. Some friends and I have started a publishing company called Cordite, to publish mainly crime and detective fiction. I look forward to spending time developing the company in the next one year. I am also trying to build a library in my home town. These are the projects I am working on at the moment.

  • ‘Writing made me who I am’

    ‘Writing made me who I am’

    In this encounter with Edozie Udeze, Dr Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, former Managing Director of the defunct Daily Times Nigeria Plc, author, playwright, novelist, artist and politician, talks about how early exposure to books, has made him who he is today

    what sort of books do you like reading most?

    I like reading biographies and the histories of important institutions and momentous events. I read and thoroughly enjoyed American writer Gay Talese’s 1969 book on The New York Times newspaper titled The Kingdom and the Power. I have also enjoyed reading Taylor Branch’s 1983 award-winning book on the Civil Rights movement in the USA titled Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954 – 1963”.  I have also read and enjoyed Wole Soyinka’s Ake, The Open Sore of a Continent and You Must Set Forth At Dawn as well as Chinua Achebe’s The Trouble With Nigeria, There was a Country, The Education of a British Protected Child, etc.

    When you read a book, what are the salient things you look out for most?

    When I read a book, I pay close attention to the use of language. The use of language is very important to me. Because everyone can tell a story but not everyone can tell a story in a creatively entertaining, beautiful and captivating way. Humour is also important to me. Look at the way Achebe describes traditional rulers in Iboland in The Trouble with Nigeria. I like to be entertained by a book. I want a book to make me laugh. I don’t want a book to depress me. There is so much sadness and gloom around us these days and I go into books for relief. w

    Who are your favourite authors in the world and why?

    My favourite authors are Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Graham Greene, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Oriana Fallaci, etc. I read Fallaci’s book titled “A Man” and I was fascinated. It is a fictional biography of Greek rebel Alexandros Panagoulis. As for drama, my favorite playwrights are William Shakespeare, Bertolt Brecht, Femi Osofisan, Ola Rotimi, etc. I like plays that are deep, well plotted and funny. My favorite Nigerian poet is Niyi Osundare.

    When and when do you like to read and what time and why?

    I don’t have a fixed time. I read when I find the time for it. Very often I find the time to read when I travel out of Abuja or out of Nigeria.

    What is your preferred literary genre?

    I don’t have any preferred literary genre. But like I said I tend to go after biographies, histories, plays, novels and poems. I am attracted to a good book. Period! It does not matter what genre.

    What book or books have had the greatest impact on you and why?

    It is difficult for me to pick any particular book as having had a profound impact on me. Fallaci’s A Man, Taylor’s Parting the Waters, Galese’s The Kingdom and the Power, Soyinka and Achebe’s memoirs, Elechi Amadi’s The Concubine, etc have all had an impact on me, especially on my own writing. Osofisan’s play, Midnight Hotel and Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, Efua Sutherland’s The Marriage of Anansewa, Ama Taidoo’s The Dilemma of a Ghost and  Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle have had a big impact on my playwriting. I write plays that are funny and philosophical.

    As a child what books tickled you most?

    As a child, I read children’s stories that were assigned to us in schools. I also read books written by local writers in Ebiraland where I come from. One of the most important writers of that era is a man called Agidi Ovurevu. I read his books which were based on Ebira fairy tales often about tortoise, rabbit, hare and other animals. The books were written to teach some moral lessons and to socialise us to become responsible members of our society. Of course I also read the so called Onitsha Market literature. Ogali Ogali’s Veronica My Daughter was my template for writing bombastic love letters meant to impress teenage girls. As a young adult, I also read the Mills and Boons series as well as books by Hardley Chase, Barbara Cartland, Agatha Christie, etc.

    At what point in your life did you begin to nurse the idea of becoming a writer?

    Teachers started commenting positively about what was then known as “Composition” assignments since primary school. But it was not until the University of Ibadan that I began to take myself seriously as a writer. I contributed scripts to television and radio dramas and they were used. But when I graduated and joined The Guardian in 1983, journalism took hold of my imagination. I began writing plays again in 1990 when I got to the United States to study for a master in Journalism and for a doctorate in Performance Studies at New York University. Some of those plays were later performed by the BBC radio and by off Broadway theatre groups in New York.

    Has writing reshaped your life?

    Yes, it has heightened my sensibility. It has brought honour and attention to me. It has also brought me some recognition.

    If you meet your favourite author face to face what would you ask him/her?

    The secret of their success.

    Of the plays you’ve read, which character struck you most?

    I cannot single out one.

    What book do you plan to read next?

    I am reading Tony Blair’s memoirs right now.

    How do you arrange your private library?

    I have bookshelves but are not enough for all my books. So there are some of my books in the shelves while others are in cartons.

    Are you a committed reader?

    I read voraciously. I read everyday newspapers, magazines, books, etc.

  • Authors take literary campaign to college

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Imo State chapter, has organised a two-day event for students and writers to commemorate the World Literacy Day, which is celebrated on September 8, yearly.

    The campaign, which took place in the auditorium of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, featured literacy carnival, readings, poetry performance, teen authorship programmes and talks on the different genres of literature.

    The global theme for this year was Literacy for sustainable development, but considering the current ebola scourge in the continent, ANA adopted its sub-theme: Literacy for the eradication of diseases.

    In his remark, chairman of ANA in the state, Mr Chidozie Chukwubuike noted that the need to hold such event arose considering the dwindling standard of education in the society and to arouse the consciousness of people to take reading seriously.

    “It is evident most students no longer read. Take for instance recent performance of students in national examinations, you will see that the youths have been distracted by the invention of the internet, cable TV and the concentration has tilted from reading to social media activities. It is on the strength of this that ANA Imo chapter went this far to redeem the reading culture among students,” Chidozie said.

    He also thanked the school proprietors and guardians for releasing their wards to attend the programme despite the fear of the EVD.

    The highlight of the occasion was an awareness campaign round the campus and a drama presentation titled The trafficker,  performed by a theatre group.

  • Youth authors book on values

    A youth, Chris Oshundun, has written a book entitled: An orientation course in national values: An urban innovative version.

    The author said the work was aimed at promoting national rebirth. He highlighted different approaches to national transformation in any country, saying there was need in value re-orientation among individuals and groups.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Oshundun said the publication was his own way of contributing to effective leadership.

    “It is our own way of contributing to the leadership of this nation. It is a tool for change, as well as a challenge to the government. The major focus of the project is infusing civic, social and ethical values into the national values. I believe that when there are national values, then there will be changes to our approach to certain issues and our ultimate goal is to seek the support of all stakeholders to play their own role” he added.

    He said the book was motivated by the Nigeria Education Research and Development Council (NERDC) curriculum.

    “Having done our own part, we want people to help promote it. If corruption is to stop, then there should be a change to what people believe in. What you believe in determines what drives you and that will influence your actions, “he said.

    The writer explained that most of the problems faced by the nation today emanated from the home front. saying “many parents,  for economic reasons, do not have enough time for their children. If this book is introduced to schools, it will be an extension of the home, especially with the moral aspect of it.”

    He stated that when a child lacked social values, they become a threat to the society.

    “The state of a nation, to me, is the reflection of our value system. So aside the government and schools, even religious groups would benefit from the ideas in this book. It will be a complement to what religious leaders have been doing. If they can integrate these values into their preaching, then it would in turn help to contribute greatly to the society,” he said.