It was an evening of seeing the world through Nigeria’s eyes. The French and Germans had come to dine at a literary feast their Consulates organised to celebrate the work of Nigeria’s art/culture and travel writers, Route 234. The feast, a reading at the German Consulate in Lagos, revisited issues of growing global concerns, reports EVELYN OSAGIE.
From the bewitching Ol Ari Nyiro of Kenya to the overlapping hills of Nigeria’s Mambilla Plateau, and all the way to Munich’s Dachau and Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Route 234 takes you around the world in a full read.
This was the case when the book was read at the German Consulate in Lagos. Though it featured readings of a few of the stories in the 211-page book, one could also call it an evening of travels. Route 234 features a collection of around-the-world stories by 15 seasoned Nigeria’s art/culture and travel writers.
With the aim of “Uniting humanity through travel”, the reading, a cross-cultural exchange, was jointly organised by German and French Consulates. Owing to the German-French co-operation, oftentimes, at least, once or twice in a year, their Consulates do a joint project – the reading was one of such. In attendance were some of the authors, with family members, friends and book lovers.
“I thought, ‘Yes.’ I would approach the editor, who had once reached out to me, to have a book reading,” began the German Consul-General Ingo Albert as he spoke on what inspired the event. “And then, I approached my French colleague and asked if he had received the very special book, which I thought was a wonderful idea. I told him I plan to do a book reading, but that we can have a joint reading.”
Led by the two hosts, the Consuls-General for German and French Embassies, the book contributors took guests to Europe and across Africa as they read the stories. Both envoys read a piece on each other’s country. Albert read Funke Osae-Brown’s piece on Inside the Eiffel Tower, while his French counterpart, Laurent Polonceux, read Eyitayo Aloh’s Literary Frankfurt.
“You do not want to be stranded in a strange land like Sola Balogun in Nice” came the thought from a guest as he read from his piece, The Good Samaritans of Nice. Other contributors that also read stories (in full and in part) were The Nation Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme (Hitler’s House of Horrors), Molara Wood, (Ol Ari Nyiro), and Okon-Ekong (Trekking the Mambilla Plateau).
The stories were engaging and raised diverse issues of global concerns, which formed part of the evening discourse, such as tourism, migration, crime, prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse.
While praising the book for its global relevance, the hosts said they found the stories exciting. Albert, who had read some of the stories before that day, described them as “wonderful”- “some funny, but interesting”.
Citing Uhakheme’s piece as one of the stories that gave the collection global appeal, the German Consul-General said: “People of Nigeria can feel connected to the world that the authors have travelled. There are even two chapters about Germany. There is the story about the concentration camps Dachau, the horror, the inhumanity to man that even a visitor experienced it as he visited. And I have seen on France, other parts, and on Africa. I find it a good introduction to see Europe, Germany from an African perspective – the other way round. I guess there are more travel books by travel journalists from Europe, America and Asia, but not the African perspective and I find that really fascinating.
“And that’s what inspired me to inform my colleague that I have already contacted the editor and authors that they could use the third floor, which was formerly a residence of the Consul General that can contain at least 60 people. I urged him that we should help them realise this idea by giving the floor, because this is really what travelling is about – meeting other people, having a discourse and a joint-communication. And I think tonight, we explored it. I am very happy about the evening and enjoyed the event.”
Aloh’s Literary Frankfurt inspired the discussion on trafficking. While describing prostitution and trafficking as hideous acts that put people in “mental jail”, Polonceux, said Route 234’s reading presented him another perspective of viewing the world. He said: “The main point in promoting arts is to have a good cooperation and to have a better understanding. It is really honourable to have this kind of writing and have this kind of exchange that the reading represented. It was a great experience being in the reading and experiencing the world through the eyes of Nigerian journalists.
“The book is a very nice way to better understand other countries and even French mentioned in this book. For instance, I discovered an aspect of the Eiffel Tower I wasn’t aware about. I love readings; and I was glad that people were willing to discuss together and compare their experiences. It was a very inspiring event.”
Route 234, according to award-winning travel writer, Pelu Awofeso, who compiled and edited it, “is essentially about Nigerians travelling the world and seeking to understand the people we met and the places we spent time while our journeys lasted”.
The idea of a travel book, according to Awofeso, was first muted in 2007 at online platform for art/culture journalists. It was published in May last year.
While urging journalists to write more on Nigeria, Awofeso noted that the country can create revenue within from tourism. “In recent years, the world has been in such a terrible and insecure state, with wars and terrorism disrupting everyday living. This is caused largely by cultural, religious and racial mistrust and differences. “The art of travelling helps us understand the world and the people, who inhabit it better; and when we understand and embrace our differences, then the world will be one united, peaceful place to live in. Countries are great, not because of politics, but ordinary people touching lives. I want to thank those who made this event possible,” he said.
Speaking on the relevance of culture journalists in promoting arts, culture and tourism, Jahman Anikulapo decried the shrinking state of art pages in the newspapers across the country. This, he observed, was a reflection of the media appreciation of the culture and creative sector. He praised the organisers, saying: “They are the two embassies that fund journalists most. France and Germany have been wonderful to art and travel journalists. We have no industry but the culture journalists have kept it going.”
Toni Kan noted succinctly: “What surprised me about this book is its honesty,” even as former Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Lagos chapter, Folu Agoi, expressed: “Traveling has a way of opening us to the world and the world to us. The writers have taken us round the world today.”
Other contributors are Anikulapo, Olayinka Oyegbile (The Nation Deputy Editor), Steve Ayorinde (now Lagos State Commissioner for Information), Olumide Iyanda, Kole Ade-Odutola, Tunde Aremu, Ayeni Adekunle and Akintayo Abodunrin.
The event was also spiced with Evelyn Osagie poetic performance of her poem, Nature’s Story, which she dedicated to the book’s contributors.w
