The Nation Newspaper

Tag: inspiration

  • Chimamanda: Inspiration to aspiring  writers

    SIR: An average Nigeria reader must have read one of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s books or at least heard of her and her numerous awards. Aspiring writers, however, who have not read and appreciated Adichie’s writing skills have either not made their career choices out of passion or are not serious about their career. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is unarguably the foremost female Nigerian writer and the youngest most influential Nigerian author of our time. This internationally acclaimed young wordsmith has authored three awe-inspiring novels, and counting; first, in 2003, she came out with “Purple Hibiscus”. While the masterpiece was still making waves and fetching her fame and accolades, she re-surfaced even stronger in 2006 with “Half of a Yellow Sun”, whose screen adaptation viewership was recently approved by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). In 2013, she released her third novel “Americanah”.

    She also has to her credit, a collection of short stories, “The thing around your neck” published in 2009. Adichie currently shuttles between her base in the United States and Nigeria.

    The Orange Broadband prize for fiction (now The Baileys Women Prize for Fiction) and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize winner has a mystical way of skillfully developing her stories. The actions in her fictions are carefully inter-woven and flows naturally leaving the reader doubtless of the ingenuity of her stories. A more critical reader is left wondering how she does her magic of genuine character integration and interaction, skillful link of actions and ideas and the smooth flow and development of her stories. Experience  no doubt is essential to good story-telling such as Adichie’s but the ability to gather ones experiences and weave them into factual-fiction is a job for those who possess the flair, passion and intellect for writing.

    This literary intellect who has brought honour to her country, continent and of course her profession is no doubt a role model to many young and aspiring writers, both at home and abroad. This symbol of courage and inspiration who has been described as “the 21st Century daughter of Chinua Achebe” is worth her salt, and is therefore worth emulating. The story of Chimamanda whose professor felt surprised that she could write the best essay in her class, maybe due to her colour, means that a shining star is always admired no matter which direction it is coming from. Aspiring and up-and-coming writers and in fact the black race should therefore draw inspiration from her story and strive to make the best out of their career regardless of their skin colour, race or whatever.

     

    • Uzoaganobi Ebuka

    Owerri, Imo State.

     

  • Inspiration from the heart

    Inspiration from the heart

    Inspirations from the Heart, an exhibition of old and new paintings by Uche Nwosu which has just ended in Lagos was the cynosure of all eyes, writes Ekpo U. Udoma.

    I first met Uche Nwosu some 20 years ago in the mid 1990s. He was then a young man who had just graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, full of ideals and very fond of approaching his work from a philosophical perspective in tandem with the Nsukka Art School tradition. This tradition, whereby visual and literary art seemed to have been conceived and interwoven into the fabric of their curriculum reflected in his works, which was part of his early art training, to more introspective and conceptual offerings.

    His finger prints clearly define him as a commentator of the very essence of life, whereby in some cases, he simply observes without judgment. He lays bare unrefined depictions of a variety of subject matter highlighting subjective themes rendered in brilliant colours that give a pastel-like finish to his works. His choices of themes as well as his rendering unwittingly raise the question of this intents and purposes. When queried he simply retorts “I paint!” as if to say what does it matter? After all I am just an artist and so I paint, this is what I do.

    In 2006, Uche suffered a stroke of which we are thankful that he was able to survive. We are also thankful that it has not prevented him from doing what he knows to do best. Even in his present condition, whereby his speech is slightly impaired, it has strengthened the content of his works. His paintings are now his way of expressing his views. He however does so without imposing these views on others. The significance of this is that he lays no claim to being a moralist, neither is he on a crusade to try and change the world or anything like that. He leaves it entirely up to the viewer to decide on how best to respond to his works. It was Chinua Achebe who once said that it is not the place of the creative writer to pro-offer solutions to the nation’s problems. This perhaps informs the artist’s position.

    Taking a cursory look at the over 40 works on view, one can see that thematically, his works speak of life in a regenerative sense. At the same time he is enthralled by man’s search for truth. We see works like Budded (2012) a painting illustrating a night space scene characterised by a full moon superimposed on a dark blue sky. In the foreground, can be seen two flowery plants. The plant on the left side is bent over almost as if it were dead, while the plant on the right is seen in full bloom, perhaps suggesting that as a plant dies another germinates and the cycle just goes on. Set on a whitish backdrop interspersed with grayish tones, helps to give the composition some measure of depth.

    Sacrifice (2011) is a painting depicting a stylized image of a man with outstretched arms in the foreground. In this painting, the artist seems to be attempting to interpret the crucifixion story. Here the image of Jesus Christ bleeding on the cross of Calvary is depicted. In Uche’s version, however, there is no cross and the hands and feet on which Jesus was nailed are not illustrated. The only reference to blood in this picture is the crown of thorns around the head.

    In Seeker (2011), the artist typifies man’s search for truth, but like Pontius Pilate who asked Jesus in the book of John in the Bible “What is Truth?” Uche Nwosu seems to be asking some critical questions here, the answers to which are yet hidden. As the lone figure in this picture is seen embarking on a journey into a labyrinth, the end to which no one knows, we can see the depiction of an equal-armed cross inscribed in a circle akin to that used by adherents of the Grail message on the right of the picture and its reflection is seen on the left side.

    Colonisation (1997) one of his older pieces talks about the domination of world affairs by the Western nations. Here you see a Caucasian man dressed in a robe with the symbol of peace emblazoned on his chest. In his right hand is a cell phone as well as a switch for the nuclear bomb war head. At the extreme left side of the picture plane is a list of espionage agencies from around the world. On the right are flags and symbols of some western governments like the Nazi symbol (swastika), Israel (the Star of David), Britain (Union Jack) and USA (Star spangled banner). Everything points towards Western imperialism and its effects on international politics. This work was obviously influenced by the fall outs of the cold war era.

    It would, however, be unfair to say that Nwosu’s works are just about social commentary, politics and religion. There are other works that are purely aesthetic or personal in nature. Works in this category include Horizon Beach (2013), Couple (1996), and Obsession (1991). On the whole Uche Nwosu’s paintings can be said to be inflections of a personal nature which invariably leads one to conclude that there is indeed something to be said for Art for its own sake.

  • ‘How I got inspiration for my album’

    The auditorium of the Christ Apostolic Church, Alagbado, Lagos State was filled to capacity for the launch of a music album: titled Ogun Alajobi by Prophet Samson Akin-Olugbade.

    The event billed to start at by 1pm did not started until 3pm, yet guests waited.

    When it eventually started, all listened painstakingly with rapt attention to the proceedings on the occasion.

    The occasion was anchored by Pastor Olalere Ezekiel.

    An elated Pastor Akin-Olugbade was dressed in a ash colour suit with cap and a pair of shoes. He waved to guests and shook hands with others on arrival.

    Mr Tunde Lawal, the chief launcher and chairman of occasion, praised Akin-Olugbade for the good job.

    The album, according to Lawal, was on household wickedness which, he said, was a victim.

    The album, he said, well thought and composed – teaching people the nitty gritty of challenges likely to be encountered in family.

    In his speech, Pastor Akin-Olugbade thanked God for the successful completion of the work.

    “It is a revelation from God because having consider what people are going through on the surface of earth today, many people don’t understand the battle they are fighting and the Lord told me that the source and the major battle that confront everyone is the Battle of House-hold wickedness, even Jesus Christ fought that battle and now everyone is fighting it,” he said.

    Pastor Akin-Olugbade said the inspiration to do the album came from the Biblical history on the creation of the first man on earth, Adam.

    He said the story of Prophet Adam, his wife and children was the reference point from which he derived his idea of the album.

    He reminded the gathering of the story of Prophet Joseph and how his brothers wanted to kill him.

    “Joseph’s brother sent him to captivity in Egypt this is also an example of House-hold wickedness and since that time up till now people are still fighting,” he said.

    Guests included Pastor Awokunle Femi and wife, Taiwo; Mr Thomas Adesua among others.