As members of Writers Interactive Network (WIN), met last weekend in Lagos, the idea was to use the brainstorming and the reading session to stimulate ideas for more writings. Edozie Udeze writes on this and how Kufre Ekanem used his poems in The Ant Eaters to stir the session and set the tone for new concepts.
The primary purpose of the establishment of Writers Interactive Network (WIN) has continued to generate attention. Last weekend in Lagos the group met in its usual monthly reading and interactive session. A very rich gathering, it was an opportunity for winners to welcome new members and some guests who turned up to witness the session and add to the rich deliberations and discussions.
On hand to read from his book of poetry was Kufre Ekanem. Ekanem, a poet, writer and event planner is the Corporate Affairs Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc. The title of his collection is The Ant Eaters. Apart from the myriad of ideas expressed in the poems, Ekanem was in the mood to share his thoughts on the prevalent situation in the book industry in Nigeria.
But before the reading proper, chairman of WIN, Segun Ozigue read a brief review of The Ant Eaters, a collection that hinges on corruption, operation, love, romance, personal and social issues that bother the nation-state. “Yes, here in this collection, we have social commentaries on myriad of problems plaguing the society”, Ozigue read
“In one book, we get to see and encounter nearly all aspects of social, political and economic issues that trouble the people”, Ozigue, himself a journalist, averred. “We therefore should thank the poet for these incisive lines rendered to show that there are themes that needed to be explored in our collective journey towards sanity. He shows how he feels; how he sees and how he perceives life in all its ramifications”.
For these and more, readers were forced or compelled to see these issues the way Ekanem sees them. He went into the nitty-gritty of migration, insurgency, love, agitation for a saner and safer society. His primary objective was to inform the public; to make lovers of poetry flow with him in these realms of inner-feelings, variety of ideas that throw open a lot of issues.
The collection dwells extensively on socio-cultural matters that define relationship. Ekanem did not shy away from romance, those innermost concerns between a man and a woman. For him love is the core essence of life; defining most of the reasons for social cohesion. This therefore, shows a distinctive voice, especially for him who has been in the corporate world for years. From Cadbury to the Nigerian Breweries, Ekanem was able to piece these experiences together in one fell swoop. His concern remains one thing – to discuss these ideas; to take people into these places that are not openly dictated, but where they exist all the same with aplomb.
In all these expressions, The Ant Eaters, does not spare space, does not inhibit itself. A book that gives a perfect and vivid picture of story-telling. It appeals to people differently on the Nigerian situation, irrespective of generational gap or age difference. According to Ozigue, “if most of the themes raised in the book are not taken into cognizance by the next generation, they may run into mud waters with time. When the poet’s pocket was picked for the first time, it wasn’t at Oshodi. You know where that happened? Ozigue asked, raising his eyes to survey the gathering. When no one responded, he quipped; “It was in London. Yes, on the streets of London of all places”. This announcement stunned everyone, for here was Ekanem who has traversed the world; who has also penned all these down to further inform and enlighten the public, still dazed that such an obnoxious incident could happen to him in one of the most civilized societies in the world.
When Ekanem began to read, he paid attention to the backgrounds that led to the poems. He was moved by the things he sees around him to explore issues of poetry. But he could not convince his wife, or himself and the gathering on the theme Anthonia that dominated the collection. “When I first gave my wife, Ezinne, the poem, Anthonia, to read, she did not find it funny. We were driving on the ward that day”, he cooed, his breath coming on in slow, steady torments. “Then suddenly, she said to me, park. Park the car! And I did. Then she asked: who is Anthonia?”
A moving offering, Anthonia is full of romantic anecdotes. It delves into those exclusive foyers of the mind, where a man says and confesses his love for a woman. Anthonia is a symbol of affection; it is a way to say that a woman’s love can turn a man into a submissive, willing lover, ready to do the woman’s bidding. She is the only succinct Anthonia. And the poet never failed to call her name in his dreams. The only one meant for the poet, Ekanem disclosed that people at different locations had asked him to open up on the identity of Anthonia. And so like most hidden treasure of writers, that identity will one day be revealed; unmasked.
He read other poems on migration, racism, deportation, the role of French Police in the migration and deportation imbroglio in Europe and some places. The core of it was that Kufre Ekanem was initially encouraged by Professor Niyi Osundare to give his poems space in public sphere. Today, he is not only published, he is on the way to having more of his works see the light of day.
WIN as a group is a platform to interact on writings, developing also the culture of reading and encouraging new writers to come on board. WIN helps writers to dwell on one another’s’ works, critiquing and fashioning ways to be better. There is no limit to it, each writer comes to the gathering with his own wits but he has to share with others ways to improve and then become winners together.
Some of the special guests present were Azuh Arinze, Michael Effiong, Ehi Buraimoh, Ezinne Ekanem and more. The session stimulated minds and reinvigorated new concepts for ideas that will help change the society. Like Ekanmen informed: “WIN is meant to accommodate writers with either first rate or second rate brains. All writers who have one or other ideas to share, to express are welcome. We have to accommodate and encourage such people. “This is one of the reasons we are here”.
