The Nation Newspaper

Tag: writer

  • How to ‘kill’ a writer

    The above title should actually read: ‘How to kill Hardball,’ but among the first learned wisdom of a newspaper editor is to be crafty with his headlines and titles. In order words, apart from sculpting a headline to best tell the story, you must know when to ‘manage’ the headlines so it does not tell or reveal the whole story.

    This is what we have done with the above headline. The story is about the trucks armada on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

    As all Lagosians probably know, the scourge of articulated vehicles stretching from the ports in Apapa back into all the major roads in the city is now a sustained nightmare. For more than five years, containers-bearing trucks of all sizes, fuel tankers and indeed all manner of trucks servicing the four ports of Apapa have found convenient parking space on the any roads and bridges leading to the ports.

    This of course has imposed unspeakable horror on Lagos commuters as the already poor traffic situation of Lagos has become schizophrenic.

    Now how does this situation endanger the life of a writer, you might already be asking? Good question. Well, apart from being caught up in the attendant traffic like many other residents, journalists bear the added brunt of having to write about the self-induce malady almost every week.

    Hardball for instance must have written about this dark phenom on this page about half a dozen times. In the same manner editorials have been written over a dozen times. News reports, features and analyses have been put out ad nauseam. How could anyone write about the same problem for five years without either losing his mind or body even?

    Yet the matter remains there and like an evil mole, spreading in all directions. The current update on the Apapa ports trucks armada is that operatives of the task force set up to create order and safe corridor for commuters has grown into a huge extortion machine.

    According to a report in Vanguard newspaper which has its headquarters right in the simmering vortex of the morass: “Investigations revealed that the task force officials have converted the sordid situation into a bribe-taking venture, thereby compounding the gridlock…

    “A number of checkpoints have reportedly been set up from the Mile 2 Bridge for task force officials to extort money from desperate truck drivers…

    “At these extortion points, task force officials collect between N10000 and N15000 from each truck driver to allow them park around the area.”

    As elders in Igboland say, when you are treating hunchback and the patient’s tummy keeps growing, both the medicine man and the patient may well be in danger.

    So, Hardball writing about a five-year old madness could easily be afflicted abi?

  • Nigerian-German writer named regional Commonwealth short story prize winner

    Nigerian-German writer Efua Traoré has been named  the regional winner for Africa of the 2018 Commonwealth Short story prize.

    Traoré won with a first person narrative that sees a 13-year-old boy wrestle with the question of what it means to find True Happiness.

    The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from the Commonwealth.

    It is the only prize in the world where entries can be submitted in Bengali, Chinese, English, Malay, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, and Tamil.

    The international judging panel, chaired by the novelist and poet Sarah Hall, chose the five regional winners – tackling issues from abortion to transgender identity, from religion to mental illness – from a shortlist of 24, with 5182 stories submitted from 48 Commonwealth countries.

    The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is run by Commonwealth Writers, which develops and connects writers across the world and tackles the challenges they face in different regions.

    Commonwealth Writers is the cultural initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation.

    Director-General of Commonwealth Foundation, Vijay Krishnarayan, said of this year’s winners: “ These remarkable stories are testament to the vitality and range of writing from around the Commonwealth, to the importance of a truly international prize: one that works across linguistic and cultural boundaries.”

    Sarah Hall said: “Each of the winning regional stories speaks strongly for itself in extraordinary prose, and speaks for and beyond its region, often challenging notions of identity, place and society.”

    “Individually, the stories exhibit marvellous imaginative and stylistic diversity; together, they remind us that our deeper human concerns and conundrums are shared, and that the short story form is uniquely adept at offering the reader a world in which she or he might feel a sense both of belonging and un-belonging, might question his or her understanding of the world.”

    Efua Traoré said: “Africa – and in particular Nigeria – has the most amazing story-tellers. This prize gives me the humbling feeling of being part of something great. I am truly honoured.”

  • Writer seeks to teach values through books

    Mr Greg Nwamadi is hoping to teach young people about values and an appreciation of the African continent through two new books he has written.

    The books, ‘Legend of the Lost’, a novel, and ‘Lush Garden in an Arid Land’, a collection of poems, will be launched on Saturday at the Golden Gate Chinese Restaurant, Ikoyi.

    At a press briefing last week, Nwamadi said the books were part of campaign by the Family Value Development Initiative (FVDI) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, to teach values to youths.

    He said the books were a product of research working with young people on FVDI programmes, which revealed a lack of values and poor reading culture.

    “We published the work under FVDI to promote values.  We have been working with the youth.  We have held seminars, career counseling programmes.  One of the things we found out was that young people don’t read much – they spend time on social media, which distracts them.

    “What we are doing is to use the channels of publication for the revival of lost values.  I collected the poems to teach them and remind them again about values on which the society stands such as courage, diligence, respect, perseverance.

    “We are confident that if the books can get into the education system or other channels of influence, it is one work that will remind them of social expectations.  It will build character and ultimately change society,” he said.

    At Saturday’s launch, a key note address on: ‘Technology and Values for Future Leaders’ will be presented by the Chairman, Governing Council of the Institute of Information Management(IIM), Dr Oyedokun Oyewole, at the event which has Dr. Dolapo Bright, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture and the real sector, as the Special Guest of honour.

    Prof Emmanuel Adedun, former Sub-dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos, is to review the book.

     

  • Artiste dreams big at book launch

    Artiste dreams big at book launch

    After surmounting several hurdles in life, a multiple award winning gospel artiste, writer and songwriter, Kenny St Brown has revealed that her major target now is to become a professor.

    Kenny St. Brown, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the launch of her new book, titled: “Stop! Turn it Around. From Setback to Comeback”, in Abuja, said she was planning to work with University of Lagos in Lagos State to create an institute for arts, entertainment and tourism.

    She said, “I am going back for my PhD and I am hoping to be working with University of Lagos to create an institute for arts, entertainment and tourism. There are big things in my head. In five years’ time, I would have attained my Phd.

    “Ultimately, I want to work with the United Nations, and I see that dream coming in the next five years. I also intend to write a lot of books for academics, books they can use in tertiary, secondary schools and universities. I am still actually hoping to be a professor.”

    She said what prompted her to write the book was people’s reactions after she was able to overcome her various challenges.

    “When people see me every time and say KS you are a strong woman, you have been able to surmount a lot of difficulties, those are the reasons I have to write the book so that generations yet unborn can learn from it,” she said.

    First Lady Aisha Buhari, whose message was delivered by Hajia Bintu Mua’zu, eulogised the author, pointing out that the book is going to impact so many lives.

    Aisha Buhari noted that the book will go a long way in helping young Nigerians fulfil their dreams.

    The Commissioner of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State who chaired the event, Lola Akande said the book will take women from setbacks to greater heights and fulfillment of their dreams.

    “I implore women to be focus in their determination to succeed in life and see challenges as a ladder that will catapult them to the mountaintop,” she said in a message delivered by Director of Domestic Violence in the Ministry, Toyin Jaiyeola.

    The Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, The Nation newspapers, Mr. Yomi Odunuga who was Kenny St Brown’s schoolmate, said she has impacted so many lives.

    He said, “I never knew that Kenny will be singing after we left school. When I saw her singing something just occurred to me that you can build your life yourself. That is the truth about life. Even in journalism, someone who read Lab Science and you will also see doctors, lawyers and many others have excelled in journalism. I am proud of her. She has been able to impact lives.”

  • Writer, scholars mark 50 years of Efuru in five cities

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the novel, Efuru, by the late Flora Nwapa. The novel was first published in 1966 by Heinemann under the African Writers Series. Writers and scholars, in collaboration with the Flora Nwapa Foundation, will be celebrating its golden jubilee with literary activities and conferences across five cities.

    According to the organisers, the events will hold in Lagos, Maiduguri, Abuja, Oguta and Enugu between November 29 and December 11, 2016. They acknowledged the book’s global appeal and thematic preoccupation, adding that the five-city event is expected to attract hundreds of writers from across and outside the country.

    Born on January 13, 1931, in Oguta, Imo State, Nwapa had been referred to as the “mother of modern African women literature”. She died at the age of 62.

    The late author’s son, Mr Uzoma Nwakuche, who heads the Flora Nwapa Foundation, said the events would also celebrate the African woman, her legacy and dignifying role in the development of society.

  • Senatorial letter writer

    Once upon a time, on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s first coming as military head of state, there was a public letter writer.

    As Buhari’s Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, famed journalist and lawyer, wrote what he called “Letter to My Countrymen”.

    In those missives, the minister engaged his compatriots on the best of patriotic practices.

    His principal, Gen. Buhari, scoffed at the fictive Andrew, that nevertheless epitomised the very popular notion among Nigerians back then, to “check out”, telling them: “Nigeria is our country. We must stay and salvage it together.”

    Minister Momoh reinforced that message, with his letter writing engagements, pleading with, persuading and logically prompting his compatriots to give their country a second chance; and join in its rebuilding.

    The media?  O, those ones were at their cynical worst. With the Buhari government’s exploits on Decree 2 and Decree 4 (under the second law, two top journalists were gaoled), they were too grumpy to be receptive to Buhari’s — and minister’s — redemptive pleas.  That was then.

    Now, at President Buhari’s second coming as elected president, a letter writer of a different hue has emerged.

    He is no less than Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy Senate president, who incidentally had written and launched, with fan fair, a book on “patriotism”, writing letters to hang his country on the gallows of the “international community”.

    Indeed, the quixotic search for the “international community”, in times of personal throes, is not new.  It was patented by Olisa Metuh, in the opening days of President Buhari’s tenure, as a sort of coping mechanism, that Mr. Metuh’s party had lost federal power.

    Senator Ekweremadu can, of course, insist that his letters didn’t hang his country — and Hardball would be the first to admit he didn’t necessarily have to admit that, since it was Hardball’s interpretation, and Hardball is not infallible.

    Besides, Ekweremadu and Hardball approach this matter from different prisms. Both are therefore logically bound to arrive at contrary destinations.

    Still, Hardball insists it is rich for the deputy Senate president, an integral part of the agency of the Nigerian state (not just a partisan apparatchik, like Mr. Metuh) is writing a letter excoriating his country, that gave him such a high platform to stand.

    It is even more condemnable that the so-called letter is premised on a base personal motive, which moves to confuse alleged personal indiscretions with the institutional health of the Senate and (illogic of all illogics) to conflate putative personal comeuppance with the mythical collapse of democracy!

    But while still at base motives: in that “international community”, where would a minority senator emerge as deputy Senate president, through an illicit and soulless trade-off, fuelled by crass careerism, and still show his opportunistic face, in the comity of “international senators”?

    Mr. Ekweremadu can write whatever letters he likes.  But in playing the victim and demagogue, he should at least recognise his limits. Surely, as a lawyer, he should know: he who comes to equity must come with clean hands!

    So, he should quietly go have his day in court and stop embarrassing himself and his country.

  • Children’s literature effective for nation building, says writer

    Renowned writer, Mrs Mabel Segun, has urged the government and stakeholders in education to take children’s literature seriously as it can be effective means of encouraging cultural diversity early in life.

    Mrs Segun made this appeal at the 2016 First Award Winners Lecture of the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) held at the Main auditorium of the University of Lagos, Akoka.

    Though present, the 86-year-old did not read the lecture because of her age.  She was assisted by her daughter, Miss Omowunmi Segun.

    Speaking on the topic: “Towards nation building: The importance of children’s literature”, Mrs Segun, said children’s literature books helps to train and sustain cultural values in the children which is key to nation building.

    “It will show them the importance of having a cultural identity as a form of reference. Nation Building has many facets which includes building institutions, creating a common sense of purpose as well as building values to sustain the collective community”, Mrs Segun said.

    She argued that the study of historical children literature can help to teach children about their roots, heritage as well as imbibe in them values so that they can learn to appreciate their backgrounds.

    She said: “The study of these books provide an avenue for giving young people a panoramic view of all that happened to mankind in the past.”

    She, however, pleaded with authorities concerned to make these books accessible and affordable, explaining that it was the only way they could be effective for nation building.

    “Governments should invest in school libraries, Public libraries, local government libraries and club libraries. They should not be placed in no go areas like the principal’s residence; they should be placed in accessible locations,” she said.

  • Rewriting the writer

    Rewriting the writer

    In the ever unfolding track of history, there are times when a writer is proved right as a prophetic seer; a gifted clairvoyant. But there are also subsequent developments which make a mockery of the writer’s certitude and turn him into a big fool of history. Often and to emphasize what is known as the cunning of history, the two are an inseparable molecular unit with truth embedded in falsity and falsity containing a nucleus of the truth.

    Although first published in 2009, the piece below has a gripping and peculiar resonance in our present circumstances which makes one wonder whether history is not a cruel joke. But things do change, sometimes slowly and imperceptibly and occasionally with a disruptive revolutionary flourish which changes the nature of the game completely.

    Yet throughout the history of humankind, people fight for certain ideals often at prohibitive cost only to discover that what they have fought for is not what has actually prevailed. If their back is broken by the discovery, if their will is stymied by bitter disappointment, it will be left to others to continue the struggle. Even in wars, victory may turn out to be ultimate defeat, while revolutions often revolve into something totally unexpected and unanticipated.

    By 2009 when this piece was published, it was clear that the ruling post-military coalition had reached the end of its wits. The historic settlement which saw to the military withdrawal to the barracks had not lived to its billing. The country was in dire economic and political straits. The 2007 presidential election was so badly rigged that even Umaru Yar’Adua, the principal beneficiary, joined in the protest.

    But the ruling coalition limped on for another six years, despite the fierce buffeting by the gale of economic and political adversity. It even managed to win the general election of 2011 as political correctness trumped social justice. Thereafter, it was implosion and disintegration all the way as the Jonathan administration sank deeper into the peat bog of corruption and inefficiency.

    Even then, such was the historic monstrosity the PDP had become that it was unwilling to go under lightly, despite all the atrocities. It tried everything in the book to remain in power. In the event, it took a novel pan-Nigerian coalition of political forces to dethrone it. If the current revelations are anything to go by, it may no longer be possible to contain the damage within the rubrics of regular democratic rule. This is where grave danger looms for the country and hence the acute relevance of the piece published today.

    In closing, it may interest the reader to note that General Buhari ,in a sneak preview of the future, makes a brief appearance in this 2009 essay. He was said to have been the only northern Nigerian leader who was not booed by the irate crowd at the launch of the Foundation for the late northern leader, Ahmadu Bello. It was perhaps an augury of approaching developments.

    Six years after, General Buhari is firmly in the saddle as the fourth executive president of a post-military Nigeria and his personal stock has never been higher among the masses. But the nation’s economic and political woes have also deepened. The omens could never be more dire.  It will be a major historical irony if Mr Kum were to visit Nigeria under the watch of President Buhari. But then history is such a savage clown.

  • ‘A writer should be critical’

    ‘A writer should be critical’

    What does literature mean to you?

    Literature is a tool to solve problems in the society. This is because all areas of human endeavour, including politics, religion and economy, revolve around a psychological structure of which literature is a major building block. Although using literature to solve problems in the society takes time, its achievement is long-lasting.

    When did your journey to the literary world begin?

    I started writing from secondary school. When I was admitted into the University of Calabar (UNICAL), I realised that my stories could help in building peace on the campus. So, I continued with the work.

    Do you believe literature is a calling for you?

    Yes, it is, although it requires study and skill in order to get better at it. For one thing, I am fulfilled doing literature. It occupies my time and as such, it serves as my own calling.

    How many works have you published?

    I have eight works to my credit. They are: Idara, Drops of Fascination, Moonlight lady, Heresy of Gossip, Aluta Struggle, Bleeding Passion, My Father Lied and Scream of Ola.

    Which of these works is your favourite?

    It is impossible to say which one is my favourite because I wrote all of them. They are like an intermediary between society and morality. My works are geared towards engendering an ideal society. For instance, Drops of Fascination talks about challenges of climate change, while Idara looks at the concept of inter-tribal marriage and its attendant misconceptions. These are important messages for our society; my works are tailored towards changing people’s mindset and transforming the society for good.

    Apart from creative writing, what other writing have you done or intend to do?

    I have done literary criticism. I believe, as a writer, I should as well respond critically to other literary works. It is the responsibility of those who understand the working of literature to always analyse and interrogate literary works.

    How did you get your work published?

    When I started, I weighed the cost of production in terms of everything involved in self-publishing. I started saving from my JSS Three. By the time I got into the university, I had enough. I continued saving till I got to 200-Level when I decided to publish my work. I went to so many publishing houses, but Kraft was my favourite. When I met the management team, they considered me because I was younger and felt pity for me. But what I needed was not pity; I came as a man prepared to take his destiny into his hands. At the end, they read my manuscript and were willing to publish the book.

    Do you intend to continue with writing?

    I will keep on writing. I will also open a blog to enable those who have access to Internet to gain from the message I want to pass across.

    What is your message for the youth?

    They should believe in their dreams. A poem I wrote in one of my books titled: A Word to Louis should be a good word of advice for them. It said: “The day Louis was born was a happy day, but in future he will go ahead to receive volumes of rejected handshakes.” We must know that the older generation never prepared for our coming, therefore the youths will receive ‘volumes of rejected handshakes’. However what will sustain us is ourselves, not in terms of white collar jobs but using what we have to solve societal problems, and a day will come when they will tell us: “Yes, you have done the best for yourselves.”

     

  • Achebe: Adieu, agent of change

    Achebe: Adieu, agent of change

    The news of the death of the foremost African folklorist, Prof. Chinua Achebe as shattering as it marks the nunc dimitis of pioneer African writing. This indeed shows what stealth death can do even to those whose lives and works have become institutions. The death of Achebe underscores the immortality of all living creatures even as their good works will live on.

    Described by President Nelson Mandela as the “writer in whose company the prison walls fell down”,Achebe  and writing sought   to and did liberate souls and people who were captives man’s inhumanity to fellow men Achebe, the acclaimed asiwaju of Nigerian writing began writing at a time African literature was not in contention and had helped shape the African personality.

    He told his story, the society’s story and parodied the hitherto African and the evolving pre – and post – independent Africa, aside from predicting, with great precision, the destination of the emergent African states who have toed the wrong political lines.

    His book, A Man Of The People, was very prophetic and depicted the early rut in the system which culminated in Nigeria’s first Military coup.

    Just as his all – time best seller, Things Fall Apart exposed the primordial Igbo society, his essay, “The Trouble With Nigeria”, has remained the political reference book of any politician who trains his eyes on effecting social change. His apt diagnosis of the Nigerian social malaise and very succinct prescription for good governance sounds like a text of the lips off Che Guevera. He was a quiet revolutionary.

    Never losing hope in the ability of his Country Nigeria to rise and shine, he had beamed the klieg lights on all those things that had bedeviled social change and growth, and cautioned against resurgence. These he laid bare in his recent work, “There Was A Country”.

    This detailed narrative of the Biafara debacle should be patriotically read with a view to gleaning all the lessons Achebe wanted Nigerians to learn in order to coexist as a people, more so as those threats at national stability are everywhere.

    By his death, we have lost a gem, an archive of historical developments and an agent of change. Adieu.

    The Hon Barr. Nwabueze Ugwu

    Ikpemalueziokwu of greater Awgu land.