Accra Chronicles: An Unforgettable Journey to a Literary Extravaganza (1)
Accra called out to us from all over the world for a five-day feast of words, companionship and one of the biggest symposia on the continent this year, bringing writers of class across Africa’s breath and the diaspora for a top class literary production. The cast for the event was a scheduled thirty-seven all-star ensemble that grew into a larger gathering of legends. Topping the headlines for the NYU Accra Lagone Dialogue was the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka and the keynote speakers, Chris Abani, Aminatta Forna, and Jennifer Makumbi – people whose names all speak for themselves. I found my name on the list, courtesy of an invitation by the Director of the NYU Accra site, Chike Frankie Edozien, seasoned journalist and author of The Lives of Great Men. He had pursued me with his invitation from Abuja to London and Nottingham, ensuring in his magnanimity that my costs of travel were fully covered, even if I was to come in from the North Pole. Well, that is where my story starts…like every journey, at the point just before I got to the bus park.
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ANNOUNCING THE SEVHAGE LITERARY PRIZES 2023 LONGLIST
The 2023 SEVHAGE literary competition collated several exciting entries from across several corners of Africa. With four categories to showcase the multifaceted talent of African writers, we are once again reminded of the incredible depth and breadth of our continent’s literary prowess. We are grateful to everyone who submitted entries for consideration of the various prizes.
After critical readings and reviews of the several entries submitted for the four categories of the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes, we are honoured to unveil the longlisted authors for the SEVHAGE Prizes in the following categories:
- E. E. SULE/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism
- SEVHAGE Prize for Creative Non-Fiction
- SEVHAGE Prize for Short Fiction
- SEVHAGE-KSR Hyginus Ekwuazi Prize for Poetry
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EVOKING UBUNTU AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: AN EVENING OF AFRICAN HERITAGE WITH SU’EDDIE AGEMA, MCINERNEY, MWAMBULUKUTU, CHRIS AGAPE, JOSHUA OMEKE, VICTORY OSARUMWENSE AND ORAYYY
by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema
In showing the art side of its curriculum while celebrating Africa and Black History Month, the London School of Economics hosted its second Ubuntu Café (a.k.a Ubuntu 2.0) at the GenDen on 12th October 2023 from 5:30 to 9:00pm. Hosted by the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa (FLIA) and Programme for African Leadership (PfAL), the event was themed ‘Roots, Bridges, and Echoes: Reclaiming our Stories.’
Established in 2022, the Ubuntu Café aims to foster connections amongst African students at LSE and those with an affinity for African culture. Beyond a mere gathering, the café provides an avenue for intellectual stimulation, creativity, and lively discussions through several ways including competitions, talks, debates, poetry, music, and art.
Ubuntu 2.0 featured a book launch/conversation and performances from artists including Will McInerney, Victory Osarumwense, Chris Agape, Joshua Omeke, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, and Elizabeth Mwambulukutu, anchored by the dynamic creative, Orayyy. Kicking off at 5:30 pm at the LSE GenDen, the event was orchestrated by the FLIA team, comprising of Tosin Adebisi, Ivonne Olusoga, and Daniella Gutiérrez-Torres, ensuring attendees had a memorable experience.
Continue reading “EVOKING UBUNTU AT THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: AN EVENING OF AFRICAN HERITAGE WITH SU’EDDIE AGEMA, MCINERNEY, MWAMBULUKUTU, CHRIS AGAPE, JOSHUA OMEKE, VICTORY OSARUMWENSE AND ORAYYY”AFRICAN LITERARY TITANS GATHER IN ACCRA TO RECLAIM NARRATIVES AT THE LABONE DIALOGUES (OCTOBER 19-23rd 2023)
The literary headlines are set to explode with various takeaways and exciting episodes from Lagone, Africa from 19th October 2023 and beyond as Africa’s finest literary heavyweights across generations converge in Lagone, Accra, Ghana for what might be one of the continent’s finest literary festivals this year. ‘The Labone Dialogues by NYU Accra’ curated by … Continue reading AFRICAN LITERARY TITANS GATHER IN ACCRA TO RECLAIM NARRATIVES AT THE LABONE DIALOGUES (OCTOBER 19-23rd 2023)
DEVELOPMENT AS DIGNITY: Reflections by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema
One of the hallmarks of my 2019 was co-founding the African Writers [Society] at the University of Sussex with my colleagues, Dr Jennifer J. Agbaire, Sarah Egbo and Michelle Okpo Eruemulor. As founding president, I worked with my cofounders to organise several events independently and in collaboration with other societies and organisations. One of our … Continue reading DEVELOPMENT AS DIGNITY: Reflections by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema
ANNOUNCING: The SEVHAGE Literary Prizes for Africans 2023 (Deadline: 21st August 2023)
Calling all African wordsmiths and literary trailblazers! Prepare to embark on an exhilarating journey into the world of captivating storytelling and profound insights. The SEVHAGE Literary Prizes are back, bigger and better than ever before, and this time, we are calling on African writers from all corners of the globe to unleash their creative brilliance. … Continue reading ANNOUNCING: The SEVHAGE Literary Prizes for Africans 2023 (Deadline: 21st August 2023)
NIGERIANS PLEASE VOTE FOR PETER OBI 25-02-23
The summary of this post so I don’t waste your time: please, vote the Labour Party (Papa, Mama and Pikin) in the Presidential elections tomorrow. You know your representatives and senators. If you put your heart to it, I am sure you will know who to vote. That one is up to you, so please don’t take it for granted. Every single office matters.
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RAMBLING ON LIVING RENT-FREE IN PEOPLE’S HEAD – S. V. Agema
I just read an article with a similar title (without the ‘Ramblings on’) as this post by Subomi Plumptre. It touched me and made me rethink several things. In addition to that, I attended a requiem Mass for someone who passed on from an accident.
Several of us have been conditioned to hold grudges without addressing them. Often we would be offended, let it fester into wounds, rot and become something worse. My siblings and I have been like that for a long while, being pacifists rather than facing issues head-on. In our cases, we are blessed to forgive and let go, but I suspect the residue of things unresolved remains in some cases. People can also easily cultivate the habit of stepping on you continuously if you are like that. Reminds me of that saying by Zora Nearle Hurston: “If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.”
However, we have been fortunate to marry into places where we are challenging that mindset of not tackling things straight. We are also learning to practically deal with it day by day because there is nothing we cannot change if we set our heart to it.
MY FRIENDS, HENNEH KWAKU KYEREH, EMMA OFOSUA AND ELIZABETH JOHNSON
This is a placeholder to sing the praises of three of my Ghanaian pals, literary stars and poets – Henneh Kwaku Kyereh, Elizabeth Johnson and Emma Ofosua. At the last Lagos International Poetry Festival, they shone bright, with Henneh and Elizabeth moderating fine sessions while Emma blazed the stage with extempore poems. There was a … Continue reading MY FRIENDS, HENNEH KWAKU KYEREH, EMMA OFOSUA AND ELIZABETH JOHNSON
The Oklobias and I
Writing and publishing have given me access to many people and great friends through the years. I cannot imagine where I would be if I had not taken this path. Well, I might have been a full Professor or a development consultant. But, writing has been kind. Through this craft, I have met some of … Continue reading The Oklobias and I
Su'eddie in Life n' Literature 