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 Benue Book and Arts Festival is here again and promises to be spectacular! We have an impressive list of star writers, artists and people from all over coming together to provide such beautiful literary and engaging fun as you have not seen before.
This year’s edition is billed for June 20th to 25th 2022, and is themed ‘ART AND THE CONVERGENCE.’ The theme is open-ended but can also be seen as how art converges with other things for results: whether it be history, activism, development, anarchy, or just about anything. It can also be looked at in the light of art surrounded by the convergence of people, things or a state in any context. Some of the projected panels including some on publishing and editing, the metaverse, and the role of arts in various spheres. There will be a slam competition worth a hundred thousand on the night of June 25th 2022. On the same day, there is also meant to be a competition for secondary schools that will feature drama, on-the-spot writing, and a spelling bee. It will also feature the book unveiling of the talented and popular poets, Umar Sidi and Oko Owi Ocho Afrika (who is a co-director of the festival for this year).
There will be virtual sessions throughout the festival, with daily critique and writer sessions by 4:30pm at Metroprime Hotel (from 20th to 23rd June 2022 with a palm wine reading on the 23rd where we hope to have a high-profile conversation on ‘Deconstructing the Canon: Literature, Language, Theories, Politics and Nationhood’ featuring Professors Dul Johnson and Egya Sule, with other scholars). The major part of the festival will be held at Steam Lounge, Old GRA, Makurdi, Benue State, on the 24th and 25th June 2022 (from 9am to 9pm).
Continue reading “BENUE BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL HOLDS IN MAKURDI 20th to 25th June 2022”
(A Review of Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani’s I do not come to you by chance)
What is the difference between yesterday and today? When we sin for those we love, killing ourselves that ours may live, what lines do we cross? In the struggle to make ends meet and turn from being the scourge of society, what sacrifices do we make? And when we reap from the greed of others, are we really to be blamed?
There are a million and one questions like these and others that life places on us every day but imagine this: you are a first son with a million needs. You graduated summa cum laude in Chemical Engineering and have tried every single job opening without success. Add to this: your babe leaves you because you are too broke. Everyone scorns you like the wretched of the earth. Well, truth be said, when poverty chews life’s essence out of you, what else are you? But still putting ourselves in the shows of this man that for a moment we assume we are: imagine your father falls ill and there’s hardly any money to take care of him. He’s admitted…and then you get some really good news; your brother has gotten admission into the university. Before you can cry at this ‘fortune’, your dad dies leaving the burden of his funeral and your family on your shoulders…
Oh well, what next is there to do?
But let us add this part, to make it better for you: You have an uncle is a 419 Lord who has been asking you to come and join him… You have held back because of your family’s high value on education above everything else. They hope you will get a job despite the gazillion interviews you have not passed. So… Morals or money? To follow family honour and the words of your father on integrity or face the challenge of reality? What would you do especially now that the honour of your family is engraved in a life that is now outspent?
Have heard of the book I Do Not Come to You by Chance by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. It is a novel whose Nigerian versions were published in 2009 by Cassava Republic and more recently, in 2019 by the revolutionising publishing house, Masobe Books.
Continue reading “THIS REVIEW DOES NOT COME TO YOU BY CHANCE by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema”
The room was electric as the students listened to the charged words of famed author and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Professor Dul Johnson talk about literary craft in general and his writing specifically. The 200 level students of FCE Pankshin, Plateau State drank in the wisdom of the learned professor who is also … Continue reading Prof Dul Johnson reads at Federal College of Education Pankshin
(after a post of the same title by the incredible, Adebola Rayo – for her) I barely write verse any more so I guess my creative voice is sore.I thought of what to write, what words would be right…What would I want you to read? Would these be the words you need? I whispered to … Continue reading STAY THE COURSE (Verse) by Su’eddie V. Agema
He met Adoo long ago, a stunning beauty: petite but full in every other office. Hers was a chocolate dark skin that shone through any season; glistening and moist. She had the most beautiful set of legs seen anywhere, complemented by a full back and perfect waist. An ample bosom that showcased a full chest and an endearing heart followed up and ended in a most rounded ever smiling face that delighted the weariest of souls. She also had a heart of such endless depths to match. Yes, Adoo was all of this and so much more. He—Ngusha—was not the beast, either. Well, not in any deformity. He was a hunk with a height to compensate for hers, and strength to show for her every frailty. He shared her complete smile and perfect denture in a remarkable face that brought older and younger opposites to obeisance. They seemed to complete each other, as everyone said. Nature seemed to agree for a rough wind always seemed to mellow to a loving whisper at their sight. It seemed a union made in heaven, as indeed they made it.
In summary:
This is a scholarship for 3 African women to do any of the following eligible Programmes at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London (United Kingdom):
This award is for a student with a particular interest in African Literature with the aim to support a new generation of African female writers
I don’t know who this might help but please pass on the word.
(Being the text of a talk delivered at Sussex Nigerian Society’s Black History Month event at the University of Sussex on Wednesday, October 10, 2019)
One of the things I remember while growing up in Ìbàdàn was that almost every technological item in the house was made in China. I knew this because it was written there: “Made in China.” It was hard to avoid. You just needed to look a bit under the item, or around it, and the sign was there: “Made in China.” I know this hasn’t changed as much today because a couple of weeks ago, my son, who is now almost six, asked me, “Is everything made in China?” He must have been observing too.
But it was not just electronic items that I associated with a particular place. I remember the razor blades we used — probably the same ones we still use in Nigeria — were made in Czechoslovakia. Well now, the country no longer exists, so it will now likely be written as “Made in Czech Republic”, but the association persisted long enough in my mind that I could not associate razor blades with any other place than Czechoslovakia, a country I could not place on the map, nor even properly spell if not for the razor blade.
As part of our Benue Book and Arts Festival in Makurdi on June 20 to 22, 2019:
THREE WORKSHOPS – And you can apply for any or ALL of them!
1. If you are interested in any of the writing workshops (Fiction with Abubakar Adam Ibrahim; Spoken Word with Efe Paul Azino; Poetry with Chuma Nwokolo), kindly send us an email saying why you would want to attend the workshop and then a sample of your work (a piece of fiction not more than 2,000 words for the fiction workshop; a poem that is not longer than 40 lines for poetry; and an audio recording or video for the spoken word workshop) to benuefestival@gmail.com. Kindly ensure you have the subject written as ‘Interest for [Genre] Workshop.’ Don’t forget to include your name, your address and phone number. Those selected for the workshops will have to pay N2,000 for the workshop.
Continue reading “APPLY FOR LITERARY WORKSHOPS AT THE BENUE BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL”
SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR SEVHAGE LITERARY PRIZES 2019
SEVHAGE Publishers and SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative present the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes 2019 in the categories of short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction.
Submission Dates: 11th May 2019 to 26th May 2019 [23:58 GMT] LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED.
Shortlist Announced: 11th June, 2019
Winners Announced: 22nd June, 2019 at the Benue Book and Arts Festival (Presented by SEVHAGE)
SUBMISSION: Online via email to sevhageprizes@gmail.com and copied to sevhage@gmail.com
ENTRY F(R)EE FOR ALL CATEGORIES: Free!
Continue reading “CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SEVHAGE LITERARY PRIZES 2019”
Su'eddie in Life n' Literature 