Category: BOOK THOUGHTS

This shows my analysis, and thoughts on certain books that I have read and worked on…

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BENUE BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL HOLDS IN MAKURDI 20th to 25th June 2022

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).

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OF CHUMA, PLAGIARISM AND THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: IF I AM PLAGIARIST

I was talking only yesterday night to Jennifer and Onyinye about plagiarism and how it is the fastest route to be deported in civilised societies. Walahi, if you want to return to your country and you don’t have transport, let me give you free advice and you can thank me later: plagiarise and ensure you get caught. The only thing I will add to that one is that no (reputable) university in the western world would look at your application to study, teach or affiliated with them in any capacity. Except maybe as a cleaner or one of those other odd positions. Well, that one too na job, no be so? Na you know.

Anyways, this morning here we are and my dear uncle/friend/biggest brother Chuma has one more tale for the road: of plagiarism of a high order. Haba na, some people should borrow sense small. So, the gist is that a certain new movie, MR PRESIDENT written and directed by BRIGHT WONDER plagiarised Chuma’s short story, ‘The Ten Commandments of Nigerian Politics.’ In Africa, people’s names often portend their future or somehow they get to live lives similar to their names directly or indirectly… Walahi, this oga is a bright wonder! And to think that Chuma has been advocating the #BribeCode project which seeks to end grand corruption while there is grand corruption playing ten-ten in his backyard.

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DEVELOPMENT AS DIGNITY: A CONVERSATION WITH DAPO OYEWOLE

by Su’ur Su’eddie Vershima Agema and Sarah Egbo

 

The discourse of development is complex but often seen from the point of view of a messiah coming in to save a people. Many times, the people who should own projects are neglected. But is development really about help? Is it about handouts? Is out about painting people as needy while showing others as benevolent angels? Again, is development a function of organisations, a society or of individuals?

These formed the crux of the event ‘Development as Dignity: A Conversation with Dapo Oyewole’ which was the theme for the African Writers Development Cafe organised by the African Writers [Society] of the University of Sussex, Falmer, United Kingdom.

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RESCUING OUR BODIES – LUCIA SELLARS

A brief account of the poetry workshop:
The Poet as Witness,
guided by poet Kwame Dawes.

 

A rainy Saturday winter morn-ning in Oxford. I started walking at 7.45am from Iffley up to the north area of Woodstock in order to reach the Radcliffe Humanities building of Oxford University. I was excited. First, because I was going to go into the architectural entrails of the building that held the philosophy department of the university. This was exciting, because four years before I had intended to volunteer (research for free) in the department in order to soak up in the knowledge I was so hungry to learn and discuss with others. The intention was a failure. Second, because an unknown poet for me, had offered a ‘free’ workshop with the enticing title of The Poet as Witness.

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ON BEING SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOLE SOYINKA PRIZE FOR LITERATURE IN AFRICA AND THE ANA PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

It has been an interesting year for me in every way. There have been several challenges but also accolades. I have spent more time on the SEVHAGE front fighting battles including technical demons that saw our website crash for several months, printer devils [pun intended!], amongst other issues. In the midst all of this, there were several blessings. Most importantly, I welcomed a daughter with my wife, Agatha – that is gist for another time. I also got to feature prominently in two literary festivals – the Abuja Writers’ Forum’s literary festival and that of the Abuja Literary Society. I was on a panel with Zaynab Alkali’s daughters in the former and facilitated a workshop alongside Dike Chukwumerije in the latter. I was part of a pre-festival workshop for the Minna Book Festival… These are just a few. I was published in a couple of fine places online and in-print and to the gist of this post – I was shortlisted for some awards.

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Reading and a Free Workshop at Abuja Literary Society 31st August 2018

Hello Family…

I don’t come here too often but don’t worry, I am still around. So, I will be reading from three of my multiple award winning collections of short stories and poetry at the Abuja Literary Society Book Jam on 31st August 2018. Venue is Sandralia Hotel, Jabi, Abuja.

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ATTEND AWF’S ABUJA LITERARY FESTIVAL 2018 (JUNE 28-30 2018) AT NICON LUXURY HOTEL ABUJA

Abuja comes alive with the Abuja Writers Forum’s Abuja Literary Festival scheduled for June 28-30 2018 at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja. Themed ‘Telling Our Stories in the 21st Century’, the festival will feature book chats, exhibitions, film shows, performances, master classes and other literary events to spice up the artmosphere.

This is the second edition of the festival which premiered in November 2008 and will boast an array of amazing creatives like SEVHAGE’s very own Professor Dul Johnson (yaaaaay!), Professor Zaynab Alkali, Professor Idris Amali, superstar director Ishaya Bako, the talented Carlton Lindsay Barrett (who is also the father of A. Igoni Barrett), ANA Legal Adviser and multiple award winning dramatist Isaac Attah Ogezi, my person Theresa Ameh (aka Auntie Talatu), the beautifully talented Sifa Asani Gowon, novel pro/legal star Edify Yakusak, the illustrator Mustapha Bulama, of course Dr. Emman Shehu (AWF President), Mike Ekunno…to mention a few. Okay, to mention a few others that I know: Domitila Sa’adatu Modesti, Dr. Al-Bishak, Dr. Onyebuchi James Ile, Blossom Ozurumba, the poetic trio of Olumide Olaniyan, Amina Aboje, Sodiq Alabi, Chido Onumah, Jamaine Abidogun, Ibrahim Sheme (famed journalist), Wole Coker (ED Programmes of NTA).

I will probably be moderating one of the sessions. You would want to catch me there. 🙂
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Facebook Poems and Blogs are Rubbish but also pads!

Well, poetry speaks to us in many ways and comes to us in different ways. It is that place where there are many of us rushing in, especially with this whole advent of the social media. Now, while a lot of people have argued and bashed people who write so-called bad poetry on their blogs and spaces like Facebook, I’ve told these ‘critics’ to cool down. We are simply moving with the times. No writer should be judged for such posts. The only time when such a person should be judged is when the poem has been put into a book. So to say, when the poet has declared it final.

Why?

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