Five "Words" for the Poet

Your Word Resource: though this can be easily abused, it distinguishes one poet from the other. Do not allow "impression" to swallow up your "expression", or else you will find yourself abusing your words resource.

Word Picture: This is a mainstay of any poetry. They are made manifest not in overlaboured lines but in simple lines with so much profundity.

Word Music: Words are not empty. They are musical. Pay attention to the musicality in your words. We have varieties of figures of speech that enhance musicality; make use of them.

Word Site: Every word creates its own kind of ambience, its own atmosphere. Words go a long way in telling the readers the type of poem you write or what you aim at doing with words.

Word Soul/ Spirit: This is more like the persona of the poem, who feels, eats, drinks, etc. What do we eat? What do we drink? These are the questions you answer in creating a persona, in breathing soul to your poem. Remember everyone wants to go to somebody who has life in him or her, so once your work lacks soul or spirit, people avoid them.

***Being Lessons from the poetry workshop that held at the GCLF. It was facilitated by Dr. Obari Gomba. 

Emmanuel Okoh: My GCLF Experience

Emmanuel Uweru Okoh's works have been published in NEXT, Saraba magazine, Sentinel Nigeria, Naijastories.com, ITCH magazine and Mad Hatters’ Review of Iceland. Emmanuel lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. His poetry collection, Gardens and Caves, will be published by SunBird Books, November 2012. Emmanuel was at the Garden City Literary Festival, 2012; he writes about his experience. 

My second application to be a part of the Garden City Literary Festival, a gathering of book heads and the likes in its fifth year clicked. I got an email first. I was excited, but still wasn't sure. So, I took the first step towards being sure by sending a confirmation SMS as requested by the organizers. And on the 14th of October, I made my trip to Port Harcourt. 

The literary festival which took place between 15th and 20th October 2012, at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt held a creative array of events: exhibitions, seminars, book readings, essay competitions, a Jazz/Poetry evening and a writers’ workshop. 

I was in the poetry workshop class.  Ours was a gathering of green and published poets with Dr. Obari Gomba as the facilitator, an interesting and fine man who at the first poetry class opened our eyes to some new ways to approach poetry. Lessons were woven around the special nature of poetry and how as writers, we must abide by some ground rules to achieve a masterpiece each time we set to write a poem.

He likened the ground rules to the 30 commandments of poetry. Ours was a practical one, and at the end of the class we wrote our first poems for the workshop which we exchanged among ourselves for improvement. 

Our next class was on imagery through sight, touch and smell. We engaged in writing short lines that reflected strong imagery, for this played a major role in good poetry. Closing the day, we had a task of producing two poems on any subject. So I went to work; my laptop and I. No noise. It was my usual romance with solitude that bore the poems that I have published for my reading audience so far.

Here is a poem for the workshop:

SARO WIWA’S CALL (for Ken Saro Wiwa)

My keen cry to Kenule:

 I, Fubara, of torn fishnet and gaping boat,

Of gasping fish and de-flowered flowers.

I sit on a lonely log; one of the few remaining.

I write on a Dutchman’s Dollar paper

It left the howling helicopter 

Black crude; my ink, my thin thighs; my table

Hear my call Kenule, for your ears know truth. 

Your ink bullets still hover in mid-mission,

Taking rests on shrunken leaves and greased waters

Cruel antics of the goggled General regenerates

 In bloody resonance- Where lies our hope?

We await the revolution of fish and oysters

From long years of petrol-logged breath

And bone splinters from Shell’s shell.  

Let the cry of prawns aid my call to you, Kenule

Caked soot sit on my nasal paths. 

I breathe with my ears; ears saturated with news of

Inverted justice, of blood soaked loot I loathe. 

Hear these words Kenule. And berth those 

Ink bullets of fourth estate fame and stencil 

Romance. That short romance of eternal frenzy

That die not from ‘feeble’ minds of Generals

Nor fumes from the Dutch industrial farts. 

Doreen Baingana in Conversation with Igoni Barrett

Igoni Barrett, author of From Caves of Rotten Teeth,  introduced Doreen Baingana, two-time shortlisted author for the Caine Prize for African writing. After this, Doreen read from her collection of interlinked short stories Tropical Fish: Stories out of Entebbe. We meet a girl who through her words, transformed into a woman; she was exploring her parents' room, and at the same time, the world.

Barrett dived into the conversation, asking interesting questions, raising interesting issues, rousing some dust. How should writing--if it does--address women's issues? How does her work Tropical Fish achieve this? For Baingana, "writing should first of all, it's about entertainment, enjoying words, and language. Also, the story is about the exploration of being human, of a young girl transforming into a woman. For her, it's all a game of adolescence. It helps us understand what makes us men, what makes us women and it helps us address these issues."

The African publishing sector is undergoing changes. However, Barrett wanted to know if female writers face any particular challenges that their male counterparts do not experience when it comes to publishing? Baingana thinks the challenges that face African publishing are not gender selective however "there are challenges that we face as female writers. The challenge for me now is that I have a four-year-old child. Writing is something that takes a lot of time, mental space but raising a family also takes a lot of time."  She equally considers being a writer, being a female writer in Africa a privilege "Just to become a writer is a privilege; it has to do with the kind of education that you got, that you had access to proper health care. You don't become a writer out of the blues but it is because of how you were brought up, a sum of your experiences. There are challenges that women face when it comes to education." (Find out stats about female education in Africa). Doreen Baingana studied Law at the Makerere University, Kampala and has an MFA from the University of Maryland, after which she returned to Uganda, where she still lives. 

Baingana also talked about women writers and self-censorship. The society does not think that women writers should be sexually explicit, not in reality, definitely not in writing. She says "You may not realise how much you are self-censored. There are some of my stories that are sexually explicit however there are women who do not write such because they self-censor." 

Barrett also wanted to know if there are any such things as women issues. If there are, how does Baingana's writing address them as a female writer? In response, Baingana delves into the world of publishing and its tags for female writing "I think that publishers take female writers as writing about women issues but they take male writers as writing about human issues. So many men get published because of that and there are many women who could have gotten big but are not."

Baingana accepted that she addresses issues pertaining to women in her writing. She made a case for her choice "I think it is about being marginalised, silenced, then you have to make a bigger push to be seen. We have to portray reality. Women are a complexity of characterisations and fiction should show that. Right now, I prefer seeing through female characters. We should be free to write whatever we want."

Baingana is known for her fiction for which she has won awards. However, Barrett made the audience know that she once tried her hands on poetry. She had this to say about her poetry which she called "unpublishable" "I used to write poetry, I still do; for me, poetry is just an emotional outlet. I am still very interested in poetry, and in language though I am better with fiction. So, I sneak poetry into my fiction sometimes." 

What role does art play in the society, if it plays any? Baingana made a case for arts. "My initial belief is that art can be valued even as a beautiful thing. However art can help in social development. As writers, we learn to express ourselves about how to be in this world. Art helps us reflect on the realities in the society; look at what art did with apartheid in South Africa. Art can also help with female emancipation. There is also the catharsis too that you feel when art makes you feel better."

Baingana was asked to describe Nigeria, to a Ugandan friend; she had this to say "I fear generalisations. If you write about it, then you can be specific. The diversities her are remarkable. When you go to a different place, you see things starkly: how do you eat hot suya in really hot weather? There is a lot of energy here, a country full of energetic people. I think Nigeria should work more on its public relations because we hear more of the negativity."

The floor was opened to the audience who asked a variety of questions: what should be the impact of writing? What advice do you have for budding writers on publishing? How should women writers deal with motherhood, housework and writing?  To the last question, she responded in a funny way "then they have to stop doing housework." Then more seriously, she continued "Most women do not have a sense of self. It is very important for women to create time for themselves. There is the whole issue of work-life balance and it's in finding what's comfortable. It's about the choices that you make in your life.  It's unfortunate that people think that you are a "good woman" yet you do not have time to write. What does it mean to be a writer to you? What does it mean being a woman? If you need to write and deal with the household, then hire a maid." She concluded, the audience laughed as they clapped and proceeded to the back of the hall for Baingana's autograph. 

The Voice Diary: October 20, 2012

The orchestra of the Rivers State Public Primary Schools opened the event with the National Anthem; then the followed with a rendition of "Ijoba Orun." During the children session, everyone is Aunty and Uncle, well, that's what the children understand better. 

Aunty Koko apologised that the event started late. "You are a very important part of what we are doing and we take a section of the festival that concerns you very importantly. I was a child like you in this city. I've sat where you've sit in this city, that's why I have a heart for the section of our work that involves children, that's why we bring role models to read to you. We bring the Governor also once a year to read to you. I hope you enjoy this session," she said welcoming the children to the event.  

Children were asked about their experience during the festival; they had interesting things to say. Chidera, 9, said "The workshop I attended was the creative workshop, and I learnt that I should read books. I read the Wicked Old Woman." I learnt that it was good to give to one another." Daniel Mattias, also 9 said, "I leant how to paint and draw."

Polly Alakija, one of the facilitators of the creative workshops read from the People Who Make Our History Series: Herbert Macaulay. The students asked questions and also shared their lessons from the book with the audience. After this, there was a Question and Answer session with Aunty Polly. 

On her experience with the children, she said "It was great fun, it was quite tiring. We had great fun. I had two days with each group. It normally takes at least a year to get a book together, the actual putting the book together and our challenge was to put the story together in two days."

Alakija's love for illustration started as a young child. She said "I knew a lot of illustrators, painters as a child. To me a book is like a box of magic, it is the same reason I love painting and film because you never know what you will find." 

Prizes were awarded to the children who won the Essay Competition for 2012. "They win a grant to support their education, books to build their personal libraries," said Kalango. The Governor of Rivers State, Governor Rotimi Amaechi presented certificates to the winners. The winners, Echikunwoke Chinasa Kenneth, Ogunkale Oluwatamilore, Ubah Chidinma Vivian beamed to the camera as they shook hands with the Governor. 

The Governor emphasised the importance of education and informed the audience on the programmes that the state is working on. "Education is key to us and it is important that you take education seriously. We are trying to take our government schools to a greater standard. The teachers will have the minimum qualification of NCE. All primary schools must have ICT, all including the ones that belong to the Rivers State Government. We are trying to renovate our schools, to furnish them. We are sending a bill to the House that it is a crime not to send your child to school. If you do not send your child to school, you will go to prison for a minimum of three months. We will not collect fees, just send your children to school. I have leaked to you the secrets of government and we are working towards achieving these objectives... I congratulate you all for coming, you all look exciting and energetic. I wish all of you the best of luck," he said. 

There was a performance of a play by the children. The play focused on the only Queen that ever was in the Niger Delta area, Queen Kambassa. The children made use of songs and dance,  to emphasise the theme of the play which matched the theme for the festival: Women and Literature. 

The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency, the official sponsors of the Children Event also gave their speech. They presented books to the children throughout the festival. The agency is aimed at driving development in Rivers state. 

The children all went home, smiling, with gift bags with books to build their personal libraries. 

The evening was the poetry feast with poetry performances from different poets, established and upcoming. Biokpo West was an highlight; he rendered the poem "Noah's Ark" in pidgin which got the audience pondering yet laughing. We will publish the poem on the blog in the coming days.

Pa Gabriel Okara who was the special guest at the event addressed the young writers. "This is pleasing and encouraging, and makes me think that Nigeria has a future. We are lucky to have somebody like Mrs Kalango here, who would make this possible with her creative thinking, imagination. We are now breeding a crop of young men and women in the art of creative writing, which means a crop of young men and women who will speak the truth at all time without fear. She is nurturing a nucleus of thoughts combined," he said.

Koko Kalango thanked everyone who was part of the event, and officially brought the Garden City Literary Festival 2012 to a close. She said "We thank all of you who are here, for every visitor, participant who has been a part of what we are doing...you are the reason why this is holding."

Creative Workshops with Polly Alakija

Today, the children will show the whole world what they have been working on, all week long: paintings, performances and dances. Are you ready? Here are pictures from the different workshops. The venue is the Main Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential. Time is 1pm. 

Children at work with Polly Alakija

I can paint!

We love listening!

All eyes on the teacher

Watch me as I do this!

Still in the works

In the works

See our inventions

Creative Workshops with CATE

There was yet another group of children handled by Sola Alamutu of the organisation, Children and the Environment (CATE). The children had fun all week long, learnt new ways of clapping, and telling stories. 

The Voice Diary: October 19, 2012

The day started with budding writers--the Elechi Amadi master class for fiction writers. Most of the students were from the fiction class. The author of acclaimed novel The Concubine, took the students on the major tools of fiction. The tools, which he calls the "standard tools which help them achieve success" include: realism, suspense, humour and entertainment, irony, flashback and stream of consciousness. 

He encouraged the budding writers to read widely, because in reading, they will learn about various writing styles and have a better understanding of the world "By reading, you pick up the language and general knowledge of the world. It also helps you to uphold the morals of the society. it gives us an idea of history. Some novels carry the elements of history. That's why the novels cannot die. The novel lives on; it is very concentrated entertainment."

He also talked about criticism and how writers should react to it "Criticism is good...but you can have some criticism that can make an author hopeless. There are also some that can elevate the spirit. Once you write a novel, it becomes world property. Anybody can criticise it and write what they want about it. Just remain calm. Don't start writing back. One, you will be distracted, and won't have time to do more work. Just note the points that they have made. For everyone who says your book is bad, there is almost an equal number saying it is good.  You may be lucky to find other people supporting you. Note the good points for your other works. You can have a chance to reply when you have interactions with your readers. Don't just write an article in response. You are wasting your time." 

He implored the writers to be realistic in their writing, even when they are trying to criticise the society. "I told my story in the way I knew how and showed our society at work. I didn't go out to showcase our traditional behaviours, etc. Just tell your story and uphold the morals. Just describe the society as you see it and in your own way uphold the morals, tell the story and in your way, the rest will come. Write the best way you can."

Some minutes after the master class, the students went for the poetry and prose classes respectively. There, they were presented with the certificates for participation which bore their names. The fiction class also featured Chibundu Onuzo who worked with Doreen Baingana in teaching the students more on fiction. The poetry class focused on self-criticism and publishing.

The evening was time for the seminar on women and love in literature. The panelists were:  Sophia Obi-Apoko, author, Tears in a Basket; Professor Julia Okoh, the Director of the Arts Village; Professor Charles Nnolim, retired lecturer and Dr. Julie Umukoro, the Head of Department, Theatre Arts. The event was moderated by Eze Ibekwe, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. 

Some of the questions that were raised included: do women have a place in literature? How are women portrayed in literature? If there is a femme fatale, why is there no homme fatale? What do women writers write about love? How do they portray polygamy? How does African literature portray love? 

Dr Julie Okoro on polygamy: I have always looked at issues from a global perspective. Monogamy is the influence of the developed world with colonialism and all that. At this point in time we should be talking about African ideologies which we should uphold about Africa. Polygamy is an African way of life; it was practised from the beginning of time and there were codes of conduct attached with it. And then came Christianity which came to dilute our own practices and came with monogamy. Let us look at how practicable this is. Let us look at the days of our forefathers I saw ethics. With polygamy, there was love, control over the women. There are codes of conduct that if betrayal comes, there were sanctions. Treatments were meted out equally and when there was partiality, three were punishments that went with it. We are not practising monogamy; some men have one wife and have many concubines outside. Women are more than men and look at monogamy, you are encouraging most women to become old maids. We should ask ourselves; how did our forefathers practise polygamy? There is no use practising half and half because we are neither here nor there. We do not have what we call an African ideology that we are selling to our youth. If it is properly marshaled with dos and don'ts, it may work.

Sophia Obi said that polygamy is a result of the patriarchal structure of the society. "There is no way we talk about love that jealousy will not come in. All these issues accumulated are issues that make the woman someone that's seen as  a deviant if she wants to protest about issues that deal with her feelings. Who made the African laws? Why are we so adherent to them even when the women are crying out? We cannot remain in the circle to say that our forefathers handed these issues to us, even if they had rules, were the rules okay with the women? How did they feel about these issues? It was not okay then, definitely it won't be okay now where most of the women are educated. Most of the women are even bread winners, so they even have limited time to care for themselves and their families. We need to address the issues causing these problems; they are family issues and if they are not addressed, they will cause problems to the society at large."

Professor Charles Nnolim was the "accomodationist", the one whose position handles both of them. "In America, they are talking about bigamy; it is progressive polygamy. Africans think that women are inferiorised. Until men in Africa begin to look at women as equals, this debate will continue. Women are also clever when they talk about love outside marriage, there are many women who practise it. You say that variety is the beauty of life. There should be love and unity within a family. If you have polygamy, let there be love. If you marry a wife, you should be able to accept everything that comes with her. We should be going towards accommodation."

The debate was followed by a Question and Answer session which the panelists were ready for. There were questions about love, literature, women, the materialistic nature of love today, among others. Professor Julia Okoh ended the session by advocating for more love in the society " People should try to love one another; if man and woman love each other, this world will be better."

The last event for the day was a Meet-the-Author session with Chibundu Onuzo; it was moderated by Daniella Menezor of the Rainbow Book Club. She responded to questions about her writing, her new book and handling success as a young writer. Questions were taken from the audience, and Chibundu signed copies of her books for members of the audience. 

GCLF Book Fair: Chinua Achebe's "There Was a Country"

Chinua Achebe's controversial book There Was a County is available at the Garden City Literary Festival Book fair.

Chimamanda Adichie reviews the book:

"His prose, which often has the cadence of spoken Nigerian English in his fiction, is sometimes plainly conversational here. I was reminded of my father, a contemporary of Achebe’s, telling stories of his past, in the circuitous storytelling tradition of the Igbo, each story circling in on itself, revelling in coincidence. I imagine Achebe would tell the stories in this book in much the same way as he writes them, with an elegiac, gentle vagueness, a lack of interest in adhering to hard fact. He ‘came first or second’ in an exam; his wife’s father died ‘in the mid-1980s’. There are many repetitions, schoolfriends are introduced more than once, there are digressions, and he casually uses quaint words like ‘lad’ and ‘serpent’. There is more of what writing teachers call ‘telling’ and less ‘showing’. Sometimes, his stories are fable-like, with the simplicity – and simplifications – of that form. In Nigeria under colonial rule, he could travel from Lagos to the south-east at night without worrying about armed robbers. This, he argues, is because the British managed their colonies well. His simplification is rooted in disappointment. He is a member of Nigeria’s generation of the bewildered, the people who were fortunate to be educated, who were taught to believe in Nigeria, and who watched, helpless and confused, as the country crumbled. He was a Biafran patriot, as were most of his Igbo colleagues, because they no longer felt they belonged in Nigeria. "

Noo Saro Wiwa reviews the book:

"In the middle chapters, memoir gives way to largely neutral historical analysis, with Achebe citing a range of voices, media reports and books. There are interesting insights into the war's two central players: Biafra's leader Ojukwu and Nigerian president, General Yakubu Gowon, both Sandhurst-trained young men. Rivalries between them and within their teams "confounded political science models". Possessing little administrative experience, the two men pursued ego-driven policies, and missed opportunities to end the conflict sooner. Achebe cites Biafran diplomat Raph Uwechue, who accused Ojukwu of choosing ideology over pragmatism when he rejected relief supplies from the British.

In the following chapters, Achebe's personal story re-emerges. Despite the war, he lived a remarkably productive life. Driven by his belief in the political obligations of the writer, he became Biafra's international envoy, promoting the cause in Canada, Europe and Senegal. He set up a publishing company with his close friend Chris Okigbo, and became Biafra's communications minister, writing a manifesto for the republic. He describes being part of an intellectual elite that came together to recreate a Biafran microcosm of Nigeria's early spirit, their ideals drawn from a mix of traditional Igbo philosophy, US-style liberalism and socialism."

Yet another review by William Wallis on FT.com:

"There is an eclectic range of insights and fascinating anecdotes buried in there, but this is not a book that will add much to the understanding of the war, nor one that will go down among Achebe’s great works. Of these there are several, including Things Fall Apart (1958), the bestselling African novel ever and perhaps the finest account of the clash of cultures that occurred when Europeans first penetrated the continent.

Told in four parts, There Was a Country starts with an at times self-satisfied account of Achebe’s upbringing, his academic prowess and the lives of his peers. It conveys the great hope that existed as colonial Africa pushed towards independence, and gives some credit to British efforts to create the institutional and human foundations of the Nigerian state."

The book is available at the Association of Nigerian Authors Book stand, the GCLF Book fair, at the Atlantic Hall, Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.  

Chibundu Onuzo: The Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist

Young Nigerian writer who is also guest author at the Garden City Literary Festival, 2012 is on the Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist.

"A 21 year old Nigerian novelist is the youngest of five rising literary stars shortlisted for the  2012 University of Wales’ Dylan Thomas Prize, it was announced today...21 year old Chibundu Onuzo’s book  The Spider King’s Daughter is a modern-day Romeo  and Juliet set against the backdrop of a changing Lagos. "

The Dylan Thomas Prize is a leading prize for young published writers  under the age of thirty.   presented annually by the University of Wales. The prize, named in honour of the Welsh writer and poet Dylan Thomas, brings international prestige and a remuneration of £30,000. 

Congratulations Chibundu, from the GCLF Team!

The Voice Diary: October 18, 2012

Today, there were three main events: the public presentation of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital, 2014; a "Role Model Reads to Children" event where Dame Alice Lawrence Nemi, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State read to children;  and a book signing session. All events were open to the public. The first, that seemed to be the highlight of the day was the official presentation of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital City, 2014. In attendance were the Nobel Laureate for Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka; the Commissioner for Information, Rivers State, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari who represented the Governor of Rivers State, HE Governor Rotimi Amaechi; the Country Representative of UNESCO, Dr Joseph Ngo who represented Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova. Seated also were the guest writers for the Garden City Literary Festival, Doreen Baingana, Veronique Tadjo and Chibundu Onuzo. Also seated were writers from the city of Port Harcourt, Igoni Barrett, Chief Elechi Amadi, and Pa Gabriel Okara. 

The event which was co-hosted by Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host, Frank Edoho opened with music from the Rivers States Schools Orchestra. The group of young children also led the audience to sing the National Anthem, which seemed to take on a new meaning, as the second stanza ended "...Great lofty heights attain, to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign."

Throughout the event, it seemed that every speaker focused on how as a country, we can attain lofty heights by supporting the ideas that literature carries. Koko Kalango, the Festival Director gave the welcome speech; she talked about the motive behind the title of this year's festival "The broad theme is interesting because it allows examine the work of women who  are operating in the literary space- writers, publishers, book sellers, literary critics. We will also be looking at what women write about and how relevant female writing is to the modern world, also how women are portrayed in literature."

She emphasised the importance of reading to thinking, to the growth of any society. "A reading people is a thinking people. In a reading society, thinking society, when we see a broken down fuel tanker, we do not go there and take our buckets to fetch petrol to sell for a little money. A thinking person knows that this is a dangerous thing to do as a single match can set a blaze that can kill dozens of people in minutes." She ended her address by welcoming everyone to the Garden City Literary Festival. 

This was followed by the Governor's welcome address presented by Mrs. Ibim Semenitari who lauded the activities of the Rainbow Book Club, as a strategic partnership with the state government in shining the light of enlightenment on the darkness of ignorance in the state. She espoused the potentials that Port Harcourt held being the UNESCO World Book Capital City, 2014, and said that the state would support in the activities.  "Let me on that note welcome you to the beautiful city of Port Harcourt and to the city of Rivers, to a state that is full of possibilities," she said, concluding the Governor's address.

The Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova was represented by the country rep, Dr Joseph Ngu. He lauded the work of the Rainbow Book Club as being in alignment with UNESCO's work. He said "In April 2013, Port Harcourt would be the first African city to serve as the UNESCO World Book Capital City. Books are transmitters of knowledge. They promote mutual understanding and help fight ignorance. That's why UNESCO wants to help combat illiteracy. This is why UNESCO is engaged as the lead agency for the global education for all women... With Port Harcourt as world Book capital in 2012, Africa will be able to share its vision of books with the world. We can also address the many challenges encountered by the national stakeholders. The stakes are high and we know that much has to be done, to ensure its success. But rest assured that UNESCO will continue to work with all the parties concerned. Thank you for your attention." 

There was an interlude to the speeches with Pa Okara who read his poem "The Call of the River Nun."

Professor Wole Soyinka took to the podium to give his speech, which he drew largely from social realities, happenings in the world of science and poetry. It was an exercise in decoding the coded language of science and transmitting it in the language that we all understood. He commended the Rainbow Book Club's work, as a legacy, a war of the forces of light against the forces of darkness. He commented on the Aluu incident "worse of all is that it took place in front of people who watched. Silent participants...I believe quite frankly that this country is at war: between the intellects and against the forces of reprobate thinking." 

It is in fact a fight for our humanity, he says "If we surrender to these banal forces in the society, we cease to be human beings. All organisations that wage war against enlightenment wage war, not against the state, but against humanity itself. We have the responsibility to support and sustain such efforts, and that makes RBC an ally organisation. Despite the horrors that surround us, we are very much alive, very much productive. It is an internal and external message, we must continue to preach to our children if we have any hope at all and any faith in our humanity." On Port-Harcourt's selection as the World Book Capital City, he said "This is an honour, not only to the nation but to the African continent. This is recognition that something is going right in Nigeria despite negativity. "

The logo for Port-Harcourt as the World Book Capital, 2014 was was unveiled by writers of Port-Harcourt; Wole Soyinka and his wife, Mrs Folake Soyinka, Mrs Ibim Semenitari and the invited writers.  

Dr Obari Gomba reviewed the book Nigerian Literature: Coat of Many Colours. He had a lot to say, here is a summary "Mrs Kalango's book has a colourful front cover with fourteen pictures of Nigerian writers. Soyinka's photo is the biggest. Does it surprise you? There are other 36 writers on the back cover. They have all added value to the book, period. If you envy them with a bias, then run for office in the next elections. Fifty Nigerian authors are listed. There are fifteen women. This is less than the 35% affirmative action for women; it calls more women to write...The scope of the book is impressive and covers all the generations of Nigerian writers. Many young writers are represented. That is not too many to sing the success of our generation. We have people who have done two, three works and are listed here. It is good that Ms. Kalango has not fallen in the class that says that wait for us until we are grey." 

The event came to a close with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Chief Elechi Amadi.  Copies of the book were given to members of the audience, who hurried to some of the writers who were around for pictures and autographs.

The Voice Diary: October 17, 2012

The symposium started at 10 am with the Director of the Garden City Literary Festival, Mrs Koko Kalango introducing the guests who took their seats on the podium. The writers, Chibundu Onuzo, Doreen Baingana, and Veronique Tadjo.  His Excellency, The Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi was also around to give his brief comments on women and literature. 

Veronique Tadjo, writer and academic, gave the keynote address on "Women in Literature" where she raised several questions about literature, about women in literature. The address dealt with many issues:  the history of women in African literature; feminism in its many coat of African colours; the effect of globalisation on writing, and reading; and the writer's commitment, to mention a few. 

Some of the questions that the address* roused include: Is there such a thing as “Female writing”? What is the role of writers in Africa today? Who is an “African” writer?” Indeed, what makes an “African writer”?  Is it the fact of being born in Africa? Or is it rather the fact of living and writing in Africa? Is it the subject matter, i.e. Africa-centred? Or is it, the nature of a writer’s readership (whether read more at home than abroad)? And what about the location of the book publisher (s) (whether they are based on the continent or not)? To the latter part of the question, she responds: " This is a contentious question which stirs up all sorts of mixed feelings because any answer that one gives has a potential for exclusion. But in the end does it really matter whether you consider yourself, or people consider you, as an African writer or not?"

Tadjo concluded, that the history of female writing in Africa is always changing. She said "I will say that African women writers are continuing the path opened by their male and female predecessors. Our expectation is that their increased visibility and scope will allow for new readings of history and the elaboration of new thinking about Africa today." This was met by a round of applause from the audience.

The moderator used most of the issues raised by Tadjo to engage the guest writers. They had different things to say on the different issues. Here are excerpts** from the conversation:

Chibundu Onuzo on commitment and writing

"I do feel that it is hard not to engage with the society when you write about contemporary Africa. Just describing a street in Lagos becomes a political exercise. You describe the streets, the children hawking, you point your fingers at government. The pinnacles of writing cannot be forgotten even as you engage. 

I think that the main thing has to be the art. It is not selfish to think of art for art sake. If you go for the message alone, the art suffers and the message suffers. If you start with the art, the message will always be there. That's what Wole Soyinka says every time, the particular will then become global."

Doreen Baingana on Canonisation, Social Commitment and Art 

I am not sure who the judges were who chose the books of excellence. I think a lot of the criteria does not necessarily come from us.  A lot of it comes from outside. Who is to determine what is a good book? That has always changed over time. I do believe that there was a lot of style in oral literature. Even the writers who write for social transformation, what makes their style effective is that the issues do not bring attention to themselves. The two go together. The more women go together with the two things, the more they will write. I do not want to be put in a box as a woman writer. The majority of women may write in the first person, you may want to say, this is who I am as a woman; and it does not mean that this is the way all women write and this is the way all women should write. I think we have to be very careful of the dangers.

The event was opened to the members of the audience who engaged the panel in an interesting way. 

There was also the master class for fiction writers that was handled by Veronique Tadjo. She introduced the young writers to the basics of fiction writing; point of view, plot, style and setting. She told them "you can create your own style."

After the workshop, there was an autograph session with her, where she signed copies of her book for book lovers. After the thought provoking conversations and the master class on fiction, Day 3 of the Garden City Literary Festival ended with books bearing the owners' names in the author's hand writing. 

*This address will be posted here in coming days.

**We will post a more updated version of the symposium soon, so watch out. 

  

Welcome Address: Amaechi for Women

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to Port Harcourt for the 2012 Garden City Festival. It is hard to believe that we are already marking our fifth GCLF. In the short space of 5 years, the festival has become such an integral part of Port Harcourt’s identity that I am very proud to give it my support once again.

The Rivers State government’s partnership with the Rainbow Book Club continues to bear fruit and I am greatly pleased that our collaboration has resulted in Port Harcourt being chosen by UNESCO as the 2014 World Book Capital City. I am sure that the continued success of the Garden City Festival played some part in helping us achieve that honour.

As an avid reader and champion of universal education and equal rights, I have always been interested in the works of female writers. Women are the backbone of any society and seeing the world through their eyes is not only fascinating, but also enriching and empowering for us as a community and a nation. The writers being featured over the next few days all manage to bring their own unique flavor to the table and I am certainly looking forward to seeing the diverse imaginings that will come out of this year’s focus on Women in Literature. We welcome these talented ladies to our great city and hope they gain as much from their interactions with participants as we will learn from them. Indeed I wish everyone taking part in the festival a very enjoyable few days.

I hope that all visitors to the events have an enriching experience.

***H. E. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State will be at the event today. Venue is the Atlantic Hall, Hotel Presidential. 

Public Presentation: PH as World Book Capital City 2014

Koko Kalango: Welcome Address

Welcome to the Garden City Literary Festival 2012. This year’s outing is special for several reasons: this is our 5th festival and this year we are looking at a very topical subject, Women in Literature, plus, we are celebrating or beloved city of Port Harcourt’s nomination as UNESCO World Book Capital 2014!

We are also delighted to be launching our book, Nigerian Literature, a Coat of Many Colours during the festival. This coffee table book is a celebration of 50 prominent Nigerian authors and their works. We are grateful that the foreword to this book is written by none other than President Goodluck Jonathan and the introduction by our indefatigable literary connoisseur, Governor Rotimi Amaechi. We hope this work will be an invaluable contribution to Nigeria’s literary heritage, just like this festival.

This year, our theme of Women in Literature is being steered by some amazing guest writers Véronique Tadjo, Doreen Biangana and Chibundu Onuzo. We welcome them warmly to Port Harcourt and look forward to sharing the next few days with them. In addition, we have a brilliant line up of workshop facilitators, discussants in the symposium and seminars, exhibitors at our book fair and of course our visitors.

We welcome everyone to this week of exciting activities that include Meet the Author sessions, drama performances and special events for children. We thank all those who have partnered with us over the years to make this festival possible.

The Garden City Literary Festival is getting bigger and better, and showcasing Port Harcourt’s rich literary credentials!

Welcome and have a great week in our Garden City!

The Voice Diary: October 16, 2012

The day started from where it stopped yesterday--with creative workshops for children.  The children were divided into two classes facilitated by Polly Alakija and Sola Alamutu of Children and the Environment (CATE). The children in the class facilitated by CATE were taught to make use of three primary art forms to tell stories: acting, writing and drawing. The acting class had two guiding rules: always watch and learn. The other class was divided into three groups, each group worked on a unique story which they expressed through painting.

The afternoon sessions featured writers' workshops, fiction and poetry. However unlike the previous day, there were more practical sessions, with the writers working their crafts. The fiction workshop, still held by Doreen Baingana focused on style and setting in writing.

After the writers' workshops, there was a seminar facilitated by the Association of Nigerian Authors, Rivers State. There were three invited women--Mrs Duru, Mrs Agabi and Mrs Anyanwu--to talk about the theme: Literature and women in national development. The forum revolved around issues surrounding, literature, women, history, politics and national development. The key questions that were addressed include: is there a place for women in Nigerian literature? Do women contribute to literature? Does literature, contribute in any way to national development? How can women writers through their works, change the society? How can they inspire the youths to leadership? How can they inspire budding female writers? 

The well-attended forum saw the panelists respond to the issues from various interesting perspectives.

Dr Mrs Agabi said about the role of literature in national development "Apart from economic importance, there is also touristic importance, for instance we are here in Port-Harcourt for the GCLF, all to celebrate women. Women have come out; they have written books; they are bringing issues to the front burner, and are contributing to social development. Most of the women are enlightened and they have written about other women in their works. I think that women can learn from other women characters in literature. People are aware of issues that were considered taboo until certain women wrote about them. We won't be here today if not for the role of literature."

Mrs. Anyanwu was of the opinion that women in literature have a role to contribute to youth enlightenment. "My interest is focused on the "how" of fiction writing. Fiction should be entertaining and should not be a repetition of the serious academic work that happens in schools. The writers should fit their writing into what obtains in the society now, their works should address the societal issues now. For instance, most of the time children these days are online. When we are writing and want to get youths interested, we should think of getting our works to where they are: online. If the internet is possessing them, I will propose that we also possess the internet with our writing." She said that writing online does not only benefit children in the community but the impact goes far and wide "It is not just our children in our immediate environment but also those in the Diaspora that we teach. That way, we reach them, we impart them." She also encouraged female writers to put more efforts into their writing "I encourage female writers to go the extra mile. Many of us are not writing, not because we do not have stories but there is a lot of illiteracy and the women today have a lot to contend with--the financial income remains the same yet the extended family keeps extending. If given more education, women would be able to impart more than they've already given."  

On the contribution of African female writers to writing, Mrs Agabi said "African female writers have done a lot, yet are still aware that there is still a lot more to be done. That's why events like this create awareness for aspiring female writers; they will see that it is possible for women to write and be successful."

The attention moved to the members of the audience who asked an array of questions, raising serious issues, at times arousing laughter in the crowd, and at other times, an applause. The highlight of the question session was the comment made by Molara Ogundipe-Leslie, foremost Nigerian writer and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt. She raised  issues ranging from values in the society to patriarchy to the ability of literature to speak to everyone, not just children. She defined patriarchy thus "Patriarchy doesn't mean women versus men. It is the structure of the women versus the women. For women to see themselves as human, men also need to help them." 

The session ended with comments from the panelists. Dr Mrs Agabi said "Let women write anything they want to write, we've come a long way; we have a lot more to do, and we will do it. Let the women talk, write about themselves, make sure you listen."

After the engaging session, there was a Meet-the-Author session, where Igoni Barrett had a conversation with Doreen Baingana, author of Tropical Fish before the space was opened to the audience. 

The second day at the GCLF ended with a remarkable performance about Female Genital Mutilation from the Arts Village, University of Port-Harcourt. The all-female cast made use of songs, incantations, nuances from local cultures,  and dance. The performance and the day ended with an ovation for the performers. 

The Voice Diary: October 15, 2012

The Garden City Literary Festival started officially today, so we will start what we call "The Voice Diary" which will be a daily summary, a dose perhaps of all that happens here at the Festival.

The day started, Port-Harcourt style, with rain. The downpour did not deter young students, many of  them younger than twelve from gathering at the Conference Rooms 1 and 2 for the creative workshop sessions. The two sessions were handled by a team from CATE and Polly Alakija. The mood in the two rooms was that of ecstatic young kids willing to learn, their voices reaching rooftops. The students ready for work, had brilliant definitions of a story. They were alive; answering questions, practising exercises, responding to songs. At the end of the two classes, they were divided into three groups, each group given an assignment: to express themselves through writing, art and dance. We can't wait to see what they come up with tomorrow.

After this there was a reading session with Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, the Honourable Commissioner of Information and Mrs Sola Alamutu, the founder of CATE read to the children from a book about Mother Theresa. The children listened and had intelligent questions to ask the women.

The afternoon sessions featured poetry and prose writing workshops. The poetry workshop was handled by Dr Obari Gomba, a lecturer at the Department of English Studies, University of Port-Harcourt. Doreen Baingana, author Tropical Fish handled the prose writing workshop. The workshops were intensive, with participants drilled to produce works, as they were being taught. In coming posts, we will bring you lessons from the poetry workshop. 

While all these was going on, the Book Fair, which will run throughout the Festival kicked into motion. There were over fifty stands with different book stores and publishing houses represented; there were lots of gadgets, books and toys  for sale. The Fair is your to-go place for the purchase of a variety of books.

The evening started with an open mic session organised by the Department of English Studies, University of Port-Harcourt. The venue-the Port-Harcourt Room of the Presidential Hotel- was filled. Seated on the high table was famed poet, Pa Gabriel Okara, Dr. Obari Gomba, Ifeanyi Ajaogbo, Dr. Margaret Nutsukpo and Julius Akanni. Dr Obari Gomba moderated the the poetry sessions, with poetry performances from students of the department. It was a delightful evening with words; we will publish one of the poems from the Open Mic session in coming days. There was a conversation on the theme of the festival, "Women in Literature", of course by the students. The poetry performance group performed a short poem about violence in the home.

Towards the end of the session, Dr Obari Gomba recited a poem dedicated to Pa Okara; some lines: At the twilight zone of generations/the zest of youth/meets the wisdom of age...

The Open Mic session ended with a closing talk by Pa Okara; he encouraged the students, "Many of you are growing up, and will soon be fathers and mothers; my advice is this: if you want to succeed in writing, always be yourself." 

The last event for the day was a cocktail, which was an interactive session with the writers--Doreen Baingana, Chibundu Onuzo and Polly Alakija. Sadly, Noo Saro-Wiwa was not able to make it, as a result of some last minute hitches at the Airport in the UK. The organiser of the Garden City Literary Festival, Mrs Koko Kalango opened the event where she introduced the writers before journalists asked questions. Responding to a question, Mrs Kalango said "We at the Festival have just created a platform where we can have people in the literature industry together to keep the industry alive and thriving, to see how we can positively impact the world." 

That's what GCLF has done for five years, and it is more of that we expect to see in the remaining days of the festival. 

GCLF 2012 Programme

There are different events lined up during the festival: children creative workshops, writing workshops, open mic sessions, plays, forums, etc.

Find out more about the events, the venue, everything you need to know by clicking here.

It's going to be fun. We hope to see you!

Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours

One of the highlights of the 5th annual Garden City Literary Festival (GCLF), will be the public presentation of the book Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours, on Thursday 18th October 2012,  by 10am at the Main Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential, in Port Harcourt. 

The book is compiled and edited by Mrs. Koko Kalango, with a foreword written by none other than the President of Nigeria, H.E Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, and an introduction by the Rivers State Governor, H.E. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Guests of Honour include H.E. Rt.Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, UNESCO Director-General Ms. Irina Bokova and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka will give the Keynote Address.

Details of this and other GCLF activities can be found on our website.  

Winners: National Essay Competition

In July, we announced an essay competition for secondary school students. The theme revolved around the theme of the GCLF 2012:  Women and Nation building. We got many fantastic entries from all over the country. After much deliberations, we came up with a winning list of three:  

Echikunwoke Chinasa Kenneth:  Government Senior Secondary School, Elekahia, Rivers State.

Ogunkale Oluwatamilore:  Christ the Redeemers College, Christholl, Sagamu. 

Ubah Chidinma Vivian:  Dority International Secondary School, 19/21 Umuodu Avenue, Abayi, Aba.

Prizes will be presented during the GCLF. Congratulations to them and their schools. Keep writing!

GCLF 2012: Obari Gomba

Obari Gomba--poet, playwright and literary scholar– teaches Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Port Harcourt. His poetry collections are Pearls of the Mangrove, George Bush and Other Observations, Canticle of a Broken Glass and Length of Eyes. He has been the Editor of The Muse, the journal of creative and critical writing of the Department of English at the University of Nigeria. He is presently on the board of Working Papers: the journal of the Department of English Studies at the University of Port Harcourt.  His essays and poems have appeared in Culture Digest, Expression, Crucible, Sentinel, among others. He has also contributed chapters to book projects. 

He will facilitate the poetry workshop at the GCLF.