Sunday 27 November 2016

Feast of Words 2016 WRR Literary Festival is coming to Ibadan again


The annual WRR Literary Festival Feast of Words to hold on the 3rd of December 2016 in the ancient city of Ibadan.


The annual WRR Literary Festival Feast of Words to hold on the 3rd of December 2016 in the ancient city of Ibadan.

For the second year running, Ibadan will host writers, performers, thinkers, artists, book lovers and lovers of literature for the one-day festival at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, Oyo State.



Themed ‘Words in a Season Change’, the festival will feature stimulating discussions, awards, book unveiling, readings musical performances, a play by the University of Ibadan Theatre Arts Students, and an African Night of words, music, and palm wine.

Poet, linguist, lecturer, Emmanuel Inedu, author of Cockcrow At Noon will present a paper exploring the place of writers in the prevailing political atmosphere.



 He will be joined in discussion by Sickle Cell awareness campaigner, Awodiya Funke, who will also be reading from her book The Farmers Daughter, and Goodness Olanrewaju Ayoola, teacher and author of the acclaimed collection of poems, Meditations.

The Feast of Words is one of the most anticipated literary festivals among young Nigerian writers. It is organized by Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR Ltd), a foremost Nigerian publishing and educational institution which actively promotes Nigerian writing and supports the development of young Nigerian writers through several interventionist programmes. 


The 2015 edition had in attendance major stakeholders from all over the country.

  • DATE: Saturday December 3rd, 2016
  • VENUE: INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN STUDIES, UI, Ibadan
  • TIME: 10am – 8pm

IN MY LINE OF SONGS

(to Dr Moses T. Tsenongu)
 
 

   Prelude:
As I walk on waves weaved
on grown hair of River Benue
my feet stroke skulls of songs
where rhythms rang from pages of
autobiography of a common man.

I biograph out your commonness
in my line of songs and sing
of ingredients that make you a
soup set to sail ships in our throat

I will slog out songs from indyer*
with rhythms that will shatter
Olympus so Gods will hear hill of
holy rhymes that spell your grace

This biography is your auto's
telling of humility
you cravat your neck and the
spurt of mfena* you spit speaking

Your tongue invokes daughters of Iduh*
to dance donary dance to drums
from sons of Takuruku* and when
you wind your wheels colours intermarry

From shelf of noble names I
sing of your open hand nailing notes
to outstretch altars of palms
waiting for wetness to dawn their throats

When your verses vase our ears
our heart dances to incantation
priming from priestly mouth calling
Sun the Male Born Moon the Female

To preserve the sanity of our soul
you poem lines to milk us mild
and retain the tongue which
our ancestors answered

Along this chiseled coast I
will wet the arid shore of
your ears with water breath
of songs panegyric pin from
temple of ancient songs

Your commonness is the song
that swells round our mouth
and this verse is the biography
of your greatness common to
priests on pulpit of humility.





Indyer: a Tiv slog drum, significant for its ritual purpose.
Mfena: wisdom
Iduh: the progenitor of the Idoma people in Benue state.
Takuruku: one of the greatest ancestors of the Tiv people in Benue state


© 2016.11.20
Oko Owoicho







About the Author
Oko Owoicho pen named Oko Owi Ocho was born in Udabi Adoka in Otukpo local government of Benue state on 08 October 1994. He attended his secondary school in Lagos where he served as the Secretary General of AJ HOUSE OF POETRY. A writing organization based in Ajegunle. He has performed on lots of stages in Lagos and Benue respectively. He featured in Lagos State Black Heritage Festival 'Night of the Poet' 2014 and Sevhage Literary Festival 2015. He was a guest poet for Freedom Spoke Word organised by Goethe Institut and Aj House of Poetry 2016. His poems has been published both online and 'Black Communion: an Anthology of 100 Modern African Poets'He is a Pan Africanist who base most of his writings on Africa. He sees Art as a tool that can help facilitate the cultural and economic emancipation of Africa which is one dominant theme inherent in most of his works. He is currently studying English in Benue State University where he is currently the Financial Secretary of WRITERS LEAGUE. He has an unpublished collection of poetry titled 'Broken Rhythms' and is currently working on another one titled 'Middle Passage'

He can be reached at okoowiocho@gmail.com. His mobile line is 08090662867.

Thursday 10 November 2016

http://egcreativity.blogspot.com.ng


Tuesday, 8 November 2016


CALL FOR NOMINATIONS, TOP 50 CONTEMPORARY POETS WHO ROCKED NIGERIA IN YEAR 2016

Few years ago, non-poets rarely invite Poets to non-poetry events in Nigeria. The art was like the least art and the most placed in the background here. Though it could not be said that Poetry is mainstream entertainment like Music, Comedy, and Movie yet; things have changed.

More Radio/TV shows now feature poetry, more books were published, more poetry festivals were held, and more events are springing up. There seem to be many new Poets and they look good to stay up for a long time. More so, a lot of poets are coming up with new things, they call for at least applause/appreciations if not award plaques.




This is a call for You to join us to nominate the Poets whom you feel really rocked Nigeria in the outgoing year (2016). Please note that by ‘Rock’, we do not mean the best Poets in Nigeria; we mean those whose impacts were really felt in various categories where Poets/poetry is concerned. The categories we consider for this year are:
a.      Page Poet of the year
B.      Spoken Word Poet of the year
C.       Poetry Promoter of the year
D.      Cross over poet of the year 
NOTE:
1.      If there is any poet you would like to be in your list but he/she is older than 50 years old, please place them in (E) Honorary mention category.
2.      This is not a ‘Please nominate me’ thing, kindly nominate Poets based on your conviction alone.
3.      Minimum of 15 and maximum of 25 names are required for nominations in each of these categories. Nominations not made in categories (A-D) above will not be counted.
4.      Number your nominations, your number '1' will be scored higher than number '10'/'16'/etc.
5.      For those who are yet to understand the Cross over category, it is meant for Poets who venture into other arts such as Prose, Drama, Film, Music, Visual arts, etc.  Also note that there will be top 10 Poets in each category and there will be eventual Top 5o (who are poets with highest nominations).
6.      People who are actually not proven to be Poets will be removed from the list (this excludes those in poetry promotion category).
HOW WE GRADE
Points from nominations will be graded 35% (EGC focused group), 35% (Poets Panel, i.e. People we are sure of their knowledge about Nigerian Poets. Their identity will not be made public), 30% (General nominations) where anybody can nominate. This is important as we desire near 100% accuracy in this survey (we know nobody can get it right 100% though), let us at least do it together and do it better. Poets are please advised not to call for anyone to nominate them; send in your own nominations and let others send your own name on merit.
BELOW ARE SIMPLE THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN NOMINATING POETS FOR EACH CATEGORY:
1.       IMPACT: are the works of these Poets felt by a lot of people in Nigeria?
2.       ORIGIN: are these Poets Nigerians?
3.       AGE: are these Poets between 1-50 years old?
4.       REASON: why are we nominating these Poets?
5.       SINCERITY: am I sincere with my nominations or biased?
NOMINATION WINDOW OPENS 9TH NOVEMBER 2016 AND CLOSES 10TH DECEMBER 2016.
To view Top 50 list for past year Click: Top 50 year 2015
For FAQs on this annual project Click.
 TO NOMINATE
Send nominations as body of e-mail to egcmails@gmail.com.  Use ‘#EGCtop50’ as subject line






FULL PROOF Movie will be on DVD soon
WATCH OUT!

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Abubakar Adam Ibrahim wins the 2016 NLNG prize for Literature

http://www.premiumtimesng.com







Abubakar Adam Ibrahim has been announced winner of the 2016 Nigeria Prize for Literature.

Mr. Ibrahim, a Nigerian journalist and writer, won the prize, worth §100,000, with his novel, Season of Crimson Blossom.

The winner of the prize, which is awarded annually by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NNLG), was announced Wednesday at a World Press Conference held in Sheraton Hotels in Lagos.

The announcement was made by Prof. Ayo Banjo, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the prize, who praised Mr. Ibrahim’s work.

Three finalists had earlier been named for this year’s edition of the prize. They were Elnathan John (author of Born On A Tuesday); Chika Unigwe, (author of Night Dancer), and, Mr. Ibrahim.

A total of 173 authors of prose fiction entered for the competition this year, which had at the head of its judging panel Prof. Dan Izevbaye, the renowned professor of Literature and literary critic.

The other judges include Asabe Usman Kabir, professor of Oral and African Literatures at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and Isidore Diala, professor of African Literature in the Department of English, Imo State University, Owerri.

Celebrating literary excellence for the twelfth year running, the Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara for his volume, The Dreamer, His Vision (co-winner of the 2005 prize, awarded in the genre of poetry); Ezenwa Ohaeto, for Chants of a Minstrel (co-winner in 2005 for poetry); Ahmed Yerima (2006, drama) for Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner in 2007, awarded for children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; and Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner in 2007, children’s literature) with My Cousin Sammy. Also, Kaine Agary (in 2008, for her novel Yellow Yellow); Esiaba Irobi (2010, for drama), who won the prize posthumously with Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with The Missing Clock and Chika Unigwe (2012, prose), with her novel, On Black Sisters’ Street, Tade Ipadeola (2013, for poetry) with his collection of poems, The Sahara Testaments and Sam Ukala (2014, drama) with his play, Iredi War.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. The 2016 Prize is for prose fiction and comes with a cash prize of $100, 000. Next year’s prize will be for poetry.

The Winning Author

Mr. Ibrahim, journalist and writer is a first-time novelist. He was winner of the BBC African Performance Prize, the Amatu Braide Prize for Prose; and earlier awarded the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Fellow (2013) and Civitella Ranieri Fellow (2015).

He granted PREMIUM TIMES an interview about his work and motivations a few weeks ago.

The Winning Book

A PREMIUM TIMES’ contributor, , had written about the book: “The Whispering Trees, a collection of short stories by the same author, was an unforgettable experience when I bought and devoured it in 2012. I detected a pleasing evolution in the writer’s art in Crimson Blossoms. It is as if Abubakar Adam Ibrahim has matured greatly since writing those earlier stories, has dug deeper into his artistic well, and come up with something truly “career-defining” – as Toni Kan enthuses in a blurb on the book’s back-cover. The prose, from the very first line, wrapped round me like a welcome blanket on a cold, rainy night. It suffused my being with warmth.

“The Marquez-like conceit of the smell of cockroaches preceding some important events in the book, as well as the italicising of speech made by the characters in the English language and the entire kidnap section in the second-half of the novel, do not impress me much. However, the beautiful language – like crimson petals falling off the page – filled my mind with scent as I moved from line to line. The novelist’s handling of a middle-aged woman discovering love after years of widowhood is masterly. Reza, the unlikely beau of this prim and proper Hausa Muslim matriarch (Hajiyya Binta), has a roguish charm one comes to love as one learns more about him. The dusky affair between the two lovers is believable, and I found myself, despite the discouraging portents, hoping for a “happily ever after” for the foredoomed couple.

“But it was the minor characters of the book that blew me away. Fa’iza with her friends, the twins Kareema and Abida, dreaming of love with movie stars, reading romantic novels and trying on the tools of female seduction – like so many millions of their ilk all over the world. Fa’iza with her issue of PTSD as well. Gattuso, the ever-faithful right-hand man of the top dog, Reza, having the latter’s back at all times, even as Reza is unworthy of such loyalty. The Senator, a perfect incarnation of the “banality of evil”, so different from the “godfather” characters one runs into in Nollywood films. Hureira, the somewhat Lawrentian daughter of Hajiyya Binta, a damsel fated for a lifetime of love-discontent. Munkaila of Maitama twirling car-keys in his fingers and with his nose upturned during his visits home.

“The enlightened Ustaz Nura and his ways. Mallam Haruna and his powerful radio. San Siro with its charms and lively air, reeking of songs, cannabis and sex. Northern Nigeria by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim comes across as potpourri, universe, human kaleidoscope. By the time I got to the end of the book, as in the other two cases, I wanted more like the clichéd Oliver Twist.”

2days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...

The winners for the just concluded POETRY SUBMISSION on the theme "BEAUTY OF WORDS"
Each will be awarded tickets to BEAUTY OF WORDS 2
And they are...

1: Folake Abiola
2: Prince nc Kenny


You can sell/display your books too @BOW2. All you have to do, is send your cover to our mail before the event... thepoetrycourt@gmail.com.
1: Tell us if you want to sell or display
2: Tell us the genre
And we will tell you what to do next.




Momodu Ehizua is poet and a member of Aj. House of poetry .He is also the festival manager of UNIBEN literary festival and co-organiser of " Voices and Minds" (a gathering of creative and free minds in Benin)


DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035



Tuesday 11 October 2016

3days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...

The winners for the just concluded POETRY SUBMISSION on the theme "BEAUTY OF WORDS"
Each will be awarded tickets to BEAUTY OF WORDS 2
And they are...

1: Folake Abiola
2: Prince nc Kenny


You can sell/display your books too @BOW2. All you have to do, is send your cover to our mail before the event... thepoetrycourt@gmail.com.
1: Tell us if you want to sell or display
2: Tell us the genre
And we will tell you what to do next.


Clemency Green, aka ThatPoetClem is a Doctor in training at the College Of Medicine, University of Lagos, LUTH.  His poetry has won several awards, applause and accolades. He's winner of a poetry competition organised by the Law Society, University of Lagos in 2013, 2nd runner up War of Words 4 National Poetry Slam Competition in 2014, finalist at Eko Poetry Slam 2015.

Acclaimed Medilag's resident Poet,  He's 2nd runner up Mr Medilag 2015 beauty pageant and a breast and cervical cancer awareness ambassador.
He has featured on several radio and tv shows and has graced several of the biggest stages in Nigeria like Word Up, Greatpath TV show, Freedom Spoke Words, Freedom Hall, Goethe Institut's A Night Of Poetry And Music, Crown Troupe of Africa 20th anniversary celebration among others.

He has featured on several blogs, websites, literary magazines and social accounts that  promote and publish poetry and spoken word. He was listed by BlackPride Magazine among the top 10 spoken word poets that rocked 2015. His poem is published in 'WIND OF CHANGE' an anthology of the Top Poems in the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST.

He performs regularly at dinners, churches, schools, conferences, art exhibitions and any other place they pay good attention. He believes Poetry can change the world, one stage/page at a time.

His works can be reached via
www.youtube.com/c/clemencygreen
@ThatPoetClem on Instagram and Twitter
Igbor Clemency Green on Facebook




DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

4days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...

TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!

Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Today, Tuesday, 11th, 2016. 11:58pm





Prestige's organization, 'The Truth', promotes poetry in schools and inculcates values and civic consciousness in young minds. He has graced poetry platforms like ' chill and relax', Metro Fm Open Mic, Bobogiri Open mic and performs at seminars, conferences, radio stations and churches. He loves poetry and spoken word art with passion.







He is a Talented Nigerian Rhymer and Singer with his Rich African vocals. One of his Inspiring Single, is titled, 'Angels in my Head.' This song unequivocally  reiterates there is no reason to accept defeat when you have Angels bringing in the inspiration your head needs, the music is sure to keep coming.You will love it.


DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

Sunday 9 October 2016

5days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...

TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!

Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Tuesday, 11th, 2016.


 
A Spoken Word Artiste, EmCee, Aspiring Graphics designer, Catholic, lover of children and food freak. Member at Express it.
Studies Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at National Open University of Nigeria.




DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

6days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...


TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!

Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Tuesday, 11th, 2016.



Joy Nnebuogo Nwanokwai aka JYC is a performance poet and a spoken word artist. She's a graduate of Criminology and security studies, she won the poetry category prize of IMAP (Illegal migration awareness project in 2013 organied by PRAWA) She's a Top 10 finalist in Eko poetry slam 2014, She's the winner of Eko poetry slam 2015, she is also one of the most outstanding participant in Street Project Foundation creative boot camp 2016,she was listed in Black Pride magazine as Top 20 poets that rocked 2015, she was also listed in the poetry court African poets encyclopaedia 2015 and 2016, she was among Top 20 notch poet in Eko theatre carnival in commemoration of crown troupe@20 2016.





DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

Friday 7 October 2016

7days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...




TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!
Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Tuesday, 11th, 2016.
His name is Ajisafe Sunday Babatunde Iyanuoluwa also know has ADO. He is an emerging Afro Hip-pop star and some of his songs are enjoying massive airplay in radio stations across Lagos state Nigeria and its environs. The determine Afro Hip-Pop who also doubles as a dancehall artiste, is taking steps to send is peaceful message to the world though is musical prowess. ADO as he is fondly called was born in Ekiti state but currently resides in Lagos state. He studied Mass
communication at olabisi onabanjo university. In a bid to launch himself into the crowded and
competitive Hip-pop scene in Nigeria. Ado has gone ahead to purse the dissemination of his own signature sound as a result of proving his hustle (Bozza) by winning a Competition in south Africa out of five country, he was among then finial top ten list and finally come first out of them.
However, He still came out with a fascinated performance at Falaburation (2014) (2015). Lagos International jazz festival Head in South African (2015)
 
The committed talented Artist has released some banging hit songs like: Onome, Shake ur Ukwu,
Do More , i swear, Loke Repete and It's Over.
DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

8days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...



TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!

Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Tuesday, 11th, 2016.



Olayinka Samson Aremu, whose energetic gestures on stage led to him being named amidst Wordy Warriors as PoeThic Samurai, has graced different stages in Nigeria.
He was a second runner-up at both Eko Poetry Slam and Abuja Poetry Slam in 2015. He started with the same feat in 2014, when he won as the second runner-up at the War of Words organised by ix2media, the producers of WordUp and WarOfWords Online slam.
Samurai is a promising Spoken Word poet to watch out for in Africa’s Poetry sphere.




DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

Wednesday 5 October 2016

9days to go BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 loading...




TWO TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR GRAB!

Win one of the tickets by submitting a poem on the theme 
BEAUTY OF WORDS
to - thepoetrycourt@gmail.com
Submissions are on!
Deadline: Tuesday, 11th, 2016.





ONWUASOANYA CHIKA JONES is an award-wining Nigerian poet, satirist, and spoken word artist. Jones was born of an Igbo father and Yoruba Mother. He is a Mechanical Engineering Graduate.
Jones has won several poetry competitions. He won the Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC, May 2015) and was the 2nd-runner up in the Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize (EOPP) 2014. He is also the winner of the ‘War of Words’ Season 2 Spoken Word Poetry Slam.
During his time as a student of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), he was the Organizer of the ‘Swords of Words’ Spoken Word poetry competition.
He reads, as much as he writes.



DATE: Sat, 15th October, 2016

TIME: RedCarpet-4pm = Main Event-5pm

VENUE: Plot 1610B, Alhaji Masha Rd, Off Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Gate fee: #500

First 5 persons to be at the venue, from 4pm - 4:15pm gets 20% discount on the tickets...


YOU CAN GET TICKET(s)
@ Navy Sailing Club, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
Or @ Season 7 Restaurant.
Or @ the event.

To also get tickets before the event date.

BANK: UBA

NAME: Osigwe Benjamin

BANK NUMBER: 2083243453

NOTE: Bring slips of your payment to the venue for confirmation.


"If you are in Lagos, and hopes to attend this event, please find out how you can get a free ticket from STEPS and STOPS"
 
For more details: 08069257714, 08176861035

Tuesday 4 October 2016

BEAUTY OF WORDS 2 - 10days left...








The Farmer’s Daughter (Poems on the Borderline) by Funke Awodiya – Review——— Akwu Sunday Victor













 (Abridged version)

The human condition is a ‘material for poetry.’ It encompasses the generality of situations that humans face in getting along with each other and the world. Poets over the years pondered upon the meaning of life and the functionality of man in creation. Although there is no consensual understanding on these issues, they have over the years been pivotal concerns of poets and poetry. The issue of human condition is brooded poetically and philosophically by the Medical Sociologist and Poet: Funke Awodiya in her thematically meaty collection of poems: The Farmer’s Daughter.
The eighty pages collection of poems contains fifty six poems. The poems are not split thematically. Encroaching further into the poetry collection, the reader encounters different kinds of poems with divergent structures and aesthetic configurations. The first poem, “My Dreams” captures a dream that was dreamt with eyes opened “my opened-eye dreams.” The poetess dreamt that her country suddenly become “a land of green moves on stream/Greener than the greener pastures I seek.” In the second stanza, her country becomes a place where there is no more “bomb phobia” and “without boko-haramic phobia.” The country is “away from the siege of bestiality.” But the dream becomes a phantom and the imagery of social advancement evinced in us crumbled like a pack of cards when in the last line of the fourth stanza the poetess says: “wake me when my dream comes true” (13).
Another human condition is painted in the poem, “Tales of Laraba.” The condition graphically painted is that of love, lost and regret. Laraba when she was a maiden was beautiful and men flocked to her “like bees beseech the flower pollen.” This makes her to “display” her “endowment” like “the peacock.” In the days of her youth, “like polished ornaments” her “dark skin glows.” But she fails to realize that time corrupts all things. However, with the passage of time, “my beauty fades like green grass at dusk.” Life itself is cyclic. Her “breasts’ turgidity wanes,” and her “skin shuns renewal regimes” (19). She becomes a social recluse and a Niobe. The poem, “Cursed be That Day,” on the other hand, depicts a woman who uses her life in social services to the extent of sacrificing it to safe mankind. Recall that in 2014, Ebola invaded Nigeria and many doctors and nurses stood up gallantly against the scythe of the ravaging virus. The battle became fierce that some doctors lost their lives and one of such was Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh. The poem itself is a eulogy of the doctor’s sacrifice to humanity. The day the virus entered the country is specifically cursed but “like a gallant soldier” the doctor “died saving lives” (20).
The poem “The Farmer’s Daughter” is a sociopolitical poem. It interrogates the present sociopolitical condition of Nigeria a country full of paradoxes: A country that is extremely endowed but the inhabitants extremely poor. The poetess sees herself as a social product but her society’s wealth floods “into the mouths of termites.” Nigerians are “robbed and starved to death” and their resources find their ways into the neocolonialist countries. Thus, the toils of the people are looted and stored in “barns overseas.” Besides that, the wealth of the country makes the neocolonial countries wealthier. Nigerians become “alms” beggars “across the seas” (40). The poem is a poem of lachrymation and disillusionment.
There are poems that have Yoruba titles these include: “Ojokoro” (31) “Sisi Alagbo” (41), “Alakada” (47), “Arewa” (54), “Oye” (55), “Iyaniwura” (58), “Adu ma dan” (60), “Olufunmilola” (76). These poems are amongst the finest in the collection. The beauty of the poems lies in their lyricism, cultural allusion, and reliance on African oral poetic tradition. The poems each has its own thematic preoccupation but remains aesthetically beautiful and thematically relevant. Some of the poems that are poignant and on the borderline between oral tradition and the modern African poetic tradition include: “Magic kitchen” (75), “Lagoon” (73), “Lagos of the borderline” (70-71), “Who shall I wear his crown” (65-6). The poem “Who shall I make wear his crown” looks at what it takes to be married to men from Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and men from Niger Delta. It is a celebration of our unity in diversity.
Funke Awodiya is a poetess that the literary world should take note of. Although this is her first collection of poems, it is clear that she has mastered the craft of versification and sublimity and the African oral tradition. In her poems, you noticed the unity of music, poetry and speech. Her social, political, cultural and aesthetic vision has not by any means been shrouded in a thick and unless labyrinth of obscure diction. The simplicity of her language is by no means element of weakness or naivety, the beauty of her poetry lies in its simplicity, lyricism and subtlety.
Her use of language is apt, poignant and self-contained but the poetess made use of some metaphors that are cliché and obsolete. The use of novel imagery in place of the ones used would have greatly enhanced the beauty and elegance of her poetry. Some of the clichés include: “like a gallant soldier” (20), “greener than greener pastures” (13), “my beauty fades like green grass” (18), “like a leper, I stay indoor” (18), “my tears flow like the Nile” (19), “a sacrificial lamb” (20), “speed of light” (22), “soar like an eagle” (29), “like a star” (60), “like an illumination” (26). The collection is well edited. However, few typographic errors stubbornly reared their heads but they do not in any way impede the joy derived from reading the collection. In deed the collection of poems, The Farmer’s Daughter (Poems on the Borderline) is a gift of jocundity to a century bedeviled by human tragedies such as religious intolerance, extremism, terrorism, bad governance and strange ailments.
Awodiya, Funke. The Farmer’s Daughter (Poems on the Borderline). Lagos: Something for Everybody Ventures, 2016.
Otukpo, Benue State
10.7.2016


Akwu Sunday Victor is a poet and foremost critic of Contemporary African writing. He holds a degree in English and Literary Studies from Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria and a postgraduate student of Literature.










On the Wings of the Wind: Poems by Akeem Lasisi










INTRO

Let me sing my widow’s mite
Into the immortal thrift
Of earlier brides

Although I may be a thin-handed child,
I have a role to play in my mother’s chores.
No matter how small the organ of the groom
He will not borrow another man’s for the midnight course.

This eve of my flight,
I wish to tour the universe on a bill of words,
Weaving weird and winsome sounds
Into one nuclear family of borderless songs.

I hook my voice
To the server of time,
Strike a bilateral chord
With unassuming angels of seasonless things.

I am in tune with some other realms
Where their nights are brighter than noons
Where autumns are cool,
Winters warmer than interior chamber of a pregnant womb.




poem: Let by osigwe Benjamin
(Organier BEAUTY OF WORDS)

(If she always wants ‘Mr right’. How e take concern you. After all, am not tired of ‘righting’ myself for her)






Let the sky break.
If it likes:
Into letters,
Carving out your name.

Let the world stop to spin
If it truly wants,
Leaving the pleasures of nature,
Out of its stagnancy.

For on the beautiful lips of nature
Shall we kiss away our worries.

Let Eagles stop to fly
If they want
But let the choristers of birds
Not leave their wings
Unattended to.

With them, they would fly up high
Composing songs of the soul.

I will chant you words
From the womb of my heart
And baptize you with
The encyclopedia in my mouth.

Let, the sun fall too
If it wants.
After all, it’s a distraction.

It brightens the sweat in my head
And make you feel
I am too scared
To torch your lips with mine.

Let churches pray against
heart failures too
I want mine to not fail
When it’s time to say “Yes I Do”
Because not marrying you
Is the illusion
I don’t want to be lost in.