Spelling out in the people's language

Good morning. I have a live book review and interview today on the Igbo service of Bond FM 92.9 in Lagos. It is today, Wednesday 2pm to 3pm. Please tune in. Thanks.

She survived to tell her story!!!

"The Forest Dames” tells the story of a young girl living with her parents in the relatively calm and peaceful British colony of Nigeria. Unfortunately, this peace soon gave way and exploded into a full-blown civil war – and from that time onwards, nothing was ever the same again. -AuthorHouse UK.

Available at Silverbird Galleria bookshop, Abuja;
Quintessence, Falomo Shopping Complex, Awolowo road Ikoyi, Lagos and Debonair bookstores, Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo Yaba, Lagos. Also at Booksellers shops (opposite Biobak), Garki 2, Abuja; and Pen and pages, Wuse 2 Abuja. Also at amazon.com/theforestdames, Barnes and Noble, AuthorHouse and other online marketers.

http://amazon.com/theforestdames

Father of African Literature

UGANDA Celebrates Chinua achebe at varsity symposium; sets up Prize in his honour

Feminist or not Feminist?

I stumbled on one Rowland Emeka's post featuring a u-tube message from young rave of an author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and after watching the feature, could not hold back comments. I do not know how to hoard compliments. This is what I said:

 Chimamanda has not only melted my heart, she has stolen it as well. Hear the eloquent young lady: "Culture does not make man, man makes culture... Yes I am a feminist." Wow! Go baby, go baby, go! Everybody should listen to her recent speech and by the way, thanks to whoever posted it. All what she said there, I had cried myself hoarse about and in an office as a gender specialist, some called for my head. I had written everything in my first book "Bow You Must" and I know some journalists who almost fought with me for my views in that book, published in 1999. Chimamanda, what impact! I look forward to giving you a huge hug. You deserve more, nwa. Cheers!

My reaction on the death of Professor Chinua Achebe.

Oh my God. What a pity ! What a loss! A mighty tree has fallen! No wonder the bible says everything is vanity upon vanity. May he journey safely and rest in peace at his destination, Amen!

Achebe was the undisputed father of African literature. His over 50 year old work “Things Fall Apart” became the most popular literary piece written by an African. It has been translated into several languages. This is because his works are penetrable. His works can be read with delight and they flow, That must be one of the reasons his works are so much talked about. We are trying to follow his foot steps.

As the father of African literature, authors like us are his literary offspring and feel pained at his demise.  I, in particular, was present at the Achebe Foundation  colloquium in Providence Rhode Island  that took place in December 2012 and graced by notable speakers, including governor Fashola of Lagos state.   I saw him in his wheel chair looking very frail. Even though he was on a wheel chair, he towered above all else. He did not utter a word, perhaps due to his failing health but his silence was more than eloquent. I presented a copy of my book “The Forest Dames” to him. He was the cynosure of all eyes. Pity he is no longer.

Quite a number of us wrote about the Nigeria – Biafra civil war. We were speculating on how to present our works, we were  treading with caution but this father of African literature pushed across his latest no holds barred book on the war, “There was a Country”,  and that smoked us out of our hiding places.  Chinua Achebe has given us voice and muscle to speak out about what happened during that war, because they happened. For instance, as a mere girl, I and three other girls were tucked away in the evil forest because the invading soldiers wanted us very badly. Two mothers vowed that their girls would never belong to the soldiers. They found a ‘safe haven’  for their daughters – the evil forest. It happened and the world must know about it. It is all in “The Forest Dames”. Chinua Achebe took the lead and we followed.

“There was a Country” is like a gift to humanity, it is Chinua Achebe’s  Nunc Dimittis – “Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation which...

Adieu Professor Chinua Achebe!

Adieu father of African literature!

Adieu Okosisi!

AdaOkere Agbasimalo.

Adieu father of African literature!!!

Adieu father of African literature!!!


Funeral song for late Prof. Chinua Achebe: It says that the good ones are exhausted.

Nde nma agwula n’uwa
... Nde nma agwula
... Nde nma agwula n’uwa
Nde nma agwula
Ebe nwanne anyi rahuru n’ onwu
Nde nma agwula
Ebe nwanne anyi rahuru n’igbe
Nde nma agwuchana kpam kpam

Culled from "The Forest Dames"

Give Thanks, for you are alive; you survived!

“I’m sorry Mrs. Ejema, we did our best for Sunday but he just did not make it.”

Dr. Harrison said softly to Julie who rose up and flung herself on the ground and fainted. She did not need any interpreter to tell what message Harrison was conveying. She had lost the equanimity provided by the belief in fate and providence. Who would blame her? Sunday was her only son and she really had expected him back.