By Chuka Nnabuife
FOUR years ago, a platform with a curious name, Poetry Potter, was created in Lagos for creative writers. Within a short while, young poets, playwrights, novelists and short story writers took the opportunity to launch themselves. Older ones equally gave them ample space to operate.
Folksingers, folk-dancers, artists, theatre practitioners, art promoters/managers, culture workers and arts journalists also explored the forum to display their creative ingenuity. It was a monthly outing. Despite its tag, Poetry Potter became a forum for several genres of art.
Taking stock, four years after, the organisers feel happy at the journey so far. Co-ordinator and convener, Aderemi Adegbite, chief executive of Kowry Kreations Ltd., the promoters of the initiative, remarked: “The remarkable issue about the platform which was created on January 28, 2006, is that it is wholly youth-centred and does not alienate adults who are regarded as the reservouir of wisdom from which the younger generation must drink. Today, Poetry Potter – a monthly event – has won quite the hearts of arts and literary enthusiasts.”
He describes the event, he stages regularly at the premises of the National Library, Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, Lagos, a “poetry/spoken word red carpet.”And explains the idea behind the project as motivated by a desire to make the young creative minds see windows of business opportunities in their talents.
“This in an initiative taken from the entrepreneur perspective of the creative industry, it attempts to spur the business of poetry/spoken-word in Nigeria and Africa, and as well make the genre as lucrative (business wise) as its sister genre, music. We hope, by introducing some social elements into the promotion of poetry, we will push it a bit forward from its current point. And we promise to do this consistently with integrity,” he said.
Working with this mindset, the promoters of Poetry Potter regularly imbue it with highlights that will boost the image of the artistes they showcase as they believe that the celebrity status of an artiste helps his success in the business as well as the social acceptance of his art. The result is that the function made originally, for literary works now come across as a pot-pouri of all manner of art from the verbal to the visual, the performing and the literary. Adremi noted that the regular changes aide the thrill of the event. In his view, the dynamic exploration of the ideological direction has caused the inculcation of new beats into the original Poetry Potter template.
In line with “the orgnisation’s core focus, which is “adding values to arts, and literature in Nigeria and Africa at large,” we embark on a three-months-show of poetry starting with red-carpet interviews and picture of the audience because we believe that poetry/spoken-word is in everything called entertainment. And the business aspect of this genre in the Nigerian and African oral literature (orature) is essential for its promotion and income generation too,” said the poet and art events’ manager who is still in his twenties.
He explained that dynamism is the main edge and success gimmick of their event. According to him, they decided to serve poetry alongside folktale, folklore, folksongs, rap, dance, drama and others following the discovery that poets and their audience, are generally, elitists whose tastes seldom excite the lager public hence making the art and promotion of arts not “really sell in Nigeria.”
Making the creative artiste earn more and reach more audience with his creativity is the organisational objective of the Poetry Potter project. To this effect, the organsers lure corporate venture and art-enthusiastic organisations to their fold. Their August and October 2009 events was held with the collaboration of two companies, HEV/Snap Pictures and Capricorn Tents and More.
Aderemi further informed: “In October 2009, Poetry Potter, as a moving/literary arts platform was chosen to be part of the maiden edition of the would-be yearly festival, sponsored by GTBank Plc; Produced and Directed Ben Tomoloju.
“At the GTBank Poetry Festival, Kowry Kreations Media, created the platform to discuss the theme: ‘Poetry – its genesis and future in the Nigeria literary arts scene,’ during the Poetry Potter Youth Forum segment.”
Aderemi informed that what the frontline poet, Odia Ofeimun noted during the interview session of the segment, to a large extent endorsed what they were doing. Ofeimun submitted that the only way forward for poetry was committed documentation of new works in book forms and the provision of more platforms for regular discussion of the art.
With that prompt “we decided to publish a poetry collection of Sage Has.son, which we hope, the foreword will be written by Odia Ofeimun. This, we will present during the second edition of GTBank Poetry Festival in 2010,” Aderemi said.
Monthly, Poetry Potter plays host to guest artistes. The guests are drawn from writers and arts personalities who are not mandatorily youths but professionals whose career records would inspire both young and old creative minds.
Within the past four years such personalities as Segun Adefila, the arts director and choreographer of Crown Troupe of Africa; Steve James, director of Ivory Ambassador Dance Company; actor and film maker Jude Orhorha; the poet Folu Agoi (former Chairman of Association of Nigerian Authors ANA, Lagos state chapter); and the Publisher of DADA Books, Ayodele Arigbabu who is also an author have been Poetry Potter’s guests. Also among their guests list are award-winning authors Toni Kan, Ofeimun, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, Kaine Young Agary and Jude Dibia as well as Tolu Ogunlesi.
Celibrity artistes of other genre such as Chief Yemi Adeyemi (a.k.a. Pa Suara in Super Story television serial), dance instructor Dayo Liadi of Ijodee Dance Company, painter and playwright,Mufu Onifade founder of ‘Araism’ group, the lawyer and playwright Wole Oguntokun, promoter of Theatre at Terra live drama series, celebrity athlete, Enefiok Udo-Obon (an Olympics silver medalist and author of the Silver Liner), marverick broadcast anchorman, Denrele Edun, Mirian Travis, an African-American librarian and arts enthusiast, the young poet, Sage Has.son, winner of Amstel Maltal Box Office 2 (AMBO 2) O.C. Ukeje, the African-American dancer and choreographer, Lesley Carter, singer Yinka Davis, Red Strat – organisers of The Future Awards – (Chude, Adebola and Emilia) among many others have been guests over the years.
Looking back at the four years of Poetry Potter, Aderemi deems it a big success story that has the potentials of getting bigger and better.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Poetry Potter with hardly any poetry
By Ireyimika Oyegbami
It was an eager crowd that gathered for the last Poetry Potter which held on Saturday, December 27, at its usual venue, the Rotunda Hall, National Library, Yaba, Lagos. The monthly art event was the last for 2009 and the organisers chose to celebrate this fact by tagging it ‘The Wine party'.
This probably informed the abundance of rich wines which people had brought along as requested by the organisers. It was also poet Jumoke Verrisimo's birthday; Verrisimo was all smiles as she received birthday wishes from some of those at the event.
Seun Ajayi, who emceed the event was brisk in calling performing poets to the podium; perhaps in a bid to make up for lost time as the event started an hour behind schedule.
The songs
Cornerstone, a regular, was the first to perform. Performing to the accompaniment of a properly tuned guitar, the reggae musician sang ‘Don't wanna be here again', which he composed after watching a distraught woman who had been raped during the Odi crisis narrate her ordeal at the Oputa Panel. The fact that the woman has yet to get justice informed the song. Cornerstone's second song, ‘I don't wanna wait in vain' wasn't any more cheerful, though.
Kafayat Quadri's song ‘Mo wo'oke mo wo'isale' was a lesson on being grateful despite perceived shortfalls in life. She obliged someone in the audience who asked for her ‘Wanna be free'.
Awoko, the songbird, thrilled the audience with his amazing voice and guitar. He also sang two songs, ‘Lekeleke' and ‘Oro Ife'. Chinyelo Onwubuya performed ‘Sugar' and ‘Zombies' while Bob did a spoken word performance titled ‘Revolution'.
Soyinka meets Shakespeare
Next was the cast of ‘Soyinka in the eyes of Shakespeare', a play directed by Lekan Balogun. They entertained with a juxtaposition of the major characters in Shakespeare's play ‘Macbeth' and Wole Soyinka's ‘Death and the King's Horseman'. The performance was well-staged and held the audiences' attention for well over an hour.
It was a funny moment when Lady Macbeth, who set out to seduce the King's Horseman sharply corrects his pronunciation of perfume after she is rejected by the man who responds to her amorous advances by lamenting, "If only you knew what brought me this far." Macbeth, who is held in the same mansion as the King's Horseman by the comedian, Bilkins, causes a ripple of laughter when at a point he replies, "Man is not meant to be hungry all the time", to Bilkins' admonition that man does not live by bread alone. The costumes were of the Elizabethan era. Macbeth's tormentor, Malcolm's paper dagger, somehow undermined the seriousness of the latter's supposed anger.
The crowd certainly enjoyed the performance and rewarded the cast and crew with loud ovation.
Soon after, the wine cocks popped and rich wine flowed into the cups, and with it exuberance and cheer from the lovers of poetry and art. Ade Bantu, Segun Adefila, and Kolade Arogundade, a lecturer from the University of Cape Town were some of those at the event.
It was an eager crowd that gathered for the last Poetry Potter which held on Saturday, December 27, at its usual venue, the Rotunda Hall, National Library, Yaba, Lagos. The monthly art event was the last for 2009 and the organisers chose to celebrate this fact by tagging it ‘The Wine party'.
This probably informed the abundance of rich wines which people had brought along as requested by the organisers. It was also poet Jumoke Verrisimo's birthday; Verrisimo was all smiles as she received birthday wishes from some of those at the event.
Seun Ajayi, who emceed the event was brisk in calling performing poets to the podium; perhaps in a bid to make up for lost time as the event started an hour behind schedule.
The songs
Cornerstone, a regular, was the first to perform. Performing to the accompaniment of a properly tuned guitar, the reggae musician sang ‘Don't wanna be here again', which he composed after watching a distraught woman who had been raped during the Odi crisis narrate her ordeal at the Oputa Panel. The fact that the woman has yet to get justice informed the song. Cornerstone's second song, ‘I don't wanna wait in vain' wasn't any more cheerful, though.
Kafayat Quadri's song ‘Mo wo'oke mo wo'isale' was a lesson on being grateful despite perceived shortfalls in life. She obliged someone in the audience who asked for her ‘Wanna be free'.
Awoko, the songbird, thrilled the audience with his amazing voice and guitar. He also sang two songs, ‘Lekeleke' and ‘Oro Ife'. Chinyelo Onwubuya performed ‘Sugar' and ‘Zombies' while Bob did a spoken word performance titled ‘Revolution'.
Soyinka meets Shakespeare
Next was the cast of ‘Soyinka in the eyes of Shakespeare', a play directed by Lekan Balogun. They entertained with a juxtaposition of the major characters in Shakespeare's play ‘Macbeth' and Wole Soyinka's ‘Death and the King's Horseman'. The performance was well-staged and held the audiences' attention for well over an hour.
It was a funny moment when Lady Macbeth, who set out to seduce the King's Horseman sharply corrects his pronunciation of perfume after she is rejected by the man who responds to her amorous advances by lamenting, "If only you knew what brought me this far." Macbeth, who is held in the same mansion as the King's Horseman by the comedian, Bilkins, causes a ripple of laughter when at a point he replies, "Man is not meant to be hungry all the time", to Bilkins' admonition that man does not live by bread alone. The costumes were of the Elizabethan era. Macbeth's tormentor, Malcolm's paper dagger, somehow undermined the seriousness of the latter's supposed anger.
The crowd certainly enjoyed the performance and rewarded the cast and crew with loud ovation.
Soon after, the wine cocks popped and rich wine flowed into the cups, and with it exuberance and cheer from the lovers of poetry and art. Ade Bantu, Segun Adefila, and Kolade Arogundade, a lecturer from the University of Cape Town were some of those at the event.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
From Bookaholic...
POETRY POTTER...
By Temitope Olofin
The last edition of Poetry Potter has come and gone. This was my first edition and I had a swell time for many reasons. It was a bumper package: the Potter himself (Aderemi Adegbite) was a year older; there were so many interesting people on the guest list (Terry the Rapman, the three members of the REDSTRAT team); not forgetting the beautiful renditions of the spoken word. It was indeed a beautiful symphony of words, music and stories... a real Poetry Potter.
I arrived there a little beyond schedule thanks to leaving home late and Lagos traffic, however when I entered the hall, I knew that I had not missed so much because there were less than fifteen people seated and it was obvious that the invited guests were not yet around. So I sat down and enjoyed Cornerstone’s musical performance as he sang a reggae number. As if the guests knew I was around, they arrived in minutes one by one: Terry, Adewole Ajao (winner of the AMBO 4), and the Redstrat team.
Next performance was Lanre Ari-Ajia’s poetry rendition about two things: a beautiful woman and Obama. The beauty of his poetry lies in his native Yoruba tongue and his ability to play on words through the use of pun or as the Yorubas say “oro ase”. He later rendered them in English for the non-Yoruba in the crowd to enjoy, which revealed the obvious effort to make the words rhyme. Both poems got the crowd cheering particularly the rendition in Yoruba.
Terry the Rapman was upstage next as he was locked in an interview session with the MCs. The questions bothered on his humble background in Kaduna; his musical influences; his first album called “I am Nigerian” which sounded like Eminem’s song rhythmically; the evolution, revolution and business of rap music in Nigeria, among other things. For me through this session, he showed that there is hope for qualitative music in Nigeria and that you don’t have to “belong” by being a part of the current trend of singing “jargons” that sounded alike.
Chude Jideonwu, Emilia Asimuta and Adebola Williams, the brains behind the Future awards soon took the stage. The MCs questioned again: their untold story that led to the FUTURE glory (days of pasting posters themselves, sweeping, carrying the red carpet, etc.); progress report; the significance of people to them; the dynamic nature of their challenges as the years progress. The one lesson that I picked from them was that challenges would always come and the “challenged” has to decide to use it positively because work has to get done and most times it is by you.
Next was a “musical relief” that came through a performance by Ayo, a female guitarist and singer. The title of her song was “Freedom”, and one could feel freedom around as she strummed the strings of the guitar and sang with a slightly masculine voice. She is a star to watch out for (take that from me!).
There was the last interview session with all the invited guests as they responded intelligently to questions from the audience. Whats next for them? Terry closed the session saying that he was working on a 2-in-1 album and videos; his guiding philosophy is to live life as if death was due tomorrow and plan as if he has forever to live.
There was an open mic session to round off the day; key among the performers were Brainstorm, Uche Uwadinachi, Nonnie, Jubril, Segun Eluyemi with his magical nose (Sege Black) with each of them bringing their uniqueness to each performance.
How else could I start my weekend? What else can I say?
Long live Kowry Kreations...
Long live Poetry Potter...
Long live creativity in Nigeria...
By Temitope Olofin
The last edition of Poetry Potter has come and gone. This was my first edition and I had a swell time for many reasons. It was a bumper package: the Potter himself (Aderemi Adegbite) was a year older; there were so many interesting people on the guest list (Terry the Rapman, the three members of the REDSTRAT team); not forgetting the beautiful renditions of the spoken word. It was indeed a beautiful symphony of words, music and stories... a real Poetry Potter.
I arrived there a little beyond schedule thanks to leaving home late and Lagos traffic, however when I entered the hall, I knew that I had not missed so much because there were less than fifteen people seated and it was obvious that the invited guests were not yet around. So I sat down and enjoyed Cornerstone’s musical performance as he sang a reggae number. As if the guests knew I was around, they arrived in minutes one by one: Terry, Adewole Ajao (winner of the AMBO 4), and the Redstrat team.
Next performance was Lanre Ari-Ajia’s poetry rendition about two things: a beautiful woman and Obama. The beauty of his poetry lies in his native Yoruba tongue and his ability to play on words through the use of pun or as the Yorubas say “oro ase”. He later rendered them in English for the non-Yoruba in the crowd to enjoy, which revealed the obvious effort to make the words rhyme. Both poems got the crowd cheering particularly the rendition in Yoruba.
Terry the Rapman was upstage next as he was locked in an interview session with the MCs. The questions bothered on his humble background in Kaduna; his musical influences; his first album called “I am Nigerian” which sounded like Eminem’s song rhythmically; the evolution, revolution and business of rap music in Nigeria, among other things. For me through this session, he showed that there is hope for qualitative music in Nigeria and that you don’t have to “belong” by being a part of the current trend of singing “jargons” that sounded alike.
Chude Jideonwu, Emilia Asimuta and Adebola Williams, the brains behind the Future awards soon took the stage. The MCs questioned again: their untold story that led to the FUTURE glory (days of pasting posters themselves, sweeping, carrying the red carpet, etc.); progress report; the significance of people to them; the dynamic nature of their challenges as the years progress. The one lesson that I picked from them was that challenges would always come and the “challenged” has to decide to use it positively because work has to get done and most times it is by you.
Next was a “musical relief” that came through a performance by Ayo, a female guitarist and singer. The title of her song was “Freedom”, and one could feel freedom around as she strummed the strings of the guitar and sang with a slightly masculine voice. She is a star to watch out for (take that from me!).
There was the last interview session with all the invited guests as they responded intelligently to questions from the audience. Whats next for them? Terry closed the session saying that he was working on a 2-in-1 album and videos; his guiding philosophy is to live life as if death was due tomorrow and plan as if he has forever to live.
There was an open mic session to round off the day; key among the performers were Brainstorm, Uche Uwadinachi, Nonnie, Jubril, Segun Eluyemi with his magical nose (Sege Black) with each of them bringing their uniqueness to each performance.
How else could I start my weekend? What else can I say?
Long live Kowry Kreations...
Long live Poetry Potter...
Long live creativity in Nigeria...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Comments on past editons of POETRY POTTER
By Wole Oguntokun
Rode down to the monthly Poetry Potter this Saturday. The dance/drama/performance poetry fiesta takes place at the National Library,Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. It's produced by Remi Adegbite of Kowry Kreations Media.
Special guest was Dayo Liadi (Ijo Dee), one of Nigeria's foremost dancers and whose face is easily recognizable through Infinity's Olori Oko video.The unassuming Dayo has been to more than 55 countries on dance missions. After speaking with (and questions from) the audience, he did a dance routine (top pic) for those present to Lara George's 'Ijoba Orun'.
Rode down to the monthly Poetry Potter this Saturday. The dance/drama/performance poetry fiesta takes place at the National Library,Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. It's produced by Remi Adegbite of Kowry Kreations Media.
Special guest was Dayo Liadi (Ijo Dee), one of Nigeria's foremost dancers and whose face is easily recognizable through Infinity's Olori Oko video.The unassuming Dayo has been to more than 55 countries on dance missions. After speaking with (and questions from) the audience, he did a dance routine (top pic) for those present to Lara George's 'Ijoba Orun'.
Fiction Potters come to POETRY POTTER
By Onyeka Nwelue - author of Abyssinia Boy
African literature enthusiasts always want to have some feel of the continental literary harvests, and that’s why Kowry Kreations Media keeps giving it out, every month, through their mind-blowing programme, Poetry Potter, an event that has, in the past, attracted all sorts of writers and artistes, on a podium that rightfully gives you the opportunity to listen to some of the best young musicians, strutting away on their guitars and the exhilarating young poets read aloud their poems, either backed by tracks that keep the performance glowing, or backed by the audience who keep applauding as these readings and performances take place. One can even mistake Poetry Potter for something else: a TV show, with the audience witnessing the breathtaking interview sessions that will feature the guest artiste(s) on the stage, where the audience will also have the chance to throw out questions and get brilliant answers. It’s all fun.
And just on the 27th of September, 2008, the 23rd edition of the programme took place inside Rotunda Hall of the National Library, Yaba. The guest writers were Jude Dibia, author of highly acclaimed novel, Walking with Shadows and award-winning Unbridled, which has just been shortlisted for the $50,000 NLNG Prize for Literature; then, the Guardian columnist and scriptwriter, Tosyn Bucknor, whose writings have held her audience spellbound for long. This was exactly why those who have read these two authors didn’t just sit back at home and sip on their tea-cups or go to bars to drink beers on a bright Saturday afternoon, but quietly arrived the venue, grabbing the seats and making themselves comfortable as the Master-of-Ceremony, Seun Ajayi, mounted the stage and with his lively self, he caught his audience chuckling like children at an extravagant birthday party. He was later to be joined by the beautiful and sassy Oyinda, whose appearance kept some of her admirers glued to their seats.
Cornerstone, acoustic guitar player and reggae musician enlivened the atmosphere when did a great rendition of a song which celebrates the colour of the black man. It was a heartwarming song that kept the audience in a terrific mood. Other musicians were called onto the stage to perform as well, and the young and mesmerizing poet, Esther Body-Lawson read a poem, Being Love, which the audience applauded to after her performance. They were actually awestruck, for her smartness and boldness onstage, unlike other kids who go around sowing their teenage oaths.
The glorious evening actually started when Tosyn Bucknor was called onto the stage to introduce herself. She was as lively as her columns are, and quite reserved. She called herself a ‘wordsmith’, ‘a writer in the entertainment world’, which fit her. When asked what drove her into writing, even when she graduated as a Lawyer, she said: ‘My venture into Law wasn’t out of persuasion. I wanted to read Law, that's all. Then, my venture into writing was a way to let it go, to express myself’. While growing up, she said, she always locked herself up, writing and whenever anything happened to her, an inspiration for a story sprang up. Thereafter, she was meant to talk about her organization, which was recently launched, called THESE GENES. When asked why she decided to start such organization, she rivelled the audience by saying: ‘I was born a sickle-cell. When I was growing up, I felt useless. I was always depressed and felt really suicidal. Then as I grew older, I grew out of it and now, I want to let people know that people with sickle are actually no different from YOU. You should use your body as long as you are alive’. Nice choice of words indeed. And that’s why her readers feel the need to meet her in person, which she confirmed onstage about her writing, this way: ‘Writing is a personal thing. I write like I talk. It just comes to me naturally. Well, in the past, I was always afraid to identify myself as a writer’. After a word of advice to the young people in the audience, she went on to read some parts of a writing she had done several years ago, titled, ‘Why I Don’t Want To Get Married And Have Children’. Of course, the audience agreed the writing was too emotional and real.
Then, after an interval of songs, Jude Dibia also came on stage and introduced himself, after which he read from his Note Book, as he said he had just scribbled the idea before he came, clearly defining the writer, not as a celebrity, but as a storyteller, and the storyteller as an artisan of narration. With this, he received a great applause from his teeming fans. When asked how he balances writing and work by Seun, he said he writes a lot in the morning. And about his writing he said: ‘When I write, I don’t think of my sex. I see myself as faceless, sexless’, and this, as assumed, was what gave birth to Walking with Shadows, a novel he said, was borne out of What Ifs, which he clearly explained. Well, it has been noted that the covers of his books thrill his readers, to which he said he pays rapt attention to during their designings. Jude Dibia read an excerpt from Unbridled, when the narrator of his story conceives the idea of travelling to England, after which he advised the youths to ‘stay behind in Nigeria and contribute’.
After this section, the award-winning poet, Uche Nwadinachi did one of the most charming performances that kept the audience grappling for more. Immediately after his performance, there was the section where Tosyn Bucknor and Jude Dibia went back to the stage to answer questions from the audience. Three people were singled out to question Tosyn and three, also, for Jude.
Jude Dibia was asked how the inspiration for Walking with Shadows came and if the society informs the writer. ‘The society doesn’t inform the writer’, he said, which he went on to explain and tell vividly how the inspiration for this controversial novel came. He was also asked how he was able to fix himself into the head of a woman to narrate the scintillating tale in Unbridled, which he attributed to the fact that he spoke a lot to women to understand how they talk and the online blog which he started to actually write the story, to see how well the female voice works. For Tosyn, she was asked what effort as a writer she had made to tackle the marginalization of people with sickle-cell. ‘I write to express their pains and let people know that these people with sickle-cell are really part of the world. There are lies that when you marry someone who has this blood type or other day, you certainly will have a child with sickle-cell. These are just lies. And these are the things I try writing about. To make them pretty clear’, she said.
The evening was wrapped up quite unusually. The Chief Executive Officer of Kowry Kreations Media, Aderemi Adegbite, when asked if there has been some support from corporate organizations for the continuation of this event, felt repulsed: ‘None. A few persons have supported in the past.'
Certainly, it should be assumed that Nigerians don’t believe in Nigerians.
African literature enthusiasts always want to have some feel of the continental literary harvests, and that’s why Kowry Kreations Media keeps giving it out, every month, through their mind-blowing programme, Poetry Potter, an event that has, in the past, attracted all sorts of writers and artistes, on a podium that rightfully gives you the opportunity to listen to some of the best young musicians, strutting away on their guitars and the exhilarating young poets read aloud their poems, either backed by tracks that keep the performance glowing, or backed by the audience who keep applauding as these readings and performances take place. One can even mistake Poetry Potter for something else: a TV show, with the audience witnessing the breathtaking interview sessions that will feature the guest artiste(s) on the stage, where the audience will also have the chance to throw out questions and get brilliant answers. It’s all fun.
And just on the 27th of September, 2008, the 23rd edition of the programme took place inside Rotunda Hall of the National Library, Yaba. The guest writers were Jude Dibia, author of highly acclaimed novel, Walking with Shadows and award-winning Unbridled, which has just been shortlisted for the $50,000 NLNG Prize for Literature; then, the Guardian columnist and scriptwriter, Tosyn Bucknor, whose writings have held her audience spellbound for long. This was exactly why those who have read these two authors didn’t just sit back at home and sip on their tea-cups or go to bars to drink beers on a bright Saturday afternoon, but quietly arrived the venue, grabbing the seats and making themselves comfortable as the Master-of-Ceremony, Seun Ajayi, mounted the stage and with his lively self, he caught his audience chuckling like children at an extravagant birthday party. He was later to be joined by the beautiful and sassy Oyinda, whose appearance kept some of her admirers glued to their seats.
Cornerstone, acoustic guitar player and reggae musician enlivened the atmosphere when did a great rendition of a song which celebrates the colour of the black man. It was a heartwarming song that kept the audience in a terrific mood. Other musicians were called onto the stage to perform as well, and the young and mesmerizing poet, Esther Body-Lawson read a poem, Being Love, which the audience applauded to after her performance. They were actually awestruck, for her smartness and boldness onstage, unlike other kids who go around sowing their teenage oaths.
The glorious evening actually started when Tosyn Bucknor was called onto the stage to introduce herself. She was as lively as her columns are, and quite reserved. She called herself a ‘wordsmith’, ‘a writer in the entertainment world’, which fit her. When asked what drove her into writing, even when she graduated as a Lawyer, she said: ‘My venture into Law wasn’t out of persuasion. I wanted to read Law, that's all. Then, my venture into writing was a way to let it go, to express myself’. While growing up, she said, she always locked herself up, writing and whenever anything happened to her, an inspiration for a story sprang up. Thereafter, she was meant to talk about her organization, which was recently launched, called THESE GENES. When asked why she decided to start such organization, she rivelled the audience by saying: ‘I was born a sickle-cell. When I was growing up, I felt useless. I was always depressed and felt really suicidal. Then as I grew older, I grew out of it and now, I want to let people know that people with sickle are actually no different from YOU. You should use your body as long as you are alive’. Nice choice of words indeed. And that’s why her readers feel the need to meet her in person, which she confirmed onstage about her writing, this way: ‘Writing is a personal thing. I write like I talk. It just comes to me naturally. Well, in the past, I was always afraid to identify myself as a writer’. After a word of advice to the young people in the audience, she went on to read some parts of a writing she had done several years ago, titled, ‘Why I Don’t Want To Get Married And Have Children’. Of course, the audience agreed the writing was too emotional and real.
Then, after an interval of songs, Jude Dibia also came on stage and introduced himself, after which he read from his Note Book, as he said he had just scribbled the idea before he came, clearly defining the writer, not as a celebrity, but as a storyteller, and the storyteller as an artisan of narration. With this, he received a great applause from his teeming fans. When asked how he balances writing and work by Seun, he said he writes a lot in the morning. And about his writing he said: ‘When I write, I don’t think of my sex. I see myself as faceless, sexless’, and this, as assumed, was what gave birth to Walking with Shadows, a novel he said, was borne out of What Ifs, which he clearly explained. Well, it has been noted that the covers of his books thrill his readers, to which he said he pays rapt attention to during their designings. Jude Dibia read an excerpt from Unbridled, when the narrator of his story conceives the idea of travelling to England, after which he advised the youths to ‘stay behind in Nigeria and contribute’.
After this section, the award-winning poet, Uche Nwadinachi did one of the most charming performances that kept the audience grappling for more. Immediately after his performance, there was the section where Tosyn Bucknor and Jude Dibia went back to the stage to answer questions from the audience. Three people were singled out to question Tosyn and three, also, for Jude.
Jude Dibia was asked how the inspiration for Walking with Shadows came and if the society informs the writer. ‘The society doesn’t inform the writer’, he said, which he went on to explain and tell vividly how the inspiration for this controversial novel came. He was also asked how he was able to fix himself into the head of a woman to narrate the scintillating tale in Unbridled, which he attributed to the fact that he spoke a lot to women to understand how they talk and the online blog which he started to actually write the story, to see how well the female voice works. For Tosyn, she was asked what effort as a writer she had made to tackle the marginalization of people with sickle-cell. ‘I write to express their pains and let people know that these people with sickle-cell are really part of the world. There are lies that when you marry someone who has this blood type or other day, you certainly will have a child with sickle-cell. These are just lies. And these are the things I try writing about. To make them pretty clear’, she said.
The evening was wrapped up quite unusually. The Chief Executive Officer of Kowry Kreations Media, Aderemi Adegbite, when asked if there has been some support from corporate organizations for the continuation of this event, felt repulsed: ‘None. A few persons have supported in the past.'
Certainly, it should be assumed that Nigerians don’t believe in Nigerians.
The Dome of Stones... Poetry Potter.
By IKE EGWUATU
Poetry Potter organized by Kowry Kreations Media was held at the National Library Complex at Alagomeji Yaba last Saturday.
The event was filled with brilliant poetry performances by young talented poets and creative persons who rendered musical performances and poetry recitations.
Those who performed at the event were Akinbo Cornerstone who presented the poem titled "The Black Poet". Another thrilling performance came from Goke who used the guitar to the admiration of the audience. Uche Nwadinachi, the 2006 ANA poetry winner succeeded in putting majority of the audience in a sober mood with the thought provoking poem Life and Teach. “It got me thinking” says Oyindamola Adesina the Public Relations Officer of Kowry Kreations Media.
While Adeyanju Seyi presented "Four Letter Word", Rastafarian poet and musician Conerstone raised memories of his performance at Word Slam 2 with a musical performance. Other performers at the event included a young and promising poet simply known as Esther. Her poem "Being Wise" contains precautions in life. Kenny Poet presented a poem titled "Better Half" which he dedicated to an imaginary lover. He also set the minds of his audience to the Chinua Achebe legacy by presenting a poem titled "Things Fall Apart".
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Poetry Digest Magazine Kafayat Quadri came on stage with a unique style. So relaxed, she showed to her audience the necessity in being independent and not copying another person's work. With the guitar, she presented a song Explore Me.
At the end of the poetry recitation and musical performance session, 2008 Nigeria Prize for Literature hopeful, Jude Dibia was an inspiration to the young creative people present at the event. With Tosyn Bukcnor, he answered questions from the audience on certain pressing issues concerning his person and the creativity industry. A member of the audience believed that the society informs the writer's conscience but Dibia replied “You inform your own conscience not the society.” Also, issues concerning focus writing and free writing were discussed. Tosyn Bukcnor also registered the need for writers to be independent and create their own style of writing. “I write like I talk” she said.
Speaking to National Mirror at the event, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kowry Kreation Media, Aderemi Adegbite who is also the production coordinator of Word Slam, revealed that Poetry Potter which he also produces is a celebration of African oral tradition and creativity. “It is a platform for poets, story tellers and journalists to come and express themselves at no price”. The event according to him accommodates all the genres of literature, dance and folksongs. “This is meant to revive all oral tradition, music, poetry, short stories and moonlight tales. Of course we have poetry in all stories”.
Adegbite confirmed that notable writers like Ahmed Yerima and Odia Ofeimun have taken part in the Poetry Potter but still not much attention have been given to the project and its likes. “Literary scene is so dry because people don't want to get involved or set aside money for similar programmes” Law graduate and publisher of the Poetry Digest, Rafayat Quadri revealed to National Mirror that she has not abandoned her legal profession for the creative industry. “I am still a lawyer” She has written poems but most of them are in UK anthologies while some can be sourced from magazines. The Ogun state indigene stated that she gets her inspirations from people around him and what she sees. “I am not a conventional Muslim” was the reply she gave when asked if her faith affects her literary and musical interests. She expressed her joy that the Poetry Potter gives upcoming poets the exposure and confidence they need.
Erstwhile ANA president at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Akinbo Adebunmi Adeola is of the conviction that poets teach the society. “We make the future arrive now” His poem The Black Poet shows that he who holds the word holds the world.
The event was brought to an end by a thrilling musical performance by Izone. He presented a song titled “This na my year.” His song raised the hopes of the audience on a brighter tomorrow.
To reply to this message, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1008201125359
Poetry Potter organized by Kowry Kreations Media was held at the National Library Complex at Alagomeji Yaba last Saturday.
The event was filled with brilliant poetry performances by young talented poets and creative persons who rendered musical performances and poetry recitations.
Those who performed at the event were Akinbo Cornerstone who presented the poem titled "The Black Poet". Another thrilling performance came from Goke who used the guitar to the admiration of the audience. Uche Nwadinachi, the 2006 ANA poetry winner succeeded in putting majority of the audience in a sober mood with the thought provoking poem Life and Teach. “It got me thinking” says Oyindamola Adesina the Public Relations Officer of Kowry Kreations Media.
While Adeyanju Seyi presented "Four Letter Word", Rastafarian poet and musician Conerstone raised memories of his performance at Word Slam 2 with a musical performance. Other performers at the event included a young and promising poet simply known as Esther. Her poem "Being Wise" contains precautions in life. Kenny Poet presented a poem titled "Better Half" which he dedicated to an imaginary lover. He also set the minds of his audience to the Chinua Achebe legacy by presenting a poem titled "Things Fall Apart".
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Poetry Digest Magazine Kafayat Quadri came on stage with a unique style. So relaxed, she showed to her audience the necessity in being independent and not copying another person's work. With the guitar, she presented a song Explore Me.
At the end of the poetry recitation and musical performance session, 2008 Nigeria Prize for Literature hopeful, Jude Dibia was an inspiration to the young creative people present at the event. With Tosyn Bukcnor, he answered questions from the audience on certain pressing issues concerning his person and the creativity industry. A member of the audience believed that the society informs the writer's conscience but Dibia replied “You inform your own conscience not the society.” Also, issues concerning focus writing and free writing were discussed. Tosyn Bukcnor also registered the need for writers to be independent and create their own style of writing. “I write like I talk” she said.
Speaking to National Mirror at the event, the Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kowry Kreation Media, Aderemi Adegbite who is also the production coordinator of Word Slam, revealed that Poetry Potter which he also produces is a celebration of African oral tradition and creativity. “It is a platform for poets, story tellers and journalists to come and express themselves at no price”. The event according to him accommodates all the genres of literature, dance and folksongs. “This is meant to revive all oral tradition, music, poetry, short stories and moonlight tales. Of course we have poetry in all stories”.
Adegbite confirmed that notable writers like Ahmed Yerima and Odia Ofeimun have taken part in the Poetry Potter but still not much attention have been given to the project and its likes. “Literary scene is so dry because people don't want to get involved or set aside money for similar programmes” Law graduate and publisher of the Poetry Digest, Rafayat Quadri revealed to National Mirror that she has not abandoned her legal profession for the creative industry. “I am still a lawyer” She has written poems but most of them are in UK anthologies while some can be sourced from magazines. The Ogun state indigene stated that she gets her inspirations from people around him and what she sees. “I am not a conventional Muslim” was the reply she gave when asked if her faith affects her literary and musical interests. She expressed her joy that the Poetry Potter gives upcoming poets the exposure and confidence they need.
Erstwhile ANA president at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Akinbo Adebunmi Adeola is of the conviction that poets teach the society. “We make the future arrive now” His poem The Black Poet shows that he who holds the word holds the world.
The event was brought to an end by a thrilling musical performance by Izone. He presented a song titled “This na my year.” His song raised the hopes of the audience on a brighter tomorrow.
To reply to this message, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?inbox/readmessage.php&t=1008201125359
Poetry is Life
By Ayanda Abeke
Poetry in the ancient African community is commonly seen as the basic information transmitter to educate, persuade and instruct young folk and clan-folk on what to do and what not to do. Its importance in the development and resistance of African folk against post and neo-imperialism and colonialism cannot be underestimated. The morals and ethics of Africa flow freely through its poetry. There is no way African history: heroic stories, folktales, fables and fairytales could be told devoid of poetry embellishment. A doctor of divination will never consult his oracle without some few lines of poetry and folk-medicine is never administered on patient without some lines of medicinal-poetry been rendered. In Africa of old, events were incomplete without poetry. Few of the forms of poetry include: Ekun Iyawo, Ijala, Ewi, Esa Eegu and others.
Kowry Kreations Media, a literary organization that is concerned with the revitalization and sustainability of African arts, culture and values started its itinerary with Poetry Potter. This is a platform created for poets, storytellers, folk-dancers and artists to meet, share, educate and exhibit their various creative ingenuity. And since its inception, it has been a meeting place for both creative personalities and a literate audience.
The 8th edition of this lovely event held on 30th September, 2006 turned out to be a platform for intellectual discussion on Nigeria politics with Ayo Arigbabu (the Guest Artiste of the month) and Lekan Balogun (the interviewer) at centre stage. The programme started in its usual element with poetry recitations and performances from participants. Actually, Cornerstone, the Togolese-Nigerian reggae musician opened the performance podium with one of his rebellious songs. And after some poem recitations, a child troupe led by Ester Bodylawson, dazzled the audience with a poetry performance whose theme exposed the bad deeds and high levels of corruption in the Nigerian Police Force. The thunderous applause that leapt from the audience’s hands at the conclusion of the piece not only confirmed the thematic relevance of the piece but showed confidence in the older generation’s belief that indeed the future is bright. Segun Toba known as Are (stage name), a prominent member of the organization thrilled the audience with his song titled: “Ojo maro” (let rains fall).
Afterwards, the compere in person of Lanre Ari’ajia announced the Interview Section. And he handed over to the chief interviewer, Lekan Balogun who latter called Ayo Arigbabu to the podium. Truly, this interview was the best of all since the inception of Poetry Potter, a notable personality confirmed from the audience. The Guest Artiste unfolded himself as a writer and an architect during the interview section. Although, he started as an architect, because of his passion and sound skill in drawing, he later gave it up for writing as he found writing more comfortable. Ayo was not so keen about writing for a course. Even when he sees writing for money or audience as vanity, yet he is excited about what next he would unleash on paper through his magic ink-rod. The Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Chapter: Folu Agoi enforced this point by saying that “creative writing is a personal vocation”, whilst one of the literati members of the audience said “writing in general is subjective”.
This edition of Poetry Potter is indeed one of the best as confirmed by the founder, Aderemi Adegbite, and he said that, he hoped to improve on it soon. Agbalakoko, the youngest comedian made laughter out of the audience. Awoko, a member of the Star-Mate band at the latest edition of Star-quest, lifted the spirit of the audience with his duet performed with Are.
As all forms of poetry that conform to rules and regulations filled the air, it confirmed the essence of Poetry Potter. Sincerely, poetry is the light that illuminates the heart; it radiates round the soul and is unleashed through selective words. Poetry is life. Life is poetry. Poetry is the confession of the hearts through expressive phrases, clauses, and sentences.
(c)Ayanda Abeke, 2006
Rumour Networks
Lagos.
Poetry in the ancient African community is commonly seen as the basic information transmitter to educate, persuade and instruct young folk and clan-folk on what to do and what not to do. Its importance in the development and resistance of African folk against post and neo-imperialism and colonialism cannot be underestimated. The morals and ethics of Africa flow freely through its poetry. There is no way African history: heroic stories, folktales, fables and fairytales could be told devoid of poetry embellishment. A doctor of divination will never consult his oracle without some few lines of poetry and folk-medicine is never administered on patient without some lines of medicinal-poetry been rendered. In Africa of old, events were incomplete without poetry. Few of the forms of poetry include: Ekun Iyawo, Ijala, Ewi, Esa Eegu and others.
Kowry Kreations Media, a literary organization that is concerned with the revitalization and sustainability of African arts, culture and values started its itinerary with Poetry Potter. This is a platform created for poets, storytellers, folk-dancers and artists to meet, share, educate and exhibit their various creative ingenuity. And since its inception, it has been a meeting place for both creative personalities and a literate audience.
The 8th edition of this lovely event held on 30th September, 2006 turned out to be a platform for intellectual discussion on Nigeria politics with Ayo Arigbabu (the Guest Artiste of the month) and Lekan Balogun (the interviewer) at centre stage. The programme started in its usual element with poetry recitations and performances from participants. Actually, Cornerstone, the Togolese-Nigerian reggae musician opened the performance podium with one of his rebellious songs. And after some poem recitations, a child troupe led by Ester Bodylawson, dazzled the audience with a poetry performance whose theme exposed the bad deeds and high levels of corruption in the Nigerian Police Force. The thunderous applause that leapt from the audience’s hands at the conclusion of the piece not only confirmed the thematic relevance of the piece but showed confidence in the older generation’s belief that indeed the future is bright. Segun Toba known as Are (stage name), a prominent member of the organization thrilled the audience with his song titled: “Ojo maro” (let rains fall).
Afterwards, the compere in person of Lanre Ari’ajia announced the Interview Section. And he handed over to the chief interviewer, Lekan Balogun who latter called Ayo Arigbabu to the podium. Truly, this interview was the best of all since the inception of Poetry Potter, a notable personality confirmed from the audience. The Guest Artiste unfolded himself as a writer and an architect during the interview section. Although, he started as an architect, because of his passion and sound skill in drawing, he later gave it up for writing as he found writing more comfortable. Ayo was not so keen about writing for a course. Even when he sees writing for money or audience as vanity, yet he is excited about what next he would unleash on paper through his magic ink-rod. The Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Chapter: Folu Agoi enforced this point by saying that “creative writing is a personal vocation”, whilst one of the literati members of the audience said “writing in general is subjective”.
This edition of Poetry Potter is indeed one of the best as confirmed by the founder, Aderemi Adegbite, and he said that, he hoped to improve on it soon. Agbalakoko, the youngest comedian made laughter out of the audience. Awoko, a member of the Star-Mate band at the latest edition of Star-quest, lifted the spirit of the audience with his duet performed with Are.
As all forms of poetry that conform to rules and regulations filled the air, it confirmed the essence of Poetry Potter. Sincerely, poetry is the light that illuminates the heart; it radiates round the soul and is unleashed through selective words. Poetry is life. Life is poetry. Poetry is the confession of the hearts through expressive phrases, clauses, and sentences.
(c)Ayanda Abeke, 2006
Rumour Networks
Lagos.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Poetry Potter: Literary Giant in Out Midst.
Kowry Kreations Media
…shell of creativity
…shell of creativity
Presents
“Poetry Potter”
Venue: National Library Hall, Opposite Casino Cinema, Alagome, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Date: Every last Saturday of the month (December 30th, 2006)
Time: 3 p.m. prompt. No African time, please.
Admission: Free, Free; Free!
Guest Artiste: Odia Ofeimum
The Renowned Poet.
Highlights: drama: Onileagbon Troupe,
music: Are, Awoko and Cornerstone.
Dress Code: Endeavour to come in your native attire.
R.S.V.P: Aderemi Adegbite 08035149337, Ropo Ewenla 08032311574, Lekan Balogun 08027727751
R.S.V.P: Aderemi Adegbite 08035149337, Ropo Ewenla 08032311574, Lekan Balogun 08027727751
ALL LOVERS OF LITERARY EXISTENCE ARE INVITED
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