Minna Book and Arts Festival Celebrates Abubakar Gimba

The Minna Book and Art Festival (MinnaBAF) which held last week in Minna, Niger state celebrated the life and writings of late writer Abubakar Gimba who passed away in February 2015.

Under a panel named “Remembering Abubakar Gimba”, panellists that included the late writer’s daughter, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar Gimba, discussed critical issues the late author treated in his books such as corruption and promotion of women rights. The uncommon humility and philanthropy of the late author as one of the greatest Nigerian novelists ever to emerge from Northern Nigeria also came under focus as participants recalled his support to people under need and patronage to the arts.

 

The 'Remembering Abubakar Gimba' panel at MinnaBAF

According to Abdullahi Ismaila and BM Dzukogi, the late novelist remains the greatest funder and motivator of the Niger state chapter of ANA. They recalled the late writer consistently funding ASCAFS, the flagship project of ANA Niger for over a decade without fail.

Dr. Wale Okediran reminisced on his working relationship with Abubakar Gimba when he served as the General Secretary of ANA while Gimba was the president. He described him as a good leader under whom his subordinates worked without duress. In tribute to the good relationship he had with late Gimba, Dr. Okediran, who is the founder of the Ebedi Writers Residency, had one of the suites in the residency named after Abubakar Gimba in addition to an ANA Prize in Short story he endowed in memory of the late Gimba.           

Aisha A. Gimba explained that the family is working with the management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria towards making effective her father’s will that gave fifty percent of the rights of his works to the University.       

 

Aisha A. Gimba (L) and Haj. Aisha A. Gimba (R), daughters of the late writer at MinnaBAF

Late Abubakar Gimba who in his lifetime led the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) as President wrote wrote sixteen books in virtually all genres except drama including Oh Uhud, Thy Haunting Spirit that he wrote while in the throes his of his terminal illness and which was published posthumously.

The fictions he wrote are Trail of Sacrifice (1985); Witnesses To Tears (1988); Innocent Victims (1988); Sunset for a Mandarin (1991); Sacred Apples (1996); and Footprints (1998).

His poetry works are Inner Rumblings (2000) and This Land of Ours (2000). There is the short story collection, A Toast in The Cemetery (2003),

His books of essays include Once Upon A Reed (1999); Letter To The Muslim Fundamentalist (2004); Why Am I Doing This? (2007); Thoughts of Yesterday, Letter to The Unborn Child, A Matter of Faith (2012); and Oh, Uhud Thy Haunting Spirit (2016).

 

Late Abubakar Gimba

All of his works come with engaging themes and a punchy style of delivery that assured him a vast, dedicated readership. A few of his books of essays such as Letter to The Unborn Child and Oh, Uhud Thy Haunting Spirit are also adorned with the delectable creative fictional craft he was known and celebrated for.