The Arts-Muse Fair

Eriata Oribhabor (Di Poet), President of Poets in Nigeria (PIN) this morning in Lagos, would unveil three new poetry books at the Virgin Rose Resorts Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The three books entitled; Walking Truths, That Beautiful Picture , and Colours and Borders contain over 400 poems inspired by his thoughts and experiences from 2015. Eriata Oribhabor The book unveiling event which will start from 11:30am has Mr. Modecai B.D. Ladan (Fmr. Director of DPR) as the chairman while the Acting Director of DPR, Alh. Ahmad R. Shakur would serve as the Chief host and Book Unveiler. The books would be reviewed at the event by Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom with music by Hon. Kutcheti (Africa’s Don Williams)

BY ABUBAKAR AKOTE Professor of Oral and Comparative Literature, and the Dean, Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Prof. Apegba Ker, has advocated for the deployment of oral literature in addressing the conflict bedeviling Nigeria and other African societies floating on destructive waters. Delivering the 14th inaugural lecture of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, last weekend, entitled “ The Dynamics of Change: The Oral Artist and the Survival/Preservation of the Form” Prof. Ker posited that aside the entertainment role of oral literature, the lessons embedded in traditional songs and stories have made them a viable tool for conflict resolution and prevention. According to him, as Nigeria and some other African countries continue to grapple with communal conflicts and violence, oral literature is a passable route to follow in promoting peace and progress of humanity. He noted that “through ora

The Praxis Magazine Online hangout, themed around mental health had a record attendance that provided a space and voice to issues of mental health in our communities. The Guest Speaker, Dr. Mustapha Ibrahim Gudaji, whose vast knowledge on psychiatry and drug abuse, enabled him provide a better understanding of mental illnesses from a medical perspective, discussed depression, suicide, post-partum depression and misconceptions like the attribution of mental illnesses to lack of spirituality. He also spoke about the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano, and its’ vigorous fight towards demystifying mental illnesses. He urged everyone to treat people with mental health challenges as they would any human, and to help reduce the stigma placed around seeking help for mental illnesses. The hangout which held between 2pm to 5pm Nigerian time, at the American Space, Murtala Muhammad Library, Ahmadu Bello way, Nasarawa, Kano, drew the likes of Hajiya Balaraba Ramat (Writer/ Film P

Poets in Nigeria (PIN) has announced Ogugua Micah Okoye, Okpara Ugochukwu Damian and Ehi-Kowochio Ogwiji as winners of the fourth edition of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP) at an awards ceremony which held on Saturday 6th July at Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, Moderator of NSPP 2019 explained in a statement that closing the submissions on 18th March, 2019, the Prize received 504 poems from students representing 96 tertiary institutions including Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Schools of Nursing and Seminary Schools. Ogugua, a 300-level student of Applied Biochemistry, Enugu State University of Science and Technology clinched the first prize with his poem entitled “Micah” while Okpara, a 400-level student of Anatomy, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli came 2nd with his poem entitled “Suicide Warning Signs”. “An Artefact of a Groin War” authored by Ogwiji, a 500-

The Praxis hangout, a physical event where creative people get together to discuss topical issues and find actionable solutions to problems will berth in Kano on Saturday, the 20th of July, 2019. Organized by Praxis Magazine Online, in collaboration with Box Office Studios and Poetry for Change, the event which would mark the first Praxis hangout in Kano, will hold at the American Space, Murtala Muhammad Library.   Since October 2018, the theme of Praxis hangouts has been on Mental Health. So far, five editions have held in Durban, South Africa, Abuja and Kaduna where survivors and experts of mental illnesses were brought together to discuss and demystify mental illness. The Kano hangout will have Dr. Mustapha Ibrahim Gudaji, an Honorary Consultant Special Grade 1 as guest speaker. He is also a Senior Lecturer, and Former head of Psychiatry, Head of Unit Drug Abuse treatment, Education and Research Examiner, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. C

We are pleased to welcome the trio of Nana Sule, Paul Liam, and Hajara Wodu into  The Arts-Muse Fair  family. They are bringing into the team their beautiful creativity, awesome versatility and amazing energy that have consistently marked out their individual writings which span the genres of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Nana Sule Nana Sule   joins The Arts-Muse Fair as Associate Editor. She will work directly with the  Founding Editor  to curate engaging Africa-themed literature and arts contents which the site is famed for.  Nana Sule holds a B.Tech in Estate Management and Valuation, and is the Author of A New Name . She is the Co-Founder, Young People for African Development- YPAD and a 2018 Ebedi Fellow. She is also a member of Regional Centre for Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development- RCE Minna. She has published a number of short stories on literary blogs, and has organised/moderated many readings, literary  and environmental eve

Poets in Nigeria (PIN) has released the shortlist of the fourth edition of the Nigerian Students Poetry Prize (NSPP). A statement from Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, Moderator of NSPP 2019 explained that a 5-man judging panel including Professor Al-Bishak, Professor Hulya N. Yilmaz, Dr. Obari Gomba, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson and Gbenga Adesina reviewed 504 entries for the selection of top 10 poems as the shortlist. The shortlisted poems are as follows:    • AN ARTEFACT OF A GROIN WAR | Ehi-kowochio Ogwiji (University of Ibadan) • THE LAST DINNER (The Lost Piece of a Broken little girl) | Anuoluwa Olusegun Soneye (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) • THE VISIT | Ibelachi Franklyn Chinedu (Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli) • MICAH | Ogugua Micah Okoye (Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu) • WAILING MOTHER | Oghenetega praise Offideh (University of Benin) • AFRICA: A COMPENDIUM OF AFFLICTIONS | Hussani Abdulrahim (Usmanu Danfodio Univers

HIASFEST, a schools Arts Festival opens in Minna, Niger state, Nigeria today. The 3-day Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (HIASFEST) would see secondary school students from across Niger state converging on the Idris Legbo Kutigi International conference Centre to express their creativity and compete for prizes in singing, painting, poetry, spoken word, short story, cultural dance, craft, and quiz.  Winners will also be awarded tuition scholarships for undergraduate studies A photography exhibition themed ' when the sky paints ', by Nathan Galadima would feature on Saturday, 15 June, the closing day of the festival.  Late Haj. Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Named in memory of late Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu, the festival is organized by the Hill-top Creative Arts Foundation and sponsored by Alh. Bala Abdullahi Kwatu. Alh. Bala Abdullahi Kwatu, sponsor of HIASFEST

Friday June 6, 2019, Masobe Books, a new Nigerian publishing company formally announced the official launch of its business activities. Operating from Lagos,  Masobe Books prides itself as ‘a labour of love for Nigerian literature’. It dreams to support writers, significantly improve readership, and tackle and surmount the typical challenges in Nigerian literature which include poor distribution and marketing; mediocre production, and writers’ disillusionment with securing commensurate publication, reward, and exposure for their work. “As a writer and an avid reader, I have experienced these challenges personally,” says, Othuke Ominiabohs, Founder of Masobe Books. “So, I and a dedicated team of like-minded people decided to do something about them. We created Masobe Books, which is a platform to protect, project and promote our literature. We like to think of Masobe Books as a family. We believe that together as a collective — writers, readers, and publisher — we can surmo

The African Writers Development Trust has announced Speakers for the 2019 African Writers Conference. The African Writers Conference this year will focus on Cultural Stereotypes in African Literature: Rewriting the Narratives for the 21st Century Reader. This conference will hold on 28th September at the Sarit Centre, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. A statement from Namse Udosen, Public Relations Manager of AWDT lists the 5 speakers from 4 African countries as Sabah Carrim (Mauritius), Nnane Ntube (Cameroun), Nabilah Usman (Nigeria), Alex Nderitu (Kenya), and Tom Odhiambo (Kenya). Sabah Carrim (Mauritius) – Keynote Speaker   Sabah is a Mauritian novelist with two novels: Humeirah (2012) and Semi-Apes (2015). Both stories are set in Mauritius where she was born. Sabah's short stories have been selected for publication in writing competitions organised by the Commonwealth Foundation and Goethe Institute South Africa. ​ Sabah is also a law lecturer and a freelance editor

Yesterday Friday, a photography competition for secondary schools in Niger state opened in Minna. Some of the contestants The contest, which will end today, is organized by the Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation - Minna, and sponsored by Mr. AbdulBerqy Ebbo, the D.G – ICT of Niger state. Some students getting ready for the contest The contest requires participants to creatively take outdoor shots of given locations in a specified period and submit both soft and hard copies for assessment. All photos entered for the competition will be exhibited before winners are announced.     Some participating students Prizes for winners of the contest include Nikon D80 plus N50,000 cash for the first prize winner, N70,000 cash for the second prize winner, and N50,000 cash for the third place winner. BM Dzukogi, Founder - Hilltop Arts Foundation At a brief opening ceremony held at the Foundation’s headquarters located at Hilltop School Minna, the Founder, BM Dzukogi said

The Praxis Magazine online Hangout event held in Nigeria since three years now is set to debut in Durban, South Africa next week.  The inaugural Praxis Hangout, Durban, will be an intimate event in support of World Mental Health. The gathering aims to open up conversation about mental health challenges in the lives of creatives.  The Durban Hangout is a collaboration between @ukzn, Sadag and Praxis Magazine.  Guest speakers at the Durban event will include clinical psychologist Mr. Suntosh Pillay and senior clinical psychologist and arts enthusiast Dr. Thirusha Naidu. Guests are also invited to share their stories, as well as display their creative works, books, chapbooks, art work for sell during the networking section of the event.  Details   Date: Wednesday, 10 October 2018 Time: 10.30am to approx 12.30pm. Venue: University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College Centre for Creative Arts Boardroom Enquiries and rsvp: to Shannon Hopkins at  shannon.hopki

Shortlists for the various categories of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) 2018 Literary Prizes have been released. ANA gives out various categories of prizes to winning writers at its annual conventions. The shortlists were released by the panel of judges comprising Prof Nelson Fashina of University of Ibadan, Prof. Effiong Johnson, University of Uyo and Ismaila Bala Garba of Bayero University, Kano. Other members were Dr Owojecho Omoha of University of Abuja, Prof. G. M. T. Emezue of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo. Denja Abdullahi, ANA President The shortlisted authors and titles of their books are: ANA PROSE FICTION PRIZE The Beginning of Everything Colourful by Onyeka Nwelue Hang No Clothes Here by Bolaji Olatunde The Longest Trial by Uchenna Eze Absolution by Oreva Ode-Irri The Return of Half-Something by Chukwudi Eze    ANA DRAMA PRIZE Teeth set on Edge  by Akin Bello Brother by Acha