The Arts-Muse Fair

Niyi Osundare: A Literary Biography: An X-ray Book Title: Niyi Osundare: A Literary Biography Author: Sule E. Egya Publisher: SEVHAGE Publishers Pages: 334 Year: 2017 Reviewer: Paul Liam  The objective of biographical writing is to concretize the achievements of a figure considered to have excelled and attained greatness in a chosen endeavour and in life in general, and who is perceived by its author to have affected the cause of humanity. Biographies are often considered to be subjective and sycophantic in nature since its cardinal precept is to patronize, propagate and accentuate the exploits of an accomplished public figure. A literary biography therefore is an artistic reflection of the creative process and growth of a literary subject whose artistic exploits have overriding effect on literary discourses and the society at large. It is a celebration of a life of literary excellence and challenges.   Niyi Osundare: A Literary Biography by Sule E. Eg

Book : People of the City. Author : Cyprain Ekwensi Reviewer :  Nana Sule. We are first introduced to the city by Amusa Sango, a man with a flair for women, words, and music and excitement. The city takes us by the hand after that, it shows us the life of Aina, and Beatrice; women who have the city camped in their veins. It paints us life in the eyes of the affluent of the city; how they fashion the way the city progresses. It is the action of the affluent that would drive Amusa out of his home, out of a job and render him without sustenance. But his problems would first start peeking at him from the eyes of a woman, it would take the shape of an envious rival, and he would suffer on account of a woman who’s love she would rather gift him than the those who would eventually bring him down. But Amusa is made of stubborn heart, he would imagine the city as a bull, and he would take the bull by the horns, shove it aside and, march out of it. The city has no name. It

Book Title: The Snuff Snub in Sonmazhi Author: Jibrin Bala Jibrin Publisher: Image Prints Pages: 51 Year: 2017 Reviewer: Paul Liam Patriarchy and gender inequality are two subjects that continue to generate critical discourse amongst writers and literary scholars alike in literature. These concerns are not unconnected to the pivotal influence of these concepts on the larger society. It is particularly worthy of note that contemporary Northern Nigerian writers have renewed interests, perhaps with unprecedented gusto, in the thematization of these legendary subjects that have for centuries continued to shape gender discourse the world over. In Africa and elsewhere in the world, patriarchy remains the definer of ancient family value system and the precursor of gender inequality. Patriarchy privileges male children over female ones, a trend that has given birth to the erroneous logic that boys are more important than girls are. Hence, boys were given priority atte

Publisher: Vernon Press |1st edition | Published on: September 2017, Hardback | Language: English | Book length 122 | Price: $53 / €50 / £43 | 43 b&w illus | Series: Vernon Series in Anthropology | ISBN: 9781622732302 | Availability: In stock Book description The book provides readers with insights on how cultural landscapes are conceptualised under two major realms of tangible and intangible values as exemplified in this study of a rural Nupe community in central Nigeria. Equally important are the people-space and place relationship which results in a sense of place. The cultural values of communities are a product of both natural as well as the social setting which begins with the family. Accordingly, this book showcases how the concept of family structure shapes the architecture of the domestic space. Similarly, it also exemplifies how tangible and intangible cultural values are constituted within the domestic space as well as the entire cultural landscape.

Book Title: The Torn Petal Author: Teresa Oyibo Ameh Publisher: AMAB Books and Publishing Pages: 31 Year of publication: 2017 Reviewer: Paul Liam Teresa Oyibo Ameh is a famed children literature author with several titles to her name. The Torn Petal , her newest offering in that peculiar genre is a fictionalization of the dilemma of a nation at war with itself and the hopelessness of   her children caught in the theatrics of chaos, terrorism and the politics of survival. The story is set in Adamawa,North East Nigeria, the heart of Boko Haram terrorists activities. Hussaina, the sixteen years old narrator introduces us to her family at the beginning of the narration, highlighting the beauty of interfaith coexistence exemplified by her parents' marriage; her father is a dedicated christian-preacher and her mother is a devoted muslim and their family is a very happy one fuelled by love and mutual respect for humanity. Hussaina recounts her memories of the p