The Arts-Muse Fair

Every generation of Nigerian poets has defined and conceptualized the ideological premise of its writings: from the oral opulence of Gabriel Okara’s generation to the Wole Soyinka-Christopher Okigbo's cultural consciousness and the demystification of colonial narratives of subjugation, to the Osundare-Ofeimum's social-marxist panegyrics of the dignity of the masses in a dystopian society, to the anti-despotic dirges or protest poetics of the military era, succinctly represents their distinct ideological forte. The older generation of writers conceived the functionality of literature beyond the aesthetics, of course, this doesn’t imply that aestheticism was relegated to background; they were able to consciously merged the two together, beauty and meaning. They instituted a leitmotif from one generation to another, reminiscent of the traditions of western literature: from the classical age, renaissance to the romantic and modernist periods respectively. These ideolog

Book : From Caves of Rotten Teeth Author : A. Igoni Barrett Publisher : Daylight Media Ltd. 2005 Reviewer : Nana Sule From Caves of Rotten Teeth (Short Stories) There are fourteen stories in this book. What each story does is not to immerse the reader in a world where he is marveled by some artistry, but to help the reader recognize their self in them. The stories explore adultery, unemployment, poverty, violence and the everyday circumstances that can arise from living in Nigeria at this time. Although set in 2005, these stories are more a reflection of how sadly, as a nation, the country is still flying on sore wings. While each story is written with careful narration, simple sentences and matching metaphors, Th ey would be Swine is the one that hits home. Never had the Nigerian Police checkpoints and the simple waste of time and domineering nature of armed men been better portrayed. There, in that one narration, lay the summation of all that is w

Book : No Longer at Ease Author : Chinua Achebe Reviewer : Nana Sule If you were among the many that wondered what became of Okonkwo’s family after he hung himself in Things Fall Apart, then wonder no more. And no, this is no longer about sacrificing an adopted son, evil forests, wrestling, wars and conquering villages, it is about a time from a bit more present. The descendants of the great Okonkwo find themselves as a devoted Christian father and a well-learned son. Obi Okonkwo is the name of the grandchild of the late Okonkwo of Umuofia. He is the first person from Umuofia to cross the seas of Nigeria into the great England. Sent from a loan contribution by all the households in Umuofia to study law, Obi returns to Nigeria, an English graduate and in love with an Osu . Although the people of Umuofia are ready to condone the change of profession, and even give him all the time in the world to repay the loan, what they would not condone, is an outcast, marrying

This is a book you read and savour the richness of the poet’s skilful integration of poetics over and over, poured onto the white pages. The poems are segmented into three sections; The "Images of Memory", "Crossing", and "A Fictional of Farewell". Part One offers normal life occurrences as such while reading one feels the spirited feel of the poems. In Part Two, one is brought into a state of introspection considering the compartments of life's twists and turns. Lastly, Part Three shows the poets personal self realization. So, "A Fictional of Farewell" takes off the veil of convenience for the subject, treading through routes that shapes his/her values and resilience. Discoveries are made and identify affirmed. Love conquering all.  Part One, "Images of Memory", takes one into the everyday happenings of life. The first poem in this section, "Flight", simply conjures the scenario of a traveler in the plane, yet

BOOK: Easy Motion Tourist. AUTHOR: Leye Adenle PUBLISHER: Cassava Republic REVIEWER : Nana Sule “ In the open gutter by the road, flourishing with wild vegetation and an assortment of discarded plastic bags, lay the body of a girl ” What Guy Collins, a British journalist would find on his second night in Lagos, Nigeria, would be the body of a young girl, devoid of its breasts. He would have originally come to cover the presidential elections for his news line. He would have fought amongst his colleagues to be in Nigeria, only so he could return to Mel - his ex . To tell her how Nigerian he could be, and how she needed to take him back for he understood her people. But he would get arrested by the Nigerian Police, he would almost sleep in a Nigerian cell, and he would meet the beautiful Amaka. And Amaka would steer him in another direction. “I work for a charity. We work with prostitutes. We give them counselling, financial support, shelter if they nee

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