The Arts-Muse Fair

BY PAUL LIAM Yesterday, Wednesday the 14 th of August, 2019 at the AB Hotel hall, Ado Ekiti, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi was installed as the Grand Patron of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Ekiti State chapter The installation was part of activities of the chapter’s Annual State convention. According to the chapter, Dr. Fayemi was named the Grand Patron because he is a writer and supporter of literary development which made him deserving of the honour of serving as the Association's Grand Patron in Ekiti state. The Governor was represented at the auspicious occasion by his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi who is also a remarkable writer and civil rights advocate. She received the plaque on behalf of her husband and assured the association of her husband's continuous support to the development of literature and art in general in the state. L-R: Erelu Bisi Fayemi, ANA Ekiti chairman, Odia Ofeimun and Ahmed Maiwada The installat...

As I was making a mental note of the places to visit this Sallah holiday, it suddenly occurred to me, with a pang of guilt, that I had not visited the National Museum despite its proximity to my residence. So I planned to visit today, which I did. Having bought my N300 ticket at the reception, on whose walls were warnings to visitors that said no photographs are allowed within the gallery, I was ushered in in time to meet a guide taking the first group of visitors through the various sections of the stuffy, poorly lit gallery. You guessed right: there was no power. The guide, a middle aged, dark skinned man with bloodshot eyes that suggested a lack of adequate sleep for several days, hurriedly explained what each object meant and where it originated from. He explained with the speed of one who had done that for years to the point of cramming the details. But that was too fast for my liking. I felt it was a way of saying, “Bros, no be only N300 you pay? No waste my time...

A collaboration between the British Council’s _in Motion grant and the Prince Claus Fund Mobility Grant. The British Council, and Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development are issuing a Call for Proposals to support Mobility in and from Africa, specifically prioritising young artists and cultural practitioners from a range of African countries. This joint collaboration is intended to assist emerging practitioners from Africa in their professional growth and networking possibilities. The Mobility Fund is aimed at artists and cultural professionals from the following African countries, who are looking to strengthen their cultural practice: Botswana; Ethiopia; Ghana; Kenya; Malawi; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Sierra Leone; South Africa; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe. Eligible travel routes that would be supported include travel within the countries listed above as well as between the above listed African countrie...

Deadline: September 7, 2019 The African Writers Development Trust, in partnership with the Writers Guild Kenya, is calling for writers of African descent living in Africa, to apply for the African Writers Residency to hold in November 2019, as part of the PenPen Africa Project. The PenPen Africa project is funded by Culture at Work Africa and co-funded by the European Union. According to Anthony Onugba, the Executive Director of the African Writers Development Trust, applicants from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Congo DR, and Nigeria, are invited to apply and are required to submit a nonfiction story of not more than 1500 words on the theme, The African Identity . The fully-funded residency programme will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2019 for 21 days. Mr Onugba explained that the objectives of the African writers residency programme is to expose African writers to new cultures and encourages local content in African literature, provide tran...

Pix credit:  Aminu S Muhammad OH BELOVED Oh Beloved! Your love owns a vast abyss In my heart, It grows sturdy like a mountain of metal, Planting its roots in my veins like a tree. Oh Beloved! Your magical enchantments On my being, Weaves a cocoon of love where I hide, To ponder on the sinew of your charms that bind me to you Oh Beloved! Amidst the radiance of moon In my dreams, I see the glints of your ardent trinkets, Your luminous face beams a cascade of light. Oh Beloved! How can I portray your beauty In my poems (?) When your elegance is rare And so delicate to draw on the canvas of my heart Oh Beloved! What is this wisdom woven around you? In my garden, You walk in graceful steps like a peacock, And I see not the blossoming of the flowers but only you? ***** Ahmad Isah Sabo is a budding poet from Yobe state. His works appeared in Active Muse , Arthut and BPPC Chapbook . His poem ‘Oh Beloved’ was shortlisted for ...

DEADLINE: 14th of September, 2019. Today, the advancement of technology and the digital world is reinventing the African Culture. Terms such as Pan-Africanism, Africanism are becoming more complex to describe. African Traditions are no longer been passed down, traditional roles of men and women in society and family are changing, beliefs are more being tested by logic and sentiments of heritage are being put on the shelf. This year, for the 3rd annual Photocarrefour Exhibition, we are interested in how these changes are shaping a new identity moving forward and what traditions will be emerging in this new African identity. Photographers are invited to visually show some of these changes using their camera. To get started, here are a few photographers who have done works that reflect this thinking. • Cristina de Middel Afronaut • Andrew Esiebo Na God • Osbourne Macharia Send your works (a minimum of 3) to photocarrefour.abj@gmail.com or send to this link:...

The African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), has released the longlist of the 2019 edition of the African Writers Awards (AWA). Forty African writers from Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Cameroun made the list in the categories of Children’s literature, Flash fiction, Poetry, and Short story.   A press release by Anthony Onugba, which states that a shortlist will be published on Monday, August 26, 2019, lists the following writers on the longlist. Children’s Literature – Judged by Nahida Esmail (Tanzania) 1.       Albinism Is Not A Curse by Oroni Tendera (Kenya) 2.       Okapi Rock Ii by Allen Jo (Kenya) 3.       Kumba Wants to Skip Class by Spencer Okoroafor (Nigeria) 4.       The Lazy Vulture by Elaoje Sophie Oto (Nigeria) 5.       The Zappinator by Eme Ogbu (Nigeria) 6.       Cultura...