The Arts-Muse Fair

Pic: Aminu S Muhammad Japanese language petals hover river flows and drains On the tea cup nankeen trickles cicada sings monk’s semblance rustle of trees Letter for a Kurd Roj Light cloaks the flowers in the wind, even in the silence, tell to souls it message lethargy doesn’t tell to your dragged and tomb soul on the cross of your sword ear the valley of the dead from far away in the garden, a drop after rain in the sun of your glance şev Esman, stêr, mang. Taught me: sky, star and moon the poetry shows us our illiteracy, said while seeing the stars who don’t know to read the night, couldn’t read himself sounds in the head fade away on an infinite remembrance each time clangs on an insistence to breath             sleepless do it:                         ...

Are you a student of any of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions (Universities, Colleges of Educations and Polytechnics)? Are you a Nigerian student currently studying in other parts of the world? Do you have a previously unproduced/unpublished ONE-ACT play that addresses issues of corruption and its human costs, lack of accountability and good governance, or a call to action to engender change and ethical revolution? Arojah Royal Theatre and the International Centre for Creative and Performing Arts with the support of MacArthur Foundation and the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) is pleased to announce the maiden edition of The Arojah Students' Playwriting Prize (TASPP). Interested students are hereby invited to submit entries for a chance to win N100,000 plus an opportunity to be published in an anthology of new plays.  Please study the guidelines and agreement before submitting your play in the link below: https://forms.gle/DqxtAJVkp8j6...

  BY PAUL LIAM     Teresa Oyibo Ameh also known as Aunty Talatu is fondly referred to by many as the Mother-Teresa of Nigeria, because of her charity work and girl-child empowerment programmes. A reputable writer of children’s works and author of eight (8) books, she is the author of The Torn Petal , and Founder of the Aunty Talatu Reads Foundation, which encourages reading culture in children and young adults. The Kogi State born philanthropist is also a successful Civil Servant and Board Member of FCT Basketball Association. In this interview with Paul Liam, she sheds more light on the inspiration behind her foundation and charity support for the less privilege members of the society. This interview was conducted via email.     I think my early challenges prepared me for what I do now. I can empathize because I have been there. I can relate because I know that pain   Please, could you give us a brief background to what informed the A...

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers,   Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar CFR has pledged to sponsor a 1-Month free Nupe Language e-learning class to keep participants busy as part of measures to encourage compliance with the stay-at-home order in force over COVID-19. He made the pledge in a telephone conversation with the Director, Indigenous Languages Learning Centre, (ILLEC) Adamu Idris Manarakis. Adamu Idis Manarakis Indigenous Languages Learning Centre, (ILLEC) shall commence the free NUPE LANGUAGE ONLINE BASIC STUDY for a period of one month, beginning from Friday, April 3. The Director said lectures shall last for one month only. He therefore appreciates the Etsu Nupe for his gesture in ensuring that learning in our mother tongue is safeguarded and sustained amidst the lockdown the coronavirus pandemic has wrought on parts of the world.  

Pic: Aminu S Muhammad THE RIVER SONG The river song lifts the hoarfrost off a shadow its melody bends water around jagged rocks- like boulder, like mountain, like stone, like sarsen, reach a sprightly bunch of near green shoots to let there be light and water kiss dawn, while fingers interlock to crown hope. There will be eloquent regards; where palm meets palm tracing fear that can curve a mind into something else But we will not take–up the stupidity of the broken we carry peace and truth on chapped lips forgiveness falls out of our gorges , wrapped in laughter so we do not choke here Our tongues spool into balls of fire with the message of healing. Let the river-bird cluck a new day into animation enshroud dark moons in a moment, until it bleeds peace Earth moon, erupting with elation like a new mother like morning, like song, like river, like forever. We wear our conscience on our sleeves, we are bare like truth this tune...

Owing to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Nigeria, organizers of the Tiwa N' Tiwa Street Art Festival have postponed the festival earlier scheduled to hold this month in Lagos to November 2020, when they hope that the pandemic would have been contained so all participants and guests could operate in a safe and conducive environment. Organizers said that a lthough the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has not declared the need to close public gathering, the evidence suggests that the situation has the propensity to evolve rather rapidly. Because the festival is a community event, their priority is the safety of the community, the attendees and Lagosians.   They assured that while they understand the gravity of the situation for all the artists and creatives who through the festival have found a platform to support their talents, and the businesses that participate in the festival, they are by this postponement respecting and adher...

Pic: Aminu S Muhammad BETRAYAL The heart betrays, pretends to be stoic in its unfailing rhythms, yet reduces to inchoate stutters at the smell of perfume. Alien may be signature scent, but this heart falters at the memory of how you define and own this Thiery Muggler creation. The nose is accomplice here, deciphering the scent's various components, perfume, alcohol, an 'other' smell; the indelible scent of you. the nose betrays at the aroma of food too... Afang, spliced with Cameroon pepper or Nsukka yellow, and heavy helpings of periwinkles and dry catfish, escorted with baby-bum-smooth fufu. Achi-thickened Oha, sweetened with a slight splash of mfangadusa, but no ogiri. This nose perceives you instead of Abak Atama, spread lavishly, on soft rice. All with just a bit too much salt – the way you like it. In this, the mouth is accomplice too, attempting to acquire your tastes in your absence, smiling that sardon...