Date: 25 February 2012
In a statement released yesterday by Mr. Wole Adedoyin, the National President of the Society stated that the Society is now planning to organize another great literary event in honour of the great author, D.O Fagunwa. The programme is tagged “Fagunwa Night”. Fagunwa’s Night
promises to be an avenue of promoting Yoruba culture and literature. Important personalities in Yoruba Literature that will grace the occasion include Prof. Akinwunmi Isola, Alagba Adebayo Faleti, Alagba Tunbosun Oladapo, Prof. Remi Raji, Dr. Remi Adedokun, Dr. Wale Okediran, Alagba Supo Kosemani, Dr. Bayo Adebowale and Prof. Wande Abimbola.
Young writers using Yoruba Language to write are invited to read from their works or those of other writers. Using Yoruba language to write among youths has become a taboo which every individual youth fear not to commit. Youths are no more having any pride in using their
indigenous languages to communicate or express their views and opinions in a written format because they are fearing not to be called an illiterate or win an international laurel through the medium or be ridiculed among their mates. They have forgotten the fact that they are to exhibit their culture, traditions, values and norms to their neighbors and foreigners as Achebe, Soyinka, Amos Tutuola, Labo Yari, Ben Okri, Sefi Atta and Chimamanda have done through their works.
Those young writers writing historical plays or works using English Language sometimes failed to conduct adequate research about what they are writing because they don’t understand the foundation or basics of such language, the origin of the tribe itself and the flowery elements
in the language of such tribe.
Upcoming and talented young writers who have developed or want to develop writing in indigenous languages should consult the works of the following people, Pita Nwana from the East, Abubakar Imam from the North, Daniel Orowale Fagunwa from the West on how they can write
world acclaimed works using their indigenous languages.
The programme is scheduled to take place on February 25, 2012 at Amphi Theatre, by Main Gate, U.I, Ibadan.
It is very sad and discouraging that the Association of Nigerian Authors as big as they are do not have prizes for writers writing in indigenous languages especially Yoruba Language. Even moreso, the attitude of Egbe Akomolede Yoruba towards upcoming Yoruba Writers is not in the least encouraging, and hence the clarion call for them to rise up to the occasion.
The Society is embarking on projects that will motivate and encourage young Nigerian writers to continue writing using their precious indigenous languages.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For inquiries: societyofyoungnigerianwriters@gmail.com
For submissions: societyofyoungnigerianwriters@gmail.com
Website: http://www.societyforyoungwriters.webs.com/