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  • Six Books Shortlisted for 2011 Edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature

    Six Books Shortlisted for 2011 Edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature

    The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature today approved an initial shortlist of six out of the 126 books submitted for the 2011 edition of the prize.

    The list parades well-known writers of children’s literature like Uche Peter Umez winner of the 2006 Commonwealth Short Story Prize and runner-up for the 2007 The Nigeria Prize for Literature with his book The Runaway Hero; Philip Begho, author of over 70 books and two-time contender for The Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2004 and 2010 with his Aunty Felicia Goes to School; Ayodele Olofintuade, with Eno’s Story; Chinyere Obi-Obasi, with The Great Fall, Mai Nasara with The Missing Clock. Thelma Nwokeji,’ a new writer, also made the list with her debut, Red Nest.

    The list was presented after two months of intensive scrutiny by the chairman of the panel of judges for this year’s prize, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, a professor of English, University of Lagos and past co-winner of the prize. Other members of the panel are Prof. Lekan Oyegoke of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Prof. Yakubu Nasidi of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. David Ker, Vice Chancellor The Catholic University of Nigeria, Obehi, Abia State and Prof. Ini-Obong Uko, Department of English, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    The Advisory Board was represented by its chairman Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo and Dr. Jerry Agada, President of the Association of Nigerian Authors. This standard this year, even more than other years, is uncompromising. Even though Nigerian writers from all over the world submitted entries for the prize, the six authors on parade are all home-based. Although the contending books are overwhelmingly for the 7-12 age range, rather than the teen or 'crossover' books that sometimes pass for children's books, they did not shy away from tackling gritty or difficult subjects. They are also books that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. Although The Nigeria Prize for Literature has been withheld two times in the past when no book was considered suitable, the judges are always open-handed with praise and acclaim when necessary.

    The children’s literature prize does not favour any genre- prose, poetry or drama; only good writing is rewarded. The prize sifts the huge array of children’s books which come out every four years, short listing only the mind-snaring originals. Professor Akachi-Ezeigbo said the judges were particularly careful to avoid poorly edited books, books with low moral thresholds, junk reads, thrillers or books which can be read on auto-pilot. The emphasis is on good books that stay with you long past the point at which you put them down, she said.

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara, founding father of modern Nigerian poetry, revered octogenarian Mabel Segun for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Ahmed Yerima, for his classic, Hard Ground, and Esiaba Irobi who posthumously clinched the prize, last year, with his book Cemetery Road.

    Professor Banjo thanked the judges urging them to ensure

    that only entries that meet a very high standard of excellence were rewarded. He said a second shortlist of three books will be announced in September and a winner, if any, in October. The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. The 2011 prize goes to children’s literature. This year’s prize has a cash value of USD $100, 000 (One hundred thousand United States Dollars).

    Contact Information:

    Website: http://www.nlng.com

  • NLNG Prize for Literature 2012 (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 30 March 2012

    Entries are hereby invited for The Nigeria Prize for Literature. The yearly literary prize is endowed by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to honour the author of the best book by a Nigerian within the last four years.

    The prize will rotate amongst four literary genres – prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year, the competition is for Prose Fiction.

    The competition is open only to published works by Nigerian writers irrespective of place of residence. It carries a prize of $100,000. Two other writers may also be accorded honourable mention.

    Submission Procedure

    Six copies of the entry together with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National Identity Card) may be submitted either by authors or publishers, in accordance with the genre in competition.

    Books should be submitted to Nigeria LNG Limited’s External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline. Failure to meet the stated conditions will lead to disqualification of the entry.

    This being an annual prize, the date of publication on the works submitted must be within the previous three years. Complete contact information, including full postal address and/or email and evidence of Nigerian citizenship, should accompany each submission.

    An author in any competition will enter only one published work. Manuscripts will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be resubmitted at a later date, even if major revisions have been made or a new edition published.

    The prize will be awarded for no other reason than excellence.

    Judges for 2012 competition

    Prof. Abiola Irele – Chairperson
    Prof. JOJ Nwachukwu-Agbada – Member
    Prof. Sophia Ogwude – Member
    Prof. Angela Miri – Member
    Prof. Oyeniyi Okuneye – Member

    Calendar for Prize Administration

    Close of entries (deadline) – March 30, 2012. Late entries will not be entertained.

    All entries should be sent to:

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature
    External Relations Division
    Nigeria LNG Limited
    Intels Aba Road Estate
    KM 16 Aba Expressway
    Port Harcourt, Rivers State
    Nigeria

    For entries outside Nigeria:

    The Nigeria Prize for Literature
    External Relations Division
    Heron House,
    10 Dean Farrar Street
    London
    SW1H oDX

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For submissions: The Nigeria Prize for Literature. External Relations Division. Nigeria LNG Limited. Intels Aba Road Estate. KM 16 Aba Expressway. Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Nigeria

    Website: http://www.nlng.com

  • Committee for Relevant Art Book Party (Nigeria)

    Date: 14 August 2011

    The yearly CORA BOOK PARTY, started three years ago by the Committee for Relevant Art, CORA to honour those who make the Shortlist of the prestigious $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, NPL, holds on SUNDAY, August 14 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    A statement from the CORA secretariat, says, "The objective of the Book Party as manifested in the past two editions is to ensure that we bring the Shortlisted writers and books of the Nigeria Literature Prize face-to-face with the Literary audiences, so that we could create conversations around the work and the author".

    It continues; "That way, we believe that we would be contributing to making the Shortlisted work and its author known to the members of the public -- long before the final winner is announced in September.

    "Our conviction is that being on the Shortlist is already a certification that the Writer with his work is one of the very best; and as such a Winner even at this stage of the competition".

    The shortlisted books and authors for the 2011 Prize focussing on Children Literature, are:

    • The Runaway Hero by Uche Peter Umez;
    • Aunty Felicia Goes to School by Philip Begho;
    • Eno’s Story by Ayodele Olofintuade,
    • The Great Fall by Chinyere Obi-Obasi,
    • The Missing Clock by Mai Nasara;
    • Red Nest by Thelma Nwokeji,’

    The panel of judges for this year’s prize chaired by Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, a professor of English, University of Lagos and past co-winner of the prize, also include, Prof. Lekan Oyegoke of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State; Prof. Yakubu Nasidi of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Prof. David Ker, Vice Chancellor The Catholic University of Nigeria, Obehi, Abia State; and Prof. Ini-Obong Uko, Department of English, University of Uyo, Cross River State.

    The CORA BOOK PARTY hold thus:

    DATE: AUGUST 14, 2011
    TIME: 2pm - 6pm
    VENUE: EKO HOTEL & SUITES, LAGOS

    The event will feature:

    • READING from the individual work
    • REVIEWING the individual work
    • DISCUSSING the individual work by both adults and children audiences
    • PERFORMING EXCERPTS from the individual work (tentative)
    • CELEBRATING the authors on the shortlist.
    CREATING Media interaction with the Shortlisted writers

    ABOUT CORA:

    CORA, the Cultural 'Landscapists' was founded in June 1991 with the MISSION to create an enabling environment for the flourishing of the contemporary arts of Nigeria and to increase human capacity of the continent. VISION is to make Culture the Prime Investment Destination for the Country and the Continent by 2018.

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: call 00234 (1) 6653587

    Website: http://www.coraartfoundation.org/

  • 5 Writers, 1 Evening: Jalaa Writers Reading at the Freedom Park (Nigeria)

    Date: 13 August 2011

    You've read their interviews; you've read their book excerpts; you've read the book reviews; you've joined the Jalaa Facebook Page. Now, is the time for a book reading with the Jalaa Writers Collective as they read from their works; address questions about publishing in Nigeria and what a Writers' Collective may offer, what Jalaa Writers Collective offers. So, here's your chance to meet 5 Jalaa Writers in one place at the same time, real life not online.

    Time: 3pm-6pm

    Venue: Freedom Park, Broad Street, Opposite General Hospital

    Readings by:

    A. Igoni Barrett, one-time editor of Farafina Magazine is the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His first book, the story collection "From Caves of Rotten Teeth", was published in 2005 in Nigeria. His second story collection is forthcoming from Graywolf Press in 2013.

    Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a lecturer, writer, novelist, critic, essayist, journalist, and administrator. She has written over twenty books in various genres. Her latest work "Roses and Bullets", published by Jalaa Writers’ Collective is about the Nigerian Civil War. The former winner of the NLNG Prize for Literature, the biggest prize for literature in Nigeria, heads the Prize’s panel of judges this year.

    Jude Dibia is the author of "Walking With Shadows"," Unbridled" (winner of the 2007 NDDC/ANA sponsored Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize for Prose and finalist in the 2007 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature) and the newest, "Blackbird".

    Odili Ujubuonu is the award winning author of Pregnancy of the Gods (Winner, 2006 ANA/Jacaranda Prize for Prose), Treasure in the Winds (winner, 2008 ANA/Chevron Prize on Environmental Issues) and the newest, "Pride of the Spider Clan."

    Uche Peter Umez is one of the 24 winners of the 2006 & 2008 Commonwealth Short Story Competition. He is also the winner of the 2006 ANA/Funtime Prize for Children's Literature for his unpublished novel," Sam and the Wallet", as well as the 2008 edition with his "The Christmas Gift". His latest children's book "The Runaway Hero" is on the NLNG Prize shortlist for 2011.

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: jalaa.writers@gmail.com

    Website: http://www.jalaawriters.com/

  • 1st Saraba Writing Workshop (Nigeria)

    1st Saraba Writing Workshop (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 23 May 2011

    We are pleased to inform you that our first writing workshop would hold between 26 to 28 May 2011 in Obafemi Awolowo Uinversity, Ile-Ife. The venue for the workshop is the Natural History Museum, which has been described as the most beautiful building in Africa’s most beautiful campus.

    This workshop is not designed for established writers – or writers with a book ready for publishers. It is designed for young people (and old?) who think they are talented, or have been told so. More importantly, it is designed for those who want to horn their talent into a craft, who wish to think of their writing as a carpenter thinks of furniture.

    The Workshop is divided into General Sessions and Genre-based Sessions. General Sessions is to focus on the general creative life, contemporary creative and artistic indulgencies as well as reflections on the work of an artist. This aim is to be reflected in the general reading list as well as the conversations (between facilitators) discussions (facilitators and participants), talks (by various facilitators) and exposure to creative content (audio, video and slide presentations.)

    In Genre-based Sessions, participants are split into the genres they indicated interest in – Poetry, Fiction or Non-Fiction. Participants are not allowed to register for more than one genre. Facilitators in the respective genres are to conduct these sessions, with emphasis on reviewing the work produced by participants, and discussing quality work by more established writers. Although our focus is on writers resident in Ile-Ife, the workshop is also open to writers outside Ile-Ife. However, we would not cater for the accommodation and feeding (aside breakfast) of any participant outside Ile-Ife.

    Application: Application deadline is 23 May. There is space for only 40 participants, so apply early.

    Complete the Application Form, and submit via email (sarabaworkshop@gmail.com) after payment of the WorkshopFee. Your letter of invitation would be sent upon confirmation of payment.

    Facilitators:

    Ayobami Famurewa (Fiction) is currently pursuing a Master’s in Literature in English at the Obafemi Awolowo where she obtained a Bachelors’ degree in 2008. Her short stories have been published in African Writing Online, Farafina Magazine, Saraba Magazine, The Weaverbird Anthology of New Nigerian Fiction (Kachifo 2008) and Speaking for Generations: An Anthology of Contemporary African Short Stories (African World Press 2010). She was a participant in the Chimamanda Adichie-Binyavanga Wanaina writers’ workshop that held in Lagos in July 2007. Her writing received an honourable mention in the 2009 Commonwealth short story contest and won the Naija Stories Website launch Contest in 2010. In September, she will be commencing her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia.

    Emmanuel Iduma (Fiction) holds a degree in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University, and is currently studying to be called to the Nigerian Bar. His short stories and poems have appeared in African Writer, Story Time, New Black Magazine, Saraba, Itch, Sentinel Nigeria, Daughters of Eve and Other New Short Stories from Nigeria (CCC Press 2010), Speaking for Generations: An Anthology of Contemporary African Short Stories (African World Press 2010), Hack Writers, and is forthcoming in African Roar and MTLS. He was a participant of the Word into Art into Africa workshop organized by the Africa Centre/SPARCK (South Africa). His story was a finalist of the Word in Action International Literary Contest 2008. He won the Naija Stories Independence Day Contest 2010. In September he will be commencing his Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Manchester.

    Dami Ajayi (Poetry) is a final year medical student and immediate past editor-in-chief of the Ifemed Journal Club. A consummate literary enthusiast and co-founder of Saraba literary magazine, he has had his poetry, reviews and short stories published in The Nation, The Guardian, Sunday Sun Revue, African Writing, Hack Writers, Saraba, MTLS, Sentinel Nigeria, Palapala Magazine, African Writer and his short story is forthcoming in African Roar. His first collection of poems, Clinical Blues, will be published next year. He was also a participant of the recently held Bayelsa Book and Craft Fair in Yenagoa.

    Adebiyi Olusolape (Poetry) is a mechanical engineer by training. He often refers to himself as a journeyman collagist who lives at Ibadan, this is his modest way of describing himself as an encyclopaedia of some sort. He is currently the Poetry Editor of Saraba and has been influential to the creation of Saraba’s many intercontinental chapbooks. His poetry has appeared in Maple Tree Literary Supplement, 60 Minutes with the Geeks, and in Saraba. His other works have
    also appeared in several dailies including The Nation.

    Arthur Anyaduba (Non-fiction) obtained a Bachelors’ Degree in English Literature in 2008. He has taught English Literature at Secondary School level. His reviews and criticisms have appeared, to critical acclaim, in 234Next. He is pursuing a Masters’ Degree in Literature in English in Obafemi Awolwo University. He works with Saraba as Fiction Editor.

    Workshop Fee: Three Thousand Five Hundred Naira only (#3, 500)

    Download application form >>

    Download information booklet >>

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: sarabaworkshop@gmail.com

    For submissions: sarabaworkshop@gmail.com

    Website: http://sarabamag.com

  • Readings: Lola Shoneyin, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo and Odili Ujubuonu at Pit Theatre (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)

    Readings: Lola Shoneyin, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo and Odili Ujubuonu at Pit Theatre (Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria)

    Deadline: 11 July 2011

    On Monday, July 11, 2011, Lola Shoneyin, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Odili Ujubuonu will read at Pit Theatre in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The event will take off at 3.00 p.m. There will also be music and poetry performances. It will be an exciting afternoon.

    Lola Shoneyin's first novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives was long-listed for the Orange Prize for fiction this year. Shoneyin attended the Iowa International Writers Programme, Iowa, USA, in August 1999 and was also in that year a Distinguished Scholar at the University of St Thomas, Minnesota. She has written three volumes of poems: So All the Time I was Sitting on an Egg (1998); Song of a Riverbird (2002) and For the Love of Flight (2010).She lives in Abuja, Nigeria, where she teaches English and drama at an international school.

    Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a professor of English at the University of Lagos. She is the author of several novels, poetry collections and children literature. A joint winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature (2007); Adimora-Ezeigbo has, over the years, won numerous literary awards and has undertaken reading tours locally and internationally.

    Odili Ujubuonu’s debut novel, Pregnancy of the Gods was an instant success. Since then, he has published follow-ups, Treasure in the Winds and Pride of the Spider Clan. The three books are woven around a magical instrument – sacred flute – lost and sought in communities around the lower Niger Delta. Pregnancy of the Gods won the 2006 ANA/Jacaranda Prize for Prose while Treasure in the Winds won the 2008 ANA/Chevron Prize on Environmental issues and was nominated for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2008. Ujubuonu has practised Advertising since 1991.

    Via: ayobamiadebayo.blogspot.com

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: call 08063719839, 07065383510 or 08072071374

  • Deadline May 31 | Call for Essays: Book in Honor of Professor, Novelist and Poet Theodora Akchi Ezeigbo (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 31 May 2012

    Celebrating the African Amazon: Essays in Honour of Professor Theodora Akachi Ezeigbo.

    Teacher, theorist, critic, novelist, playwright, children literature author, short story writer, journalist and poet, Professor Theodora Akachi Ezeigbo, has had an eventful and well-decorated career at the University of Lagos spanning over three decades. During this period, Professor Ezeigbo made a name for herself as a competent teacher and novelist-scholar by formulating the influential “snail-sense” feminist theory which prioritizes dialogic and complementarist ethos in both the creative and critical literary practice in post-colonial African literature. To celebrate this Nigerian Amazon and Queen of Letters, the Department of English of the University of Lagos is proposing a book of essays mainly based on her impressive oeuvre as well as related interest areas in her honour. Accordingly, contributors may focus on, but are not restricted to the following areas:

    - Literary theory/African Literature
    - Comparative Literature
    - Issues in Feminist
    - Gender Studies
    - Cultural Studies
    - Igbo Metaphysics
    - Politics of Sexual/Textual Exegesis
    - Politics of Survival
    - War Literature
    - Language, Philosophy and the Nigerian Question
    - History, Oral Tradition and Memory
    - Film, Drama and poetry and the Woman Question
    - Language and Literature

    Papers should not exceed twenty (20) pages, typed in Times New Roman (12) font size. Paper Title, Author’s name, institutional affiliation, and e-mail address (es) should be on a separate page.

    Contributors are required to note and adhere strictly to the following deadlines:

    • Deadline for Receipt of papers: 31st May, 2012
    • Peer-review Process: 1st June – 30th June, 2012
    • Revision of Papers by contributors: 1st July – 30th July, 2012
    • Expected Date of Release: 1st October, 2012.

    Paper should be sent as attachment to the email addresses of all the Local Organizing Committee members. They LOC members are: Dr. E.A Adedun, eaadedun@yahoo.co.uk, eadedun@unilag.edu.ng, (+2348023414410); Dr. Chris Anyokwu, anyokwu_c@yahoo.com, (+2348035297582); Dr. Ben. Onuora Nweke, bonweke@gmail.com, (+2348035803323).

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For enquiries/ submissions: eadedun@unilag.edu.ng

  • Verbana Creative Writing Workshop with Ebi Akpeti (Nigeria)

    Verbana Creative Writing Workshop with Ebi Akpeti (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 25 July 2011

    Verbana Servicing Outfit, an upscale brand management and public relations outfit, is organizing a free creative writing interactive community as part of its empowerment CSR initiative, in partnership with various organizations, NGO’s and corporate bodies, with logistics support from Art World. The forum will be hosted by Ebi Akpeti, author “The Perfect church”.

    The set goals and objectives is to develop the basic understanding of the literary genre, especially in the dynamics of plots, styles and theme, fiction or nonfiction, with an aim to “preserve Nigeria’s literary tradition which was made world famous by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ben Okri, Niyi Osundare, Chimamanda Adichie etc.

    The series which is scheduled to take place on the 30th of July 2011 would be an avenue to address the creative writing challenges faced in Nigeria such as degenerating reading culture, plagiarism and poor copyright protection – all of which rob writers and artists of their benefits and several other challenges.

    Various creative writing modules will be implemented at this workshop such as Narrative theory practice, Narratives from life, Individual writing project, reading and writing, discussion of creative writing process and the role of literature in the society and also be an opportunity to get published.

    The work shop is a part of a developmental campaign that will be implemented across the nation to harness skills and potentials.

    How to Register?

    Send your name, age, phone number and a one page explanation about your motivation to attend the forum as well a short description of any story your currently working on, to GOTASTORY@EBIAKPETI.COM, not later than the 25th of July 2011.

    About the host:

    Ebi Akpeti is an alumnus of the Massachusetts institute of Technology (MIT) professional education. She has a master’s degree in Media and Communications from the Pan African University in Nigeria and also in Finance from the University of Calabar. Ebi has three novels to her credit and currently works in the corporate affairs department of one of Africa’s biggest banks.

    A 2006 nominee of the Capital Market Reporter of the prestigious Nigerian Media Merit Award NMMA Award, NMMA for her story "Trigger for Fraud", Ebi is also the author of "The Perfect Church which was recently adapted into a screen play by multiple award winning producer, Mr Wale Adenuga. The movie is reputed to be one of the most expensive movies in recent time showing all over Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Botswana. She is currently working on a fiction story on the indigenes and militancy in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria entitled "For the Sake of Peremoboere

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: gotastory@ebiakpeti.com

    For submissions: gotastory@ebiakpeti.com

    Website: http://www.ebiakpeti.com/

  • Call for Essays: Book in Honor of Professor, Novelist and Poet Theodora Akchi Ezeigbo (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 31 May 2012

    Celebrating the African Amazon: Essays in Honour of Professor Theodora Akachi Ezeigbo.

    Teacher, theorist, critic, novelist, playwright, children literature author, short story writer, journalist and poet, Professor Theodora Akachi Ezeigbo, has had an eventful and well-decorated career at the University of Lagos spanning over three decades. During this period, Professor Ezeigbo made a name for herself as a competent teacher and novelist-scholar by formulating the influential “snail-sense” feminist theory which prioritizes dialogic and complementarist ethos in both the creative and critical literary practice in post-colonial African literature. To celebrate this Nigerian Amazon and Queen of Letters, the Department of English of the University of Lagos is proposing a book of essays mainly based on her impressive oeuvre as well as related interest areas in her honour. Accordingly, contributors may focus on, but are not restricted to the following areas:

    - Literary theory/African Literature
    - Comparative Literature
    - Issues in Feminist
    - Gender Studies
    - Cultural Studies
    - Igbo Metaphysics
    - Politics of Sexual/Textual Exegesis
    - Politics of Survival
    - War Literature
    - Language, Philosophy and the Nigerian Question
    - History, Oral Tradition and Memory
    - Film, Drama and poetry and the Woman Question
    - Language and Literature

    Papers should not exceed twenty (20) pages, typed in Times New Roman (12) font size. Paper Title, Author’s name, institutional affiliation, and e-mail address (es) should be on a separate page.

    Contributors are required to note and adhere strictly to the following deadlines:

    • Deadline for Receipt of papers: 31st May, 2012
    • Peer-review Process: 1st June – 30th June, 2012
    • Revision of Papers by contributors: 1st July – 30th July, 2012
    • Expected Date of Release: 1st October, 2012.

    Paper should be sent as attachment to the email addresses of all the Local Organizing Committee members. They LOC members are: Dr. E.A Adedun, eaadedun@yahoo.co.uk, eadedun@unilag.edu.ng, (+2348023414410); Dr. Chris Anyokwu, anyokwu_c@yahoo.com, (+2348035297582); Dr. Ben. Onuora Nweke, bonweke@gmail.com, (+2348035803323).

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For inquiries: eadedun@unilag.edu.ng

    For submissions: eadedun@unilag.edu.ng

  • The Institut Français in Nigeria Invites You to 'A Vous de Lire' (For You to Read)

    Date: 24 - 26 May 2012

    The Institut Français in Nigeria would like to invite you to “A Vous de Lire” (For You to Read), its annual celebration of books and reading, from the 24th to the 26th of May, 2012 at the French Institute (a.k.a French Cultural Centre) in Abuja.

    Visit also the Children's Fair at Cassava Republic opposite the Sheraton!

    In collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) - Abuja Chapter, The Abuja Literary Society, Cassava Republic Press and Arojah Royal Theatre, the Institut Français will present three days of literary-themed events for the whole family. There will be lots of exciting events designed to promote a love of reading and writing in Nigeria.

    In celebration of Children’s Day, the Institute will host a special series of programmes for children on the 24th and 25th of May. The events will culminate on Saturday 26th May in a book fair, a drama workshop for invited schools at the Institute, a representation by the French School of Abuja of some scenes from the French play ‘l’Avare’ by the famous classic author Molière, and a literary picnic.

    For youngsters, there will also be a Children’s Fair hosted by Cassava Republic Press on Saturday, 26th May, at shop, No. 62b in the Arts and Crafts Village, Opposite the Abuja Sheraton from 12 noon to 6pm.

    Participation is free and open to the public. Lovers of literature are encouraged to come and bring their friends and families. The French Institute is located at 52, Libreville Street, Off Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja (behind M. Biggs).

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For enquiries: coordinatorstudies@institutfr-nigeria.org or cultural@institutfr-nigeria.org, or call 0805 9478 456

    Website: http://www.institutfr-nigeria.org/

  • Ugreen Foundation's Creative Wings Short Story Prize 2012 (Nigera/ Africa-wide)

    Deadline: 31 July 2012

    The window is open for entries! Ugreen Foundation is glad to announce the second edition of the Creative Wings Short Story contest, titled the Creative Wings Short Story Prize 2012.

    The ‘Creative Wings Short Story Prize’ was endowed in 2011, by the Executive Director of Ugreen Foundation, Obinna Udenwe, as his contribution towards encouraging young African writers, in line with one of the visions of Ugreen Foundation which is to encourage citizens participation in knowledge building.

    In 2012, the Prize will accept entries from all African writers residing anywhere in the world and will annually give books as Prizes. Writers between the ages of 0 – 40 years old and of African origin and writers whose one parent is from Africa are encouraged to apply.

    In the words of Obinna Udenwe as regards the 2012 edition of the contest, he said: ‘My dream is to continuously encourage the growth of literature and arts in Africa. I have continued as a writer and an activist to engage in intellectual pursuit and to work with young people like myself. I have discovered that in this world of ever increasing phobia for uncertainties, increase in vices and delinquencies, unprecedented rise to its peak the level of crimes, terrorism, inhumanity and gross devaluation of traditions and societal negligence, we must continue, as lovers of arts and literature to use our talents, gifts and resources as means of entrenching an overhaul change in our society. There is no better way of doing this than through arts and literature. Our Creativity Class program that annually trains twenty young people on writing and oratory has proved to me that we have talents in Africa and that a lot needs to be done to encourage them – but only few people are ready to contribute… One of the winners of the first edition of this Prize, Mr. Vincent Bura-Bari Nwilo attended our Creativity Class training as a facilitator. It was wonderful meeting someone that this Prize has given publicity, encouragement and voice. His presence in the training encouraged the twenty students, it formed alliances and friendships and this is my quest – love, synergy and commitment. In Ugreen Foundation, we believe that this second edition of the Creative Wings Short Story Prize will bring in wonderful stories that delves into the nooks and crannies of African society and the world at large, helping us learn more about our environment and the people in it.’

    2012 PRIZE

    1. Ugreen Foundation will give out twenty (20) books for the 2012 edition of the contest. First Prize winner will receive a total of fifteen (15) books and the second Prize winner, will receive five (5) books. The books will be couriered to the winners anywhere they are in the world.

    2. If the winner(s) resides in Nigeria, he gets an opportunity to attend in March, 2013, as special guest, the ‘Sen. Chris. Nwankwo Youth Creativity Class,’ a program of Ugreen Foundation that trains and empowers twenty young people economically, and intellectually in the field of writing and oratory.

    Ugreen Foundation will cover transportation costs (round trip), accommodation for five nights and meals, including N30, 000 honorarium, (including tours round the state and evenings of cocktails).

    If the winner(s) resides outside Nigeria and wants to attend, Ugreen Foundation will provide all of the above mentioned, excluding cost of air-travel into and out of Nigeria. The program holds annually in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital.

    ENTRY RULES AND GUIDELINES

    1. Entry is free.

    2. Entries must not be more than 600 words long.

    3. Entrant must not be more than 40 years old.

    4. Entrant must be a writer of African origin living anywhere in the world. (Once an entrant is shortlisted, Ugreen Foundation will need evidence identifying the entrant as African and evidence showing date of birth).

    5. Only one submission per entrant is permitted.6. Stories must be original work of the entrant and previously published works will not be accepted for the Prize.

    7. Only online submissions are acceptable.

    8.Entries should be emailed to creativewingscontest2012@gmail.com. Paste story on the body of the e-mail. Use ‘Creative Wings Contest’ in the subject line. Entries with attachments will be disqualified.

    9. The email must contain the entrant’s name, the title of story, and the entrant’s physical address, a brief bio of NOT more than 50 words, Date of Birth, and contact phone number.10. Simultaneous submissions are NOT acceptable.11. Writers are not restricted to any theme.

    12. Entries must be in English ONLY.

    13. Previous winners are eligible but must apply with a different story.

    14. Shortlisted entrant must agree to provide us with his/her photograph and agree to allow Ugreen Foundation and all the Prize publicists use the photograph for publicity.

    15. Entries are open from June 1st to 12 Midnight July 31st.

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For queries/ submissions: creativewingscontest2012@gmail.com

    Website: http://www.ugreenfoundation.org

  • Invitation to Book n Gauge II: Book Readings at Debonair Bookstore Yaba (Nigeria)

    Invitation to Book n Gauge II: Book Readings at Debonair Bookstore Yaba (Nigeria)

    Date: 30 July 2011

    PulpFactionClub + Wordsmithy Media + Debonair Present: Book ‘n’ Gauge II: 4 Writers, 3 Performers, 1 Afternoon + YOU

    The second edition of Book n Gauge is scheduled to hold on 30th July, 2011 @ Debonair Bookstore, 294, Herbert Macaulay Way, Sabo, Yaba. 3pm - 6pm. In the month of July, we would be hosting you to four amazing writers, three performers and it’s going to be a blast. It’s an afternoon of readings, live performances and you. Be our guest!

    Readings:

    Toni Kan is popularly known as one-time editor of Hints. The award winning poet, essayist and short story writer is the author of the acclaimed poetry collection When a Dream Lingers Too Long and the novella Ballad of Rage. His latest work Nights of the Creaking Bed is full of colourful characters involved in affecting dramas: a girl rejected in love because she has three brothers to look after; a middle-aged housewife who finds love again but has an impossible decision to make; a young man who can't get the image of his naked, beautiful mother out of his mind. With years of experience in the corporate sector, loads of laughter, the witty award-winning Toni Kan is always a delight.

    Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a lecturer, writer, novelist, critic, essayist, journalist, and administrator. She has written over twenty books. Her latest work Roses and Bullets, published by Jalaa Writers’ Collective is about the Nigerian Civil War. The former winner of the NLNG Prize for Literature, the biggest prize for literature in Nigeria, heads the Prize’s panel of judges this year.

    Jumoke Verissimo is a confirmed wordsmith; she has worked as a journalist, copywriter, sub-editor and editor. Her award-winning collection of poems, I am Memory explores the idea of memory. She has been a guest poet at the 48th Struga Poetry Evenings, Macedonia and 15th Norwegian Literature Festival in Lillehammer, Norway. Her work has won many awards which include First Prize, Carlos Idize Ahmad Prize for a first book of Poetry 2009; Second Prize, Anthony Agbo Prize for Poetry 2009 and Honourable Mention Association of Nigeria (Poetry) 2009. She electrifies the stage with her poetry performances.

    Uche Ezeh -Al is known as a copywriter in the corporate communications sector. His works has won many awards in brands communication. Jungle Drumbeats is his first published novel.

    Performances

    Kafayat Quadri started playing guitar at the age of 13, thanks to her music loving Dad who introduced her to the world of music and mouth organs. He played tunes from Rex Lawson, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Haruna Ishola on the guitar and mouth organ sometimes accompanied with the talking drum. Her first guitar performance was at her secondary school, since then, she’s been stuck. If you ever visit Theatre@Terra, the young lady who opens the plays with music; that’s Kafayat!

    Aramide - An addicted lover of music, she has written over 100 songs. In 2008, she was part of a show called ‘Divas Unplugged’ in the city of Jos; the show had all the leading female artistes in the Nigerian music industry. Aramide is also a Guitarist and the Saxophonist. She’s passionate about are freedom of women and love. She has worked with artistes like M.I and Jesse Jagz. For soulful Aramide, music is life.

    D Tone - He’s one of the new Nigerian singers to watch out for. His new singles “Sunkun Ife” and“Ife Gbagbara” have been attracting rave reviews. He has performed on stages with Nigerian musicians like Dj Zeez, M I, Banky, 2 face, 9ice, Sunny Ade, Femi Kuti and P-Square. Eyes closed, fingers strumming the guitar, sonorous voice tantalizing the audience, D Tone is always a delight to watch.

    There promises to be:

    • A one-on-one interaction between authors and readers
    • A platform for book enthusiasts to meet, interact and network. (Members of PulpFactionClub on Facebook and followers on Twitter would have a grand opportunity to meet).
    • Freebies
    • Live Musical performances by: guitar masters D Tone and Kafayat Quadri; and a surprise performance by Aramide.
    • Book signing

  • Creative Alliance's Literary Star Search (Nigeria)

    Now at your doorstep is the biggest and innovative platform for writers to express themselves in bold narratives in an expanded frontier never before known in prose, especially the short story format. There is a need to expand the literary space to accommodate everyone with a noble idea to share with humanity. But often, the chances and choices are few, too few, especially for writers to share from their ever fertile imagination that is ready to extend the boundary of culture and society with a view to enriching them.

    Literary Star Search, as an affiliate company of Creative Alliance Nigeria Limited (Creative Alliance for short), is committed to broadening the literary landscape to accommodate more conversation with and interrogation of culture and society. With values believed to be going down the wrong way, it’s only literature and its literary men and women that can halt the slide through reinventing social order by bringing the past to bear on the future at the junction of the present in a seamless manner so as to preserve the health of humanity.

    So, out there are stars yet undiscovered, who, nonetheless, have so much to say to humanity to enoble society and culture. The rest of us dare not ignore them. They need to be searched out, evaluated and rewarded, and their messages to society harnessed, like those gone before them – Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, J.P. Clark, Gabriel Okara, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Ben Okri, Sefi Atta, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Wale Okediran, Femi Osofisan, Ben Okri, Biyi Bandele, Helon Habila, Chika Unigwe, and so on - to revitalise society and instil in it wholesome values to sustain it to the next generation and beyond.

    It is the belief of Liteary Star Search that hidden stars abound in the literary landscape, but they remain hidden, and may remain hidden if something drastic is not done.

    So that while stars are being made and hugely rewarded in virtually other areas of society - beauty pageantry, music, movies, reality shows and dance (all considered probably fairly less enobling and so of little value to society’s wellbeing; indeed, the orientation of music and movies towards overt sexual displays have corrupted society more than can be quantified), writers, especially literary writers, are largely left in the cold, and made to watch from the sidelines. Yet, writing is one area where worldbeaters have been made in our midst, men and women, who have put us on the world map as part of the world’s cultural citizens.

    Indeed, literary art or literature is the most accomplished of Nigerian arts and culture sector. Sadly, it is the least hyped and least valued in its cultural re-orientation of the citizenry and society generally. Of course, those who practice it (or write it) equally suffer the worse form of obscurity; they are least known and celebrated, whereas those in the faddish areas of the arts take centre-stage as heroes or celebrities, even if dubious nature!

    The mantra of a literary prize

    While there is abundance of potential star writers, there is little opportunity for them to rise and shine! Reward for them is still criminally low; they are just too few prizes on the local scene for those with something important to say. Inability to throw up star writers and truly celebrate them has created the absence of writers as models for society, especially for the young, impressionable members of society to follow.

    This has the multiplier effect of alienating young ones from reading what writers produce as a disconnect between the two has become so obvious. The connection between writers and literacy cannot be hard to imagine; that there is a lack of a reading habit in the populace, especially of literary materials, therefore, becomes logical in the sense that writers have not been made a centrality of our consciousness; they simply are the heroes young ones want to emulate to deepen society’s core values.

    To address these areas, icons in the field of literary creativity have to be made, particularly young icons – the way it is in dance, music, movies, dance, pageantry and reality shows. These icons will lure young readers back to the literary space and books, especially when they see in the youthful icons that are made a mirror image of themselves. These creative stars will then fire their aspirations because they are the ones young people want to emulate.

    This is the purpose Liteary Star Search. It will serve to throw up star writers, reward them with grand price.

    How to Apply

    WRITE Yourself to FAME & FORTUNE!!! in the Liteary Star Search contest for Nigeria’s star writers in the SHORT STORY category (not more than 3,500 words long) in the One Million Naira Grand Prize, with N300,000 and N200,000 respectively for the second and third best places. The best 25 stories will be published in a collection and entered for competition worldwide, including the Caine & Commonwealth Short Story Prizes

    To apply, write not more than a 3,500 word short story (double space typing) and enclose with Three Thousand naira (N3,000) Entry Fee in bank draft obtainable from any Zenith International Bank Plc branch nationwide, and payable (addressed) to Creative Alliance. Deliver by hand or courier service, addressed to:

    Creative Alliance Nigeria Limited
    (Literary Star Search)
    1, Oladosu Street, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos

    or mail through any NIPOST office nationwide to:

    Creative Alliance
    (Literary Star Search)
    PO Box 2442 Ikeja, Lagos.

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For inquiries: Call 08091310392

    For submissions: Creative Alliance Nigeria Limited. (Literary Star Search), 1, Oladosu Street, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos

    Website: http://www.creativeallianceng.com

  • Complete Guidelines: $20,000 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa - Fourth Edition (Africa-wide)

    Deadline: 20 November 2011

    The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa was established by The Lumina Foundation in 2005. It was conceived as a very prestigious prize in honour of Africa’s first Nobel Laureate in literature to celebrate excellence in all its cerebral grace, its liberating qualities, the honour and recognition it brings to a myriad of people, of diverse cultures and languages. This prize honours people who have used their talents well enough to affect others positively. It honours Africa’s great writers and causes their works to be appreciated. It celebrates excellent writing, promotes scholarship and makes books available and affordable by subsidizing the publication of books in the top list of the judges.

    This is a pan African prize, viewed also as Africa’s NOBEL prize. It unifies Africans, celebrates Africa’s great minds, brings home Africa’s best intellectuals as judges, entertainers, great communicators and leaders in their own rights.

    It was designed to be The African prize with a lot of artistic features symbolising the Soyinka personae, as a distinguished intellectual, a conscientious and sensitive writer, a lover of the arts and humanities and a stickler for excellence, good governance, equity and justice.

    Rules:

    Any excellently written book by an African in any genre may qualify for this award.

    The book to be submitted must have been published within two years preceding the year of the prize being sought for but not during the year of the prize being sought for.

    Ten copies of each eligible book should be submitted by the Publisher. Books can only be submitted by Publishers.

    Only published works are eligible and can only be submitted in its published form.

    For a book to be eligible, it must be written either in English or French.

    The publisher must not submit more than three titles. This could be from either the same author or different authors.

    The Publisher may submit either paperback or hard cover along with author's photo and resume.

    Only African authors living in any part of the world are eligible for this prize. By African authors, we mean authors from African countries. We are adopting for the purpose of this prize, the geographical description of African countries and their boundaries. In other words, only citizens of African countries are considered eligible for this prize.

    Books published anywhere in the world may qualify for this award provided that they are written by Africans.

    Books that have won other awards are eligible for this prize.

    Books that have been short listed for other awards may be submitted for this prize.

    The Foundation began to receive entries for the 2012 edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa on July 2011. The deadline for submission is November 20, 2011. All entries must be received at The Lumina secretariat, before November 20, 2011.

    Entries must be accompanied with completed entry form, the author’s photwo (Portrait), author’s biodata and the Publisher’s resume

    All entries should be sent to The Lumina Foundation, Blue House. No 19 Unilag Road, Akoka, Yaba Lagos, Nigeria.

    The short listed books will be reproduced by The Lumina Foundation to make them more affordable and available.

    Download entry/participation forms:

    Entry Form >>

    Participation forms for:

    Publishers only >>
    Non publishers >>
    Authors >>

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: enquiry@luminafoundationsoyinkaprize.com

    For submissions: The Lumina Foundation, Blue House. No 19 Unilag Road, Akoka, Yaba Lagos, Nigeria

    Website: http://luminafoundationsoyinkaprize.com

  • Call for Papers: One-Day International Symposium on Ogori Culture and People at Ogori (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 2 April 2012

    A special academic meeting presenting a flag-ship cultural practice and celebration for University scholars, researchers and lovers of culture interested in studying and experiencing unique rural/small urban communal festivals as a part of the global conversation on cultural renaissance

    Organised by the League of Ogori Professors (LOP) as a Prelude to the 2012 Annual Ovia-Osese Festival

    Facilitated by the Association of African Universities (AAU) and The Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan Ogori, Kogi State of Nigeria . Friday, 20 April, 2012.

    Venue: National Open University of Nigeria Community Study Centre, Ogori

    TARGET PARTICIPANTS

    • Scholars and researchers in African Studies, history, language and linguistics, anthropology, cultural studies, women studies, African-American studies, and sociology of rural and communal studies.
    • Institutes/Centres/Faculties of African/Cultural/African-American/Afro-Caribbean history Studies.
    • Federal and State Government Ministries/Departments of Tourism and Culture especially senior officials involved in internationalisation of cultural activities of rural and small urban communities.
    • All those interested in cultural music, dance and folklores, socialization of women and puberty development and celebrations.
    • Cultural tourists.

    REGISTRATION FEES

    The registration fee of USD$50 for participants from outside of Africa or Naira5,000 from within Africa includes

    • Attendance at the Symposium
    • Symposium bag
    • Copy of the Symposium programme and book of abstracts
    • Lunch and morning/afternoon coffee breaks

    EXPERT SPEAKERS

    Language/linguistics; cultural, African, Women Studies and other invited expert speakers from the USA, UK, Africa and the Caribbean.

    SYNOPSIS

    Nestled snugly at the foot of three magnificent hills which rise steeply into the sky, crested sometimes by the cool and refreshing morning mist, the sleepy town of Ogori has a long and distinguished history. It lies roughly at the intersection of longitude 6° 7” E and latitude 7° 30”N. It is located at the extreme south-west region of Kogi State and shares a border with Edo State. Its uniqueness has tripartite intersections: its culture; its language, called Oko which Ogori and Magongo are the only communities on this planet who speak and understand it and; the importance of education. The Ogori people’s precocious affinity for education has produced, in relation to its size and population, the largest number of professors by square kilometre in Nigeria. (Askari, 1969; Apata, 1986; Adegbija, 1994; Atoyebi, 2010).

    One of the cultural icons of Ogori is the Ovia-Osese festival, an annual celebration of the attainment of womanhood by girls whose parents, peers, friends, clans, community and well wishers celebrate this significant cultural and moral attainment. It was a taboo for a girl to get pregnant, let alone marry before her Ovia-Osese. In the olden days, if this occurred the family is ostracized and the girl loses her respect and integrity in the community (Sofola, 1986; Adegoke, 2001). The celebration is accompanied by a week-long activities which include lessons in homemaking, motherhood, music, drumming, dancing, feasting and thanksgiving services at the various mosques and churches in Ogoriland.

    Over the years, the Ovia-Osese has become the flagship of the Ogori people and a major mark of the identity of Ogoriland in the global scene. The ceremony and festival have become an international event having attracted tourists from the Unites States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany and South America. Many Nigerians have made it a tourist Mecca and the MTN has supported and participated in the Ovia-Osese festival for several years now.

    As their own contributions to the Ovia-Osese festival, the League of Ogori Professors (LOP) made a pronouncement at the 2011 festival that they would add and integrate an academic dimension through an international Symposium to further expose Ogori culture to the world. The first International Symposium on Ogori Culture and People marks a part of the 2012 Ovia-Osese Festival with a view to making it an annual event for scholars, researchers and lovers of culture to form a seamless blend with the community celebrations of an identity of a people whose culture has become a household of knowledge generation, teaching and learning in many parts of the world.

    SYMPOSIUM PROGRAMME

    International expert speakers and researchers will address the uniqueness of culture as an identity of peoples all over the world. Researchers and teachers of Ogori culture and language will present vital information about the special nature of the Ogori community and people, in relation to the visibility of the culture and language in a global context. Emerging needs and issues of honorary citizenships for Africans in diapora and Afro American and Afro-Caribbean relatives and, their impact on cultural studies worldwide will be of interest to the Symposium.

    Symposium Theme: Culture: An Indispensable and Enduring Identity of a People

    • Sub-Theme1: History, Sociology and Anthropology
    • Sub-Theme2: Language, Literature, Women Studies
    • Sub-Theme3: Music, Dance and Folklores

    Within the guidance of the above theme and sub-themes, the sessions will explore and discuss issues and trends in:
    • Strategic development and use of culture an identity
    • Achieving cultural renaissance through branding of unique festivals in rural and small urban communities in Africa
    • Building partnerships with other researchers and workers in the field of cultural, women and African studies
    • Enhancing the role of research and knowledge generation in the perpetuation of cultures whose existence and language are threatened by Western cultures and assimilation.
    • Attracting international scholars, researchers, faculty and students.

    Presentation of case studies will be welcome. The Symposium will conclude with a panel discussion and participation from the audience on how the One-day Symposium can achieve annual global event calendar and status; how higher education institutions can own and identify with the Ovia-Osese festival as an avenue for the contemporary academic celebration of studies in Culture, African and Women studies; and how individuals from the diaspora can identify and adopt cultural communities as honorary members.

    Very limited, but excellent papers, selected by an international panel of assessors, will be invited for presentation. All those interested should send their papers, to reach the under listed, on or before Monday, 2nd of April, 2012. A turn-around time of no more than 72hrs will apply on the assessment of each paper from date of receipt. The Institute of African Studies of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria will publish a special edition of their international journal, African Notes, based on the papers presented at the Symposium.

    It will be a case of first come, first accepted.

    INVITATION TO ATTEND AND PRESENT PAPERS

    The general public is invited to express interest in attendance and or presenting papers at the One-day Symposium. Please send your expression of interest or full paper to any of the under listed. The full Symposium programme will be sent to confirmed participants by Monday, April 9, 2012.

    Participants may wish to consider attending and participating in the Ovia-Osese Festival and Dance of the Maidens on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Information on accommodation will be sent to those who are interested.

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For inquiries: secgen@aau.org, tellohio@yahoo.com, alexodaibo@yahoo.com

    For submissions: secgen@aau.org, tellohio@yahoo.com, alexodaibo@yahoo.com

    Website: http://www.aau.org

  • Call for Papers: Society of Movie Scholars' International Conference (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 1 August 2011

    SOCIETY OF MOVIE SCHOLARS (SoMS) in collaboration with NATIONAL FILM AND VIDEO CENSORS BOARD (NFVCB) and ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA THEATRE ARTS PRACTTIONERS (ANTP) INVITES THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE THEORIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF AFRICAN REGIONAL MOVIES

    Background

    African movies across its regions have grown to the extent that there is need to critically do their in-depth studies with the purpose of generating theories on their packaging, analysis and proper classification into genres. Most movies produced in Africa are packaged without recourse to definite theories. Broadly speaking, most of the movies can be categorized into three groups namely, cultural or epic; modern and religious movies. While the religious and cultural movies could be in local or foreign languages, modern movies are so described because they are often located in the context of urban or rural populace and are produced in foreign or local languages, treating themes bothering on modern issues. But where they are in local languages, they are often lazed with Pidgin English or code mixed. However, these groupings possess the tendency to overlap if these categories are to be retained. Thus, it is difficult to arrogate to these groupings as genres on their own, more so that these grading are not guided by definite theories.

    To define these groups effectively therefore, it might be necessary to do a close survey of their constituents. This is when the components can be highlighted into specific genres for stimulating and rich academic exercise. It is expected as the outcome of the exercise that specialization, originality and scope-widening and thus further ground for employment creation and legitimacy of production and its development would be engendered. Then practitioners’ specializations on specific genres would increase, and the tendency to recycle old ideas for new creations would be reduced.

    This conference is therefore organized with the intent of gathering interested scholars and practitioners within and outside Africa to rub minds so as to evolve specific theories of packaging, analysis, and map out what genres African movies could be grouped. Taking a leap from the fact that movies are audio-visualisation of literature and literary texts and are analysed based on definite theories, the objective therefore is to cut a niche for African movies like literature, and place them strategically in the world movie categorizations but based on African development ideals and thus globalise what hitherto were local mediations.

    CALL FOR PAPERS

    In view of the above, abstracts are invited from academics, media industry professionals, movie producers, distributors, government agencies, policymakers, movie regulators, agencies, donors, civil society organisations, independent consultants, research groups and students, on any aspects of the under listed sub-themes. Such abstracts which should not exceed 200 words should be based on the analysis of select movies that fall within the sub-themes. This would eventually argue out the basis for specified theories and why the movie should be classified within the genres that the scholar is advocating. Contributors should however not forget to state under which sub-theme they are submitting their abstract.

    Abstracts are to be sent to our E-mail address: moviescholars@gmail.com on or before August 1st 2011, while full paper must reach us before September 1st, 2011.

    Sub-themes

    Below are the likely, but by no means the only sub-themes on which abstracts can be submitted.

    1. Trends in movie Theories.
    2. Existing Literary Theories and the need or not, for distinct African movie theories.
    3. Generating theories on African movies.
    4. Emergent genres in African movies.
    5. Movies and the relevance of African-specific genres.
    6. Classifying African urban and rural movies.
    7. Gender and social issues in African movies, need for classical genrization.
    8. War and crime movies and proper classification.
    9. Travel movies and issues of depiction.
    10. African movies and the global media culture.
    11. Representation of economic, social and political issues in African movies
    12. Africans’ contributions to the Theories of Gaze.
    13. Sociology and Psychology of African movies.

    Proposals should include abstract title, author's name, address, telephone number, email address, and institutional affiliation.

    Conference fee: A non-refundable registration fee of N10, 000 or (USD 200, BP100 for participants from the US, Europe, and other African countries). This must be paid immediately when an abstract is accepted. It is expected that all participants will raise the funding to attend the conference please.

    LEAD PAPER: Professor Ahmed Yerima, Head of Department, Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, Kwara State University Malete Kwara State (Title of Paper: African Movies: The needs for unique identities)

    GUEST OF HONOUR: Emeka Mba, Director General, National Film and Video Censors Board, Abuja

    KEY NOTE ADDRESS: Comrade Victor Ashaolu, National President, Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners, National Theatre, Lagos

    Conference Dates:

    • Arrival- October 24th, 2011
    • Opening and plenary sessions 25th--27th October, 2011
    Venue: Osun State University, Osogbo; Nigeria.

    Enquiries:

    For more details, please visit the website: www.moviescholars.org OR contact any of the following:

    *Kayode Animasaun, PhD: Osun State University, Ikire Campus, Ikire. Chairman LOC: +2348073787551, drkayanimasaun@gmail.com

    *Gloria Ernest-Samuel, Imo State University Owerri- Secretary. LOC: +2348035085625, gloimsu@yahoo.com

    *Ameh Akoh PhD H.O.D Languages and Linguistics Department, Osun State University, Ikire Campus, Ikire- Convener : +2348035992490, amehakoh@yahoo.co.uk

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: drkayanimasaun@gmail.com

    For submissions: moviescholars@gmail.com

    Website: http://www.moviescholars.org/

  • Black Mediterranean: Poetry Segment of Lagos Black Heritage Festival 2012

    Date: 3 April 2012

    You are cordially invited to presentation of the Poetry Segment of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, LBHF, on Tuesady (April 3, 2012) at the Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos, at 6pm.

    The theme of the Segment is BLACK MEDITERRANEAN: THE AFRO-ITALIAN CONNECTIONS, and it features a collection of 16 Nigerian and 16 Italian Poets, who worked on varied sub-themes deriving from the main thematic framework, including Trade, Migration, Religion, Politics, Trafficking among others. The poems will also be published in a collection by Book Craft, Nigeria.

    The Nigerians and some of the Italian poets will be read/perform their work at the event on Tuesday evening.

    The cross-generational Nigerian poets featuring in the project are:

    Richard Ali, editor Sentinel Nigeria Magazine, Divan of the Four Winds; Gimba Kakanda whose works have been published in various local and international media, including the Indian Journal Prosopisia: An Anthology of Poetry and Creative Writing; Razinatu T. Mohammed, whose collection of short stories titled, A Love Like a Woman’s and Other Stories won the maiden prize for the Association of Nigerian Authors/ Lantern Book Prize 2005; Uche Peter Umez, an alumnus of the International Writing Program (IWP), USA, and UNESCO-Aschberg Laureate; Tolu Ogunlesi's poetry, essays and fiction have appeared in World Literature Today, Transition, Wasafiri, The Caine Prize Anthology and translated into Chinese, Italian, Norwegian and Turkish; Jumoke Verissimo, author of the poetry collection I Am Memory, and winner of the 2009 Carlos Idzia Ahmad Prize for a first book of poetry, second prize 2009 ; among other prizes; Ify Omalicha (late), author Amidst the Blowing Tempest, They Run Still & Now that Dreams are Born;

    Tade Ipadeola, author of two volumes of poetry – A Time of Signs (2000), and The Rain Fardel (2005).

    Others are: Ben Omowafola Tomoloju, dramatist, poet, singer and author of Jankariwo, Askari among other works, and producer, director of the yearly poetry programme, P.L.A.Y.; Olufunmi Aluko, winner 1st Prize for Poetry in the Poetry/Painting Competition of the Communion and Liberation Movement; Deji Toye’s collection of poems Millennial Liege is awaiting publication; Chiedu Ezeanah’s first book of poetry,, Solar Energies (Book 1 of The Tristia Trilogy), is soon to be published; Chris Abani is author of the collections Sanctificum (2010), There Are No Names for Red (2010), Feed Me The Sun - Collected Long Poems (2010) and Kalakuta Republic(2001) among others; Ogaga Ifowodo, poet and writer, teacher of poetry and literature in English at Texas State University, USA is author of three collections of poetry: Homeland and Other Poems, Madiba, and The Oil Lamp; and Odia Ofeimun whose numerous collection of poems include The Poet Lied (1980), A Handle For The Flutist (1986), Dreams At Work and London Letter And Other Poems (2000).

    Also included in the collection of poets are the Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Playwright, Poet, Essayist and Human Rights activist, and John Pepper Clark Bekederemo, renowned poet and dramatist and recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award for literary excellence (1991).

    The Poetry Project is coordinated by Alessandra Di Maio (Italy) and Jahman Anikulapo (Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC, Nigeria) for the Lagos Black Heritage Festival.

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    Website: http://www.lagosblackheritagefestival.org/

  • Play Reading Party 6 - Wole Soyinka at 77: Living Legend of Literature (Nigeria)

    Date: 13 July 2011 (4:30-7:30pm)

    On Wednesday 13th July 2011, Nigeria and Africa's only Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, dramatist, poet, novelist and social crusader, Professor Oluwole Soyinka will be 77.

    In view of these, we have dedicated the July edition of Arojah Royal Theatre's monthly PLAY READING PARTY for the celebration of Kongi's 77th birthday.

    The celebration, organised in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), Abuja Chapter will feature readings from Soyinka's plays and poems, theme talks, and a 'My Favourite Wole Soyinka Book.

    A brief talk on Wole Soyinka: 'The Man, His Writings and the Society' will be delivered by a seasoned theatre practitioner.

    Come, lets celebrate a Living Legend! For enquiries, participation or support for this event, call: 0803 453 0786

    Location: Korean Cultural Centre, 2nd Floor, Rivers House, Ralph Sodeinde Street, Central Business District (Opposite Ministry of Finance), Abuja, Nigeria

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: call 0803 453 0786

    Website: http://arojahconcepts.wordpress.com/

  • Call for Submissions: Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology 2012 (Nigeria/ Africa-wide)

    Deadline: 30 June 2012

    Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology (SALA) is a yearly publication of new poetry, short fiction and plays by SPM Publications - the publishing division of Sentinel Poetry Movement.

    SALA 2012: CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

    We are now accepting submissions of previously unpublished poems, short stories and short plays for publication in the Sentinel Annual Literature Anthology 2012.

    Subject: Work submitted may be on any subject, and approached in any style, but the editors will be looking for materials that creatively engage some of the burning issues in the world today from health and economy, through terrorism, war, domestic violence to children's welfare, ethnic and religious issues. Nothing is out of bounds.

    Lengths: Send no more than 6 poems up to 65 lines long, short stories must not be more than 3000 words long, and short plays up to 6,000 words long including title page and dramatis personnae.

    Submission: Send your work as Word or RTF attachment (NO PDFs PLEASE), together with your current biograhical information up to 100 words to sala@sentinelpoetry.org.uk

    Closing date for submissions: 30th June, 2012

    Proposed date of publication: 1st November, 2012

    Payment: There is no financial payment for authors. Every author published will receive 1 contributor's copy. Authors published who have their own websites are welcome to sell the book from their sites and remit only 75% of the cover price to us. We will fulfil all orders. We can provide websites for authors who don't currently have their own websites. Conditions apply.

    SALA 2011

    The first book in the SALA series published in November 2011 was edited by Unoma Azuah, author of Sky-High Flames, and Edible Bones (Poems), Amanda Sington-Williams, author of The Eloquence of Desire (Short Stories), and Nnorom Azuonye, author of Letter to God & Other Poems and The Bridge Selection (Plays). The book also features additional poems chosen by Roger Elkin, author of Fixing Things and Blood Brothers, from the Sentinel Annual Poetry Competition (2010) of which he was judge.

    Works featured in SALA have been contributed by authors from Hong Kong, Nigeria, the USA, Australia and the United Kingdom among other countries. Here we have an exciting mix of voices dealing with issues from everyday to the unusual.

    Authors featured include: Nicholas Y.B. Wong, Byron Beynon, Hajo Isa, Rusyan Sopian, Nsuhoridem Okon, Abigail George, Katie McDermott, Zino Asalor, Nike Adesuyi, Unoma Azuah, Angel Propps, Amanda Sington-Williams, Mel Ross-Macdonald, Jill Richter, Tendai Tshakisani Makavani, Michael Spring, Catherine Smith, Callum Patrick Hughes, Angela Amalonye Nwosu, Nnorom Azuonye, Hannah Lowe, Gary Smillie, Derek Sellen, W.F. Lantry, Christian Ward, Wally Smith, Jane Moreton, Carolyn King, Jonathan Davidson, and Paul Groves.

    CONTACT INFORMATION:

    For inquiries: sala@sentinelpoetry.org.uk

    For submissions: sala@sentinelpoetry.org.uk

    Website: http://www.sentinelpoetry.org.uk

  • Call for Articles - Lagos Notes and Records: A Journal of the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos (Nigeria)

    Deadline: 30 June 2011

    INVITATION OF ARTICLES FOR VOLUME 17, 2011 EDITION

    Articles are hereby invited from interested researchers for possible publication in the next edition of Lagos Notes and Records: A Journal of the Faculty of Arts. Lagos Notes and Records is a member of the African Journals On Line (AJOL). It publishes well-researched and peer-reviewed articles in all areas of humanities broadly defined including but not limited to Languages, Literature, Fine Arts, Theatre, Music, History, Philosophy and Culture.

    Articles submitted for publication considerations must satisfy the following conditions:

    1. Each article must be an original work of the author.

    2. The author should ensure that the article has not been submitted to anywhere else for publication.

    3. The article is within the scope of humanistic studies and makes significant contributions to the specific field of interest.

    4. The article should be preceded by an abstract of 200 words and 3 – 5 keywords.

    5. The manuscript should be between 10 and 15 pages double-spaced on A4 paper, Times New Roman 12 point font size.

    6. The author should ensure that there is a title page containing names (no initials), address, current status, institutional affiliation, email address and phone number. All other parts of the article, including the abstract, should not contain the author’s name.

    7. Copyright of the article accepted for publication belongs to Lagos Notes and Records. It is however the responsibility of the author to obtain due permission of copyright material used in the article.

    8. All tables, figures and photographs are to be specially packaged and camera ready.

    9. The author should submit the article electronically to lagosnotesandrecords@unilag.edu.ng and copy eaadedun@yahoo.co.uk or emmanuel.adedun@kcl.ac.uk. In addition, one hard copy should be sent to: Dr. E. A. Adedun, The Editor, Lagos Notes and Records, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Akoka – Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.

    10. Documentation of references should be done in accordance with the current American Psychological Association Style (APA) Sheet which is the Journal’s in-house style.

    11. Deadline for submission of manuscript is June 30, 2011.

    DR.E.A.ADEDUN
    DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
    FACULTY OF ARTS
    UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
    NIGERIA
    Email: eadedun@unilag.edu.ng,
    eaadedun@yahoo.co.uk

    Contact Information:

    For inquiries: lagosnotesandrecords@unilag.edu.ng

    For submissions: lagosnotesandrecords@unilag.edu.ng

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