Literature
Jare Ajayi, a veteran journalist and writer is one of those aspiring to become the General Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) at the elections coming up during the association?s Convention in November. The convention, which coincides with the 30th anniversary of the body?s establishment, will hold in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. In this chat, Jare Ajayi spoke with Sumaila Umaisha on challenges and triumphs of literature in this clime as well as his vision for ANA if he is elected as its Secretary General.
I left Tribune in 1995 to run a private business. The business consists of arts promotion, management consultancy, publishing and training. I did not leave writing and journalism as I write for Inter Press Services (IPS), an online international media network. I reported for the Network from such places as Canada, USA among others. Presently, I run a bilingual newspaper ? and maintain a weekly column with the Compass newspaper.
Concerning writing and ANA; I had the privilege of starting the very first state chapter of the association in this country - that is the Oyo State Chapter ? with the cooperation of many in the State and encouragement from Mr Odia Ofeimun who was then the national scribe. I started it as the Co-ordinator and later served as its Secretary.
I have also served as an ex-officio member and as Assistant General Secretary of the body at the national level. As Assistant to the then General Secretary, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, I held the forte when he was forced to go underground during the Abacha era.
When I was running the affairs of the Oyo State Chapter, we started annual programme during which literary prizes were given not only for works in English language but also for works in our local language. This was in the early 1990s - ever before the national body initiated action on honouring writers in indigenous languages. We also took Literature awareness campaigns to schools through our Outreach Programme.
It is a matter of joy to note that the said chapter (Oyo) that we started served as an inspiration for more Chapters to come on board. We recall also that Oyo State Chapter assisted in mid-wifing Ogun and Osun States Chapters - the latter after the creation of Osun State.
My first novel, Bile In The Dish was the first runner-up in the ANA Prose Competition of 1990 while I have also won literary prizes both at home and abroad in addition to being published locally and internationally. For instance, I am a holder of the International Poet of Merit Award conferred on me at Hilton Hotel, Washington DC, (USA) in 1994, among others.
As a literary journalist, I have, in my own modest way, used the opportunity I have in many media outfits to showcase Nigerian Literature and authors locally and internationally
My first collection of poems, Arise & Other Poems came out in 1988 while my novel, Bile In The Dish mentioned earlier came out in 1990. In 1994, I was bestowed with the International Poet of Merit Award in Washington D.C. United States of America (USA) ? there are other awards. To the glory of God, I have authored many other books since then. The biographical work I did on the first African novelist to be published in English language, Amos Tutuola, remains the most authoritative work on the man till today.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian literary scene?The literary scene in Nigeria is a very interesting, very vibrant one. It is an environment that one has a longing and pride to be part of. Longing because of its fascinating dynamism and its capacity to titillate and challenge. Pride, because of the image it has cast for itself locally and internationally. When African literature is mentioned, Nigeria literature looms large within it. One is proud to be part of the tapestry called Nigerian literature, its organistic semblance and its undoubtedly rich future.
What would you say are the main problems bedeviling literature, writers and literary associations in Nigeria?
There is the need for definition in answering this question. The question seems to encapsulate problems bedeviling literature in Nigeria, problems bedeviling writers and problems bedeviling literary associations in Nigeria. Do I get you right?
Right.Ok. I?ll take them one by one. Although the problems bedeviling one may dovetail into the other, they are not necessarily the same.
Literature in Nigeria; The major problems or challenges that literature in Nigeria faces is that of exposition. I mentioned earlier that one is proud to be associated with Nigerian literature because of its universal acknowledgement. It is however a fact that its present image and popularity can be enhanced much further. Indeed, should be enhanced much further. For instance, how many of Nigerian literary works are translated into many world languages? Outside of Achebe, Soyinka, Tutuola, Ekwensi, Okri, Abubakar Imam, Osundare and a few others, not many Nigerian writers are available in other languages . Translations into world languages happen mostly to works that are known.
Nigerian Writers; The challenges faced by Nigerian writers begin with limited avenue for the publication of their works. The number of publishers are not enough to cope with the number of works being churned out by writers. Some otherwise promising outfits in publishing have gone under for a variety of reasons while many still thrive mainly by relying on recommended texts, getting printing contracts from such organizations like NERDC, NCCE, JAMB, NECO, etc as well as by publishing high profile biographies which would be launched with funfare. Few, if any, are publishing companies that are thriving mainly on selling books they publish ? especially creative books.
The question to ask is why is this so? Could it be that publishing, by its very nature, is not a business that can stand on its own? The answer, definitely, is No. publishing can be a very thriving business as is the case in many other climes outside Nigeria and as used to be the case in the early days of publishing even here in Nigeria. By that, I mean in 1960s through 1980s.
The problem came with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) with its attendant devaluation of the naira and other components of the programme as introduced by Ibrahim Babangida administration. Disposable incomes of an average Nigerian dwindled while costs of production rose. Few people were (and still are) able to buy books because publishers are forced to sell books at relatively high prices due to high cost of production.
Publishing companies that traditionally accept manuscripts - and publish after assessment - resort to publishing such works only if the writer can finance the publication. This, in part, led to the birth of self publishing as well as, in a way, drop in quality, especially in terms of production.
The root cause of this particular problem is the fact that Nigeria still has to rely on importing materials for its publishing industry decades after independence. This means high cost which in turn will naturally lead to high cover prices.
Besides the above, the neglect of the education sector by the government which in turn led to a serious fall in literary skill of many Nigerians, including writers, meant that the quality of what is written is adversely affected. Thus, to have works by many Nigerian writers come out in good standard; editors today have to do more works than their colleagues who worked around the 1980s and before.
So here, the writing capacity of Nigerian writers need to be greatly improved upon.
Literary Associations; Concerning problems confronting literary associations in Nigeria. An organization, as you know, consists of people who form that organization. Literary bodies are formed or are supposed to be formed by literary people/writers. Writers in Nigeria today are not fulfilled in terms of the attitude of the government and the society to their trade. This lack of fulfillment often reflects in their attitude.
It is carried into organizations meant to advance their cause. Meanwhile, an organization needs money for its operations. Writers? organizations that are supposed to advance writers? cause cannot be adequately funded by writers who themselves are lacking in monetary terms. So the organization cannot satisfactorily perform its expected duties due to lack of resources. This often induces irritability and restlessness, if not frustration, in writers ? against their organization. In many other climes, writers? organizations are assisted in kind and in cash by governments and others. Here, such a thing is rare. That is one big problem for literary organization in Nigeria, including ANA.
In addition to the above, writers by their nature are independent minded who are given to trading words. So, they often see a lot of lapses in their organization. Thus, they hardly spare even their own organization from criticisms. The same way they don?t spare the larger society. Often, issues are expanded upon in the media and discussions because of the passion attached to them by writers/discussants. Such often gave the impression of ?serious crises in a writers? association even when it is just a matter that can be administratively sorted out.
It is also important to mention that the critical nature of writers, coupled with the inclement environment in which they operate often make them to be very touchy on matters that concern their association. But this is not to say that those who run such organsaistion are all the time blameless.
I can summarize what I?ve been saying this way: Literary organizations have problems ? like many other human organizations. These problems are exacerbated by lack of resources with which to operate. In spite of this lack of resources, members don?t spare their organizations. The way out is to strengthen the organization structurally and financially while members should show more understanding.
Are you contesting for the post of the Secretary of ANA so as to tackle these problems?
Yes, I?m motivated to present myself for the position of General Secretary with a view to tackling these challenges.
How do you intend ot tackle the problems?First, as the saying goes, proper diagnosis of a problem or disease is a good indicator of how the problem can be solved. As stated in my Plan of Action (or Manifesto), my mission if elected as General Secretary is to find a way of meeting these challenges and ensuring that mechanisms are in place to be able to appropriately respond to emerging ones. This will be done by well coordinated series of actions. It is important to state beforehand that manifesto is only a précis of what is to be done as it would be too unwieldy if details of what to be done and the general modality for doing them are included. But it does give an insight into the direction we are to face.
Having said that, my manifesto can be summed up as follows:
1. Ensuring that a functional secretariat is opened for ANA in Abuja with a proper liaison office in Lagos.
2. Computerization of the Association?s activities. By being more ICT-compliant, ANA members and their works would be more widely known and patronized.
3. Making the association more visible both in concrete terms and in the national discourse.
4. Availability of libraries is important for books. ANA, under my General Secretaryship, will work with governments at national, state and local government levels to establish libraries. Governments will be persuaded to bulk purchase every title published in their areas and stock them in these libraries.
5. Closer relationship will be fostered between the National Executive and States? Chapters through a regular meeting that will involve the NEC and States? Chairmen and their Secretaries.
6. The Federal Government and its appropriate agencies would be engaged with a view to ensuring that materials for book production are available at affordable prices. Besides soliciting for the liberalization of material availability, we will also encourage the production of some of these materials locally. (Indeed, it would be a matter of re-activating the production as we used to have some of these things produced in this country before).
7. It is observed that acrimonies often characterize discourses on or about ANA. A perusal of the situation suggests that this often happens due to lack of necessary information. We shall ensure that information about the association is more widely available and at the earliest possible time. (This is without prejudice to the fact that some seem to derive fun in ?kicking? the association even when they possess information). In like manner, dispute resolution mechanism will be put in place with a view to having misunderstandings cleared as quickly as possible.
8. Efforts will be made to streamline and increase literary prizes in the country.
9. ANA has to literally go cap in hand whenever a programme is to be held due to lack of fund. If elected, efforts would be made to ensure that the association has credit balances in its accounts and be able to pursue its programmes with relative ease.
10. Young authors will be given more encouragement and more outlets to bring their work to the public will be explored and created.
11. Workshops for budding and established authors will be organized regularly. Content of these workshops will include the latest in the world of writing and publishing.
12. The Writers? Village in Abuja will become a reality while a prototype ? on a smaller scale ? will be encouraged at states? level.
13. Efforts would be made to ensure that the much vaunted National Endowment for Literature (aside the $200,000 Endowment announced last year for the Arts generally) come into fruition and that writers can really access and benefit from the fund.
14. If elected as General Secretary, our executive council will foster greater and mutually beneficial relationship with relevant organizations locally and internationally ? for grants, fellowships, endowments, exchanges, sales outlets etc. In this wise, opportunities will be created to have funds for writers to take time off from their normal schedule to go and write and at the same time create more rooms for their works to be available to the public.
15. Many older writers ? especially of the first and second generations ? do not take active part in ANA programmes. Under my General Secretaryship, they will be encouraged to identify more with ANA and participate in its programmes.
Do you think that ANA members will give you a chance, considering others who are equally gunning for the position?I believe ANA members will vote for me for a number of reasons; chief of which is competence. As stated interalia, I stared the very first ANA Chapter anywhere in Nigeria. That is the Oyo State Chapter of the Association. For a lont time, it was a model. The 1990 ANA Convention continues to be a reference point till today. Members of our branch whom we nurture have won several prizes locally and nationally ? even internationally.
- As Writers Converge On Uyo?
The Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is well known for its commitment to annual conference. For the past 30 years it has held an international convention annually. This year is not an exception. Members of the association from the state chapters...
- Fja Joins The Race For Ana Exco Membership
FRIDAY JOHN ABBA, former chairman of Kaduna State chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is a well known name in the Nigerian literary circle for his radical comments on how ANA should be run. Several members of the association have always challenged...
- "i Will Give Ana More Visibility" - Hyancinth
Hyacinth Obunseh, award-winning writer, publisher and Assistant General Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is preparing to vie for the position of General Secretary of the association in the forthcoming election in November at its Annual...
- Kano Censorship Crisis Resolved (?)
Kano State Censorship Board has reversed its position on the compulsory registration of individual writers, bringing to an end the several weeks of media war between the board and writers in the state. The resolution was reached at an interactive meeting...
- Denja - 'achebe Colloquium Will Be Bigger Than Soyinka?s'
As the International Colloquium to mark the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart draws near, the General Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, MALAM DENJA ABDULLAHI, speaks to SUMAILA UMAISHA on the preparations...
Literature
Nigerian Literature is fascinating and dynamic - Jare Ajayi
Tell us briefly about yourself.
Jare Ajayi: I was born at Igbeti, Oyo State, Nigeria at the threshold of Nigerian independence. I am a journalist.
I started my journalism career with an Ibadan based weekly newspaper, Sunday Glory. I later moved to the Daily Times. While in Times, I was basically with the Sunday Times but was writing for virtually all Daily Times titles then in print. Among them were Times International, Evening Times, Daily Times, Lagos Weekend and of course the Business Times. I was a correspondent for the London based West Africa magazine too.
In 1990, I became the Arts, Reviews and Culture Editor of Tribune titles. In 1992, I revived the paper?s Labour Page that had been rested since 1986 as a result of a labour crisis in the publishing house. In 1993, I started a Tourism Page for the paper. It is my joy today that the two new pages ? Labour and Tourism ? still feature prominently in the Tribune along with the Reviews & Culture Page that I started with.I left Tribune in 1995 to run a private business. The business consists of arts promotion, management consultancy, publishing and training. I did not leave writing and journalism as I write for Inter Press Services (IPS), an online international media network. I reported for the Network from such places as Canada, USA among others. Presently, I run a bilingual newspaper ? and maintain a weekly column with the Compass newspaper.
Concerning writing and ANA; I had the privilege of starting the very first state chapter of the association in this country - that is the Oyo State Chapter ? with the cooperation of many in the State and encouragement from Mr Odia Ofeimun who was then the national scribe. I started it as the Co-ordinator and later served as its Secretary.
I have also served as an ex-officio member and as Assistant General Secretary of the body at the national level. As Assistant to the then General Secretary, Mr Nnimmo Bassey, I held the forte when he was forced to go underground during the Abacha era.
When I was running the affairs of the Oyo State Chapter, we started annual programme during which literary prizes were given not only for works in English language but also for works in our local language. This was in the early 1990s - ever before the national body initiated action on honouring writers in indigenous languages. We also took Literature awareness campaigns to schools through our Outreach Programme.
It is a matter of joy to note that the said chapter (Oyo) that we started served as an inspiration for more Chapters to come on board. We recall also that Oyo State Chapter assisted in mid-wifing Ogun and Osun States Chapters - the latter after the creation of Osun State.
My first novel, Bile In The Dish was the first runner-up in the ANA Prose Competition of 1990 while I have also won literary prizes both at home and abroad in addition to being published locally and internationally. For instance, I am a holder of the International Poet of Merit Award conferred on me at Hilton Hotel, Washington DC, (USA) in 1994, among others.
As a literary journalist, I have, in my own modest way, used the opportunity I have in many media outfits to showcase Nigerian Literature and authors locally and internationally
My first collection of poems, Arise & Other Poems came out in 1988 while my novel, Bile In The Dish mentioned earlier came out in 1990. In 1994, I was bestowed with the International Poet of Merit Award in Washington D.C. United States of America (USA) ? there are other awards. To the glory of God, I have authored many other books since then. The biographical work I did on the first African novelist to be published in English language, Amos Tutuola, remains the most authoritative work on the man till today.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian literary scene?The literary scene in Nigeria is a very interesting, very vibrant one. It is an environment that one has a longing and pride to be part of. Longing because of its fascinating dynamism and its capacity to titillate and challenge. Pride, because of the image it has cast for itself locally and internationally. When African literature is mentioned, Nigeria literature looms large within it. One is proud to be part of the tapestry called Nigerian literature, its organistic semblance and its undoubtedly rich future.
What would you say are the main problems bedeviling literature, writers and literary associations in Nigeria?
There is the need for definition in answering this question. The question seems to encapsulate problems bedeviling literature in Nigeria, problems bedeviling writers and problems bedeviling literary associations in Nigeria. Do I get you right?
Right.Ok. I?ll take them one by one. Although the problems bedeviling one may dovetail into the other, they are not necessarily the same.
Literature in Nigeria; The major problems or challenges that literature in Nigeria faces is that of exposition. I mentioned earlier that one is proud to be associated with Nigerian literature because of its universal acknowledgement. It is however a fact that its present image and popularity can be enhanced much further. Indeed, should be enhanced much further. For instance, how many of Nigerian literary works are translated into many world languages? Outside of Achebe, Soyinka, Tutuola, Ekwensi, Okri, Abubakar Imam, Osundare and a few others, not many Nigerian writers are available in other languages . Translations into world languages happen mostly to works that are known.
Nigerian Writers; The challenges faced by Nigerian writers begin with limited avenue for the publication of their works. The number of publishers are not enough to cope with the number of works being churned out by writers. Some otherwise promising outfits in publishing have gone under for a variety of reasons while many still thrive mainly by relying on recommended texts, getting printing contracts from such organizations like NERDC, NCCE, JAMB, NECO, etc as well as by publishing high profile biographies which would be launched with funfare. Few, if any, are publishing companies that are thriving mainly on selling books they publish ? especially creative books.
The question to ask is why is this so? Could it be that publishing, by its very nature, is not a business that can stand on its own? The answer, definitely, is No. publishing can be a very thriving business as is the case in many other climes outside Nigeria and as used to be the case in the early days of publishing even here in Nigeria. By that, I mean in 1960s through 1980s.
The problem came with the introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) with its attendant devaluation of the naira and other components of the programme as introduced by Ibrahim Babangida administration. Disposable incomes of an average Nigerian dwindled while costs of production rose. Few people were (and still are) able to buy books because publishers are forced to sell books at relatively high prices due to high cost of production.
Publishing companies that traditionally accept manuscripts - and publish after assessment - resort to publishing such works only if the writer can finance the publication. This, in part, led to the birth of self publishing as well as, in a way, drop in quality, especially in terms of production.
The root cause of this particular problem is the fact that Nigeria still has to rely on importing materials for its publishing industry decades after independence. This means high cost which in turn will naturally lead to high cover prices.
Besides the above, the neglect of the education sector by the government which in turn led to a serious fall in literary skill of many Nigerians, including writers, meant that the quality of what is written is adversely affected. Thus, to have works by many Nigerian writers come out in good standard; editors today have to do more works than their colleagues who worked around the 1980s and before.
So here, the writing capacity of Nigerian writers need to be greatly improved upon.
Literary Associations; Concerning problems confronting literary associations in Nigeria. An organization, as you know, consists of people who form that organization. Literary bodies are formed or are supposed to be formed by literary people/writers. Writers in Nigeria today are not fulfilled in terms of the attitude of the government and the society to their trade. This lack of fulfillment often reflects in their attitude.
It is carried into organizations meant to advance their cause. Meanwhile, an organization needs money for its operations. Writers? organizations that are supposed to advance writers? cause cannot be adequately funded by writers who themselves are lacking in monetary terms. So the organization cannot satisfactorily perform its expected duties due to lack of resources. This often induces irritability and restlessness, if not frustration, in writers ? against their organization. In many other climes, writers? organizations are assisted in kind and in cash by governments and others. Here, such a thing is rare. That is one big problem for literary organization in Nigeria, including ANA.
In addition to the above, writers by their nature are independent minded who are given to trading words. So, they often see a lot of lapses in their organization. Thus, they hardly spare even their own organization from criticisms. The same way they don?t spare the larger society. Often, issues are expanded upon in the media and discussions because of the passion attached to them by writers/discussants. Such often gave the impression of ?serious crises in a writers? association even when it is just a matter that can be administratively sorted out.
It is also important to mention that the critical nature of writers, coupled with the inclement environment in which they operate often make them to be very touchy on matters that concern their association. But this is not to say that those who run such organsaistion are all the time blameless.
I can summarize what I?ve been saying this way: Literary organizations have problems ? like many other human organizations. These problems are exacerbated by lack of resources with which to operate. In spite of this lack of resources, members don?t spare their organizations. The way out is to strengthen the organization structurally and financially while members should show more understanding.
Are you contesting for the post of the Secretary of ANA so as to tackle these problems?
Yes, I?m motivated to present myself for the position of General Secretary with a view to tackling these challenges.
How do you intend ot tackle the problems?First, as the saying goes, proper diagnosis of a problem or disease is a good indicator of how the problem can be solved. As stated in my Plan of Action (or Manifesto), my mission if elected as General Secretary is to find a way of meeting these challenges and ensuring that mechanisms are in place to be able to appropriately respond to emerging ones. This will be done by well coordinated series of actions. It is important to state beforehand that manifesto is only a précis of what is to be done as it would be too unwieldy if details of what to be done and the general modality for doing them are included. But it does give an insight into the direction we are to face.
Having said that, my manifesto can be summed up as follows:
1. Ensuring that a functional secretariat is opened for ANA in Abuja with a proper liaison office in Lagos.
2. Computerization of the Association?s activities. By being more ICT-compliant, ANA members and their works would be more widely known and patronized.
3. Making the association more visible both in concrete terms and in the national discourse.
4. Availability of libraries is important for books. ANA, under my General Secretaryship, will work with governments at national, state and local government levels to establish libraries. Governments will be persuaded to bulk purchase every title published in their areas and stock them in these libraries.
5. Closer relationship will be fostered between the National Executive and States? Chapters through a regular meeting that will involve the NEC and States? Chairmen and their Secretaries.
6. The Federal Government and its appropriate agencies would be engaged with a view to ensuring that materials for book production are available at affordable prices. Besides soliciting for the liberalization of material availability, we will also encourage the production of some of these materials locally. (Indeed, it would be a matter of re-activating the production as we used to have some of these things produced in this country before).
7. It is observed that acrimonies often characterize discourses on or about ANA. A perusal of the situation suggests that this often happens due to lack of necessary information. We shall ensure that information about the association is more widely available and at the earliest possible time. (This is without prejudice to the fact that some seem to derive fun in ?kicking? the association even when they possess information). In like manner, dispute resolution mechanism will be put in place with a view to having misunderstandings cleared as quickly as possible.
8. Efforts will be made to streamline and increase literary prizes in the country.
9. ANA has to literally go cap in hand whenever a programme is to be held due to lack of fund. If elected, efforts would be made to ensure that the association has credit balances in its accounts and be able to pursue its programmes with relative ease.
10. Young authors will be given more encouragement and more outlets to bring their work to the public will be explored and created.
11. Workshops for budding and established authors will be organized regularly. Content of these workshops will include the latest in the world of writing and publishing.
12. The Writers? Village in Abuja will become a reality while a prototype ? on a smaller scale ? will be encouraged at states? level.
13. Efforts would be made to ensure that the much vaunted National Endowment for Literature (aside the $200,000 Endowment announced last year for the Arts generally) come into fruition and that writers can really access and benefit from the fund.
14. If elected as General Secretary, our executive council will foster greater and mutually beneficial relationship with relevant organizations locally and internationally ? for grants, fellowships, endowments, exchanges, sales outlets etc. In this wise, opportunities will be created to have funds for writers to take time off from their normal schedule to go and write and at the same time create more rooms for their works to be available to the public.
15. Many older writers ? especially of the first and second generations ? do not take active part in ANA programmes. Under my General Secretaryship, they will be encouraged to identify more with ANA and participate in its programmes.
Do you think that ANA members will give you a chance, considering others who are equally gunning for the position?I believe ANA members will vote for me for a number of reasons; chief of which is competence. As stated interalia, I stared the very first ANA Chapter anywhere in Nigeria. That is the Oyo State Chapter of the Association. For a lont time, it was a model. The 1990 ANA Convention continues to be a reference point till today. Members of our branch whom we nurture have won several prizes locally and nationally ? even internationally.
Also, those who know me will testify to my penchant for building bridges. With a sense of humility, I like to say that I have friends in virtually all parts of the country. Many of these as a result of the little I was able to do to advance their writing through my journalistic literary activities. I?m sure you?ll agree that experience is something that can be of tremendous benefit to ANA.
How prepared are you towards winning the election?
I am very much prepared. We are reaching out to members in different parts of the country. We will have the opportunity of meeting physically and as a group during the convention. Feedbacks we are getting from our members are that ANA needs the kind of experience, vision and temperament God endows me with. So, I?m emboldened by the assurances of support being given by ANA members. By the grace of God I will be the next General Secretary of ANA as majority of members will vote for me.
- As Writers Converge On Uyo?
The Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is well known for its commitment to annual conference. For the past 30 years it has held an international convention annually. This year is not an exception. Members of the association from the state chapters...
- Fja Joins The Race For Ana Exco Membership
FRIDAY JOHN ABBA, former chairman of Kaduna State chapter of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is a well known name in the Nigerian literary circle for his radical comments on how ANA should be run. Several members of the association have always challenged...
- "i Will Give Ana More Visibility" - Hyancinth
Hyacinth Obunseh, award-winning writer, publisher and Assistant General Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, is preparing to vie for the position of General Secretary of the association in the forthcoming election in November at its Annual...
- Kano Censorship Crisis Resolved (?)
Kano State Censorship Board has reversed its position on the compulsory registration of individual writers, bringing to an end the several weeks of media war between the board and writers in the state. The resolution was reached at an interactive meeting...
- Denja - 'achebe Colloquium Will Be Bigger Than Soyinka?s'
As the International Colloquium to mark the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart draws near, the General Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, MALAM DENJA ABDULLAHI, speaks to SUMAILA UMAISHA on the preparations...