The Writivism Workshops continued to rock the African continent and after rocking Gaberone, Botswana the next stop in the road was Lagos, Nigeria. Here Basit Jamiu, Chidinma Ogarama, Chika Chimezie, Gbolahan Badmus, Kate Ekanem, Tolu Daniel, Ronke Adeleke, Salau Adeola, Uzome Ihejirika, Vivian Uchechi Ogbonna and Socrates Mbamalu would be given the tools to survive the rough and tumble life of being in the writing business. Given them guidance will be Dami Ajayi, Richard Ali and Ukamaka Oliswakwe.
Dami Ajayi is a board member of the Writivism project as well as being the poet that gave the world Clinical Blues. Those of you who claim to be poets need to read this superior collection before you send it off to anyone (send them to me and I will start throwing stones).
Ukamaka Olisakwe was the lady in the banking fraternity until very recently as she joined us in the full time creative business. Just like a typical banker she had already lined up a gig writing The Calabash TV series which is screening on Africa Magic on DSTV. This Ukamaka person has not only written the novel Eyes of a Goddess but she also is listed in the Africa39 project.
Then there is Richard Ali whose Parrésia Publishers made the #ThisIsAfrica Seven Publishers Changing African Fiction List yesterday.
With these people as your mentors you know that you are covered where poetry, prose and screen are concerned. The event happened at the Eko Hotel, Lagos.
The three day event was intense learning for the guys and girls with Fela Kuti’s Look and Laugh playing on the background. Hopefully Fela will inspire some serious writing to come out of that workshop.
Participant at the workshop Chimezie Chika also gives his report on the event.
Here are a sample of tweets from the participants
#Writivism “Art should not be restricted.”
— Gbolahan Badmus (@badmusace) January 16, 2015
#Writivism “Art should not be restricted.”
— Gbolahan Badmus (@badmusace) January 16, 2015
#Writivism “Art should not be restricted.”
— Gbolahan Badmus (@badmusace) January 16, 2015
Qudus at #writivism Lagos. When a the art of dancing is brought into the art of writing. pic.twitter.com/fi3iIM2qON
— Socrates (@linsoc) January 16, 2015
#Writivism Lagos Language should be an experience~ Qudus Onikeku
— Socrates (@linsoc) January 16, 2015
#Writivism “Imagination is anchored on Memory.”
— Gbolahan Badmus (@badmusace) January 16, 2015