An hour previewing a historical documentary on ANA

In the words of the Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Film Village International, Mr. Segun Oyekunle, ‘Dancing Mask’, a historical documentary on the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) takes one on memory lane. Chinua Achebe, the association’s first president, Professor Kole Omotoso (ANA president between 1986 and 1988), Mabel Segun, founder, Children’s Literature of Nigeria […]

In the words of the Chief Executive Officer of Abuja Film Village International, Mr. Segun Oyekunle, ‘Dancing Mask’, a historical documentary on the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) takes one on memory lane. Chinua Achebe, the association’s first president, Professor Kole Omotoso (ANA president between 1986 and 1988), Mabel Segun, founder, Children’s Literature of Nigeria and many others are some of those responsible for this as their faces and words bring the associations past to life like never before.
Directed by Tee Jay Dan, the documentary chronicles the quest for a befitting society for writers, further fuelled after the Nigerian Civil War, when, suddenly writers found more purpose and articulated what they felt in poetry, prose and drama.
From the present ANA president, Malam Denja Abdullahi, to the earliest, the documentary was a flow of interviews (which also included ANA members from across the country) that told the story of the associations rise during the military era to the present. Performing poet Dike Chukwumerije, Publisher and writer Richard Ali, Poet Ahmed Maiwada and several more learnt a voice too.
ANA has been struggling to see it establishes a writers’ village in Mpape and this documentary shows how that area of land was given to the association by Major General Mamman Vatsa, a writer who was later executed during the regime of Major General Ibrahim Babangida for treason.
Vatsa set the pace as a writer and this encouraged other military men and women to follow suit. Aside his sad death and its effect on ANA, was the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa (during the regime of late General Sani Abacha), a renowned writer and activist for the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta.  
The documentary also recorded the rise of writers across the country that included Abubakar Gimba, Cyprian Ekwensi, Elechi Amadi and many others.
Observers at the preview noted that the documentary is a great achievement and applauded the skill of the director, Tee Jay Dan and the association’s president for the initiative, while also pointing at areas where the film could be improved upon.
Tee Jay Jan narrated how he approached the ANA president at the association’s 2015 convention and volunteered to document ANA’s history: “The budget for the film was N6 m. and there was an additional N500, 000,” he said, adding that the observations made will be looked into and alterations and additions made. 
The preview took place at Abuja Film Village International, Maitama.