AWF hosts Adelakun in Abuja
Ms Adelakun who grew up and schooled in Ibadan, recently completing a Master of Arts degree in the department of Communication and Language Arts of the University of Ibadan, took to writing fiction from the age of 16. This passion has seen her writing six unpublished manuscripts. She even wrote a novel for her B. […]
Ms Adelakun who grew up and schooled in Ibadan, recently completing a Master of Arts degree in the department of Communication and Language Arts of the University of Ibadan, took to writing fiction from the age of 16. This passion has seen her writing six unpublished manuscripts. She even wrote a novel for her B. A. project in the same University.
Her working experience has included stints as a teacher and librarian, and after graduation, she worked in Prima Garnet Ogilvy, a Lagos-based advertising agency as intern account manager. Ms Adelakun is currently with PUNCH, Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper. She is on the Life and Style Desk and writes on the Arts – literary, music, visual, film etc. She also writes news features and holds a regular opinion column in which she comments on topical issues.
She wrote Under The Brown Rusted Roofs, she said, in response to an observation made by the poet and playwright, Professor Femi Osofisan, during a tripartite faculty lecture given by the Professor when he declared that Ibadan, which used to be the hub of literary activities had collapsed as there are no longer writers from Ibadan or stories based on Ibadan anymore. Since her worldview was carved out in the city, Ms Adealakun felt Osofisan’s comment was a challenge and took it up.
Described as a book of many-tales-in-one, the book was published in 2008 by the Ibadan-based Krafts Books but its rise to literary prominence has been gradual even after being shortlisted for two prestigious literary prizes that year – the Nigeria Prize for Literature (sponsored by the NLNG) and the Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA)/Jacaranda Prize. It is a tale that casts its net wide and brings in a catch-of-issues such as domestic violence, child abuse, promiscuity, superstition, polygamy, diabolism and political brigandage. Central to the story is the polygamous family of Chief Arigbabuwo and the intrigues within such a household and the neighbourhood.
The Guest Writer Session holds on September 25 by 4pm at the Pen and Pages Bookstore, White House Plaza, Plot 79, Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and will include the usual side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition and live music.
The September edition will be preceded by the monthly creative writing workshop which started a year ago and is currently focusing on poetry. The workshop starts by 11:30am at the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Hamdala Plaza, Plot 23, Jimmy Carter Street, off Protea Hotel, Asokoro.