Day ANA Abuja hosted experienced trio

The event coming on the heels of the Sallah festivities was a treat of prose and poetry for book lovers as poets Denja Abdullahi, Gladys Williams-Russell and novelist Joan Oji held sway at the Area One Zoological garden. Denja Abdullahi, the current vice President of the association was first to mount the hot seat and […]

The event coming on the heels of the Sallah festivities was a treat of prose and poetry for book lovers as poets Denja Abdullahi, Gladys Williams-Russell and novelist Joan Oji held sway at the Area One Zoological garden.

Denja Abdullahi, the current vice President of the association was first to mount the hot seat and read from his recent effort, A Thousand Years of Thirst. One of his love poems, ‘For Saratu’ was particularly moving so much so that a member of the audience admitted she is not so much into poetry but was moved to go and buy copy of the book because of the poet’s delivery.

But for the sagely Mrs. William-Russell, there was no love on her mind as she read from her recent collection, Bronze Silhouettes, poems that succinctly indict society over its misdeeds. Her social critique was delivered with poise and elegance, leaving the audience in exuberant fits of applauses.

And then came Mrs. Joan Oji bringing her matronly voice to the hot seat with readings from her novel, Heart Trick. For a proud mother of eight daughters and grandmother of many, Mrs. Oji’s prose reverberates with a motherly voice and chronicles the folly of young women in love and the consequences of rash decisions.

The evening came to a close with special guests, including the renowned writer Helon Habila, describing the evening is ‘beautiful’ and commending the organisers for putting the event together