Day literati gathered to look at Eugenia like that
Evidence of this was on display at the unveiling of the book at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja. The event was well attended with many literati from all over the country gracing. Nigerian writers were represented by the grand captain of the writers’ ship, Dr. Jerry Agada, president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and […]
Evidence of this was on display at the unveiling of the book at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja. The event was well attended with many literati from all over the country gracing. Nigerian writers were represented by the grand captain of the writers’ ship, Dr. Jerry Agada, president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and a former president of the association and Special Adviser to the President on economic matters, Alhaji Abubakar Gimba.
Other creative minds made the night a memorable one. Impressive performances from performance poet, Lady I, who, in the spirit of the night, performed her captivating poem, Me Beneath my Mask, hinting that it was not only a poetry collection that will be unveiled but the face behind the mask on TV screens. She held the audience spell bound. Storyteller, another performance poet, followed suit with another great rendition that left the audience in rapturous applause. Emmanuel Akut and the Bazobe troupe, all the way from Kaduna State took the stage and Eugenia’s long time friend and a fine poet, Bose Tsevende, Chairperson of ANA Plateau had the audience in tow with beautiful renditions of some of her own poems.
When Eugenia eventually mounted the rostrum, there was an air of anticipation. She revealed that the day was not only symbolic to her in the literary sense but in her private life as well. It was her 26hth wedding anniversary – and she was still looking very young. It also coincided with her twins’ birthday. They turned eleven.
Her immediate constituency, NTA was well represented. Its delegation was headed by the Director General, Mal. Usman Magawatta, represented by Mal. Bello Sule, Director of Programmes. He spoke glowingly of Eugenia Abu’s concealed talent that the world is just coming to realise. They had known it for long; he said but admitted he was a little startled that she is equally a poet as she is an essayist and short story writer among other things. It was a lustrous tribute that heightened expectations.
The book itself was unveiled by no less a personality than Mrs. Ajoke Muhammad, widow of former head of states, General Murtala Muhammad. Eugenia Abu again took to the rostrum to give her audience a sampling of her rich buffet of poetry. She read one for her husband and from that piece, and the show of affection on the night, the audience discovered a loving wife beneath the mask on the screen. Mr. Phillip Abu had admitted not quite understanding everything his wife wrote in the wee hours of the morning but he would certainly remember how, in the simplest, lyrical way, his wife reaffirmed her love for him in full public view, after almost three decades of marriage. The second reading was simply unforgettable. It was inspired by a tragedy the poet witnessed along the way and she so vividly caught that moment of loss, of an abruptly extinguished dream in an evocative poem.
As the audience left the hall that night, there was a conviction that despite the book title, Eugenia Abu is simply inviting one to look at her like that, with eyes veiled with adoration.