Fossils, From a Poem to its Creator: Abuja’s literary honour

Also, both books—Maiwada’s Fossils and Diego’s From a Poem to its Creator— were published by Hybun Publications International and if you should ask either author, he would tell you that the other made a significant contribution to the success of his book. They both would tell you that the books were indeed a collective effort […]

Also, both books—Maiwada’s Fossils and Diego’s From a Poem to its Creator— were published by Hybun Publications International and if you should ask either author, he would tell you that the other made a significant contribution to the success of his book. They both would tell you that the books were indeed a collective effort in the success or failure of which all members of the Abuja chapter of ANA should share.

“Here in Abuja”, Maiwada told Sunday Trust, “we work as a team. Everybody you see who is learning or who is teaching others looks at it, first of all, as a personal task and then as a collective [one]. Whatever we are doing, we are always careful [to ensure] that we are doing it for each other. It follows naturally that this recognition that we got—especially that Fossils got—is like a baby for each and every member of ANA Abuja”.

This was the spirit last week when the chapter organised a special reading session in honour of the poet laureates in waiting (some say they already are poet laureates). Members of the chapter gathered to celebrate a feat they say has never been witnessed before: two Abuja-based writers having their works shortlisted for the NLNG prize at a go. They even believe that the lucky charm has rubbed off Hyacinth Obunseh, the proprietor of Hybun Publication; he could not have two books shortlisted at once when he was based in Lagos, they say, but he has achieved that by relocating to Abuja.

The rise of Abuja as a literary power house was the subject of a talk given by the Secretary General of ANA, Denja Abdullahi, who traced the romance that has been taking place between Abuja and poets to the late Mamman Vatsa, a poet-soldier who authored two poetry books—The Poetry of Abuja and Reach for the Skies—on the city. According to Denja, although the execution of Mamman Vatsa by his bosom friend, former military President Ibrahim Babangida and the rule of General Sani Abacha had resulted in the flight of poetry—and creativity in general—from the city of Abuja, there appeared to be a renaissance with the return to civil rule in 1999.

“The city of Lagos lost the seat of power to Abuja”, he said, “and I dare say it is on the way to losing the fountain of creativity to Abuja”.

This optimism was shared by those who spoke during the event, particularly former Minster of State I, Education, Dr Jerry Agada and one-time Minister of Education, Chief Ihechukwu Madubuike, who said that the flourishing of literary minds in Abuja had shown that even public and civil servants could be successful writers. Chief Madubuike even called for the teaching of poetry in schools to enhance the appreciation of the craft in future generations.

A lawyer by profession, Ahmed Maiwada is widely known in literary circles as a passionate poet, essayist and literary critic. Fossils is his second published work. The first, also a poetry collection, Saint of a Woman, was also published by Hybun Publications in 2004.

He said the news that his book was shortlisted for the NLNG prize came to him as a surprise, for he did not set out to win any prize with it.

“I [was] extremely surprised. I’m not a writer who writes for prizes. I write to win hearts—to communicate, to express myself and see that what I’m saying has created some impression in the mind of my readers”, he said.

Describing Fossils as an experimentation, Maiwada said he was surprised that it had warranted recognition in a country like Nigeria, which was “a traditional society—we are very conservative and do not like to see changes. Fortunately, the judges saw what I have done with Fossils, and they recognised it”.

To Diego Okenyodo, a pharmacist by training and editor of the Weekly Trust literary column, “Bookshelf”, being shortlisted for the NLNG prize was a vindication that he did not make a mistake when he decided to leave pharmacy behind and engage in literary activities.

“I feel vindicated, and that is what I keep saying: that after all these years of abandoning pharmacy and trying to concentrate on literature and literary journalism, [I have produced] something that the world can [see and] say ‘oh, so he meant something after all?’”

He also said that whether he won the ultimate prize or not, he had already been honoured by being shortlisted. When our reporter asked him what he would do with the prize money if he won, Diego said he was not even thinking about it, because it could have negative impact on his writing.

“I need the prize money if it comes, but I don’t write for a prize. The prize itself can actually be a distraction for writing. It can be positive, it can be negative: you can get the prize money and it would be good, but at the same time you can get distracted”, he said.

In conclusion, Maiwada said the recognition was an indication that what he was doing was right and he needed to continue with it.

“This recognition more or less told me that I should continue on the same track: I should continue to be original, I should continue to work hard, I should continue to experiment as much as I can—take all the liberties available to me as a poet so that by the time I am done, maybe a whole body of special work may have come out of them. I am challenged that ‘look you have just started something; and for you to get to where you’re going, you have to keep walking’ because I think this revolution, if it stops there, it will die”.