Udenwe, Bako for AWF Guest Writer session

The Abuja Writers Forum guest writer session, holding this evening at the Nanet Suites, Abuja, will feature novelist and prolific short story writer, Obinna Udenwe, whose debut novel, ‘Satans and Shaytans’ has been the entire rave since its Nigerian release. He will be joined by filmmaker Ishaya Bako of the ‘Braid on a Bald Head’ […]

The Abuja Writers Forum guest writer session, holding this evening at the Nanet Suites, Abuja, will feature novelist and prolific short story writer, Obinna Udenwe, whose debut novel, ‘Satans and Shaytans’ has been the entire rave since its Nigerian release. He will be joined by filmmaker Ishaya Bako of the ‘Braid on a Bald Head’ fame while guitarist Austin Oroko will provide the music.
Udenwe’s debut novel is set against the backdrop of the ongoing insurgency in Nigeria and tells the story of two powerful men, Chief Donald Amechi and world acclaimed televangelist, Chris Chuba, both members of an internationally renowned cult, the Sacred Order of the Universal Forces. Members of the occult from southern Nigeria, desperate to gain control of their country, deceive an Islamic terrorist organisation into carrying out attacks in order to undermine and overrule the Nigerian president.
Udenwe is a prolific writer with his ‘Holy Sex’ series, published on Brittle Paper, receiving critical acclaim. The Abakili-born writer has seen his stock rise as a result and has had works featured in Fiction365, Ehanom Review, Brittle Paper, Tribe, Kalahari Review, Alariwo, African Writer, Outside In Magazine, Books Live, etc. He has also been anthologised in African Roar, Dreams at Dawn, ANA Review, and the ‘Short Story is Dead Long Live the Short Story.’
The other guest for the evening is award winning filmmaker, Ishaya Bako, who had studied at the London Film School. His first short film, ‘Braids on a Bald Head,’ which he scripted and directed, thrust him into the public eye and earned him his first major award.
His ‘Fuelling Poverty,’ a documentary on poverty and fuel subsidy which was narrated by Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka created a buzz when it was banned by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
Bako is an emerging voice of his generation and a member of the select Global Shapers, a collection of enterprising youths initiated by the World Economic Forum.
His current production, ‘Road To Yesterday,’ is a collaboration with Genevieve Nnaji and stars British actor Oris Erhuero, Majid Michel, Ebele Okaro and comedian Chi Gurl. Bako describes it as both a road film and a modern day love story about a couple in distresses.
To provide musical intervention on the evening, the AWF has invited Austin Oroko, who hails from Benue State. Apart from a degree in Language and Linguistics, Oroko speaks French, Italian and German, thanks to growing up around the world on account of his diplomat father.
Oroko grew up with a keyboard but committed himself to the guitar from a young age, producing music that has been classified as Indie Rock  with a touch of soul.
 The AWF guest writer session which also features a raffle-draw for books, runs from 4-7pm at Nanet Suites, Abuja this Saturday evening.