When Hill-top Art Centre hosted Agema
The Hill-top Art Foundation, Minna kicked off 2017 with a maiden edition of the Book Maker on the road to the big event coming up in march: the Nigeria Festival of Teen Authors (NIFESTEENA). The Book Maker is a quarterly guest writer series that features prolific and award winning writers across the country and this […]
The Hill-top Art Foundation, Minna kicked off 2017 with a maiden edition of the Book Maker on the road to the big event coming up in march: the Nigeria Festival of Teen Authors (NIFESTEENA).
The Book Maker is a quarterly guest writer series that features prolific and award winning writers across the country and this time, Su’Eddie Vershima Agema, a former chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Benue State chapter and 2014 ANA Poetry Prize winner was the guest.
The event started with an hour-long mentoring session with the members of the foundation.
After founder, BM Dzukogi, introduced the guest to the members, Agema proceeded into an interactive session where he asked them what the essence of writing is. Most of their response were rounded up into: solving problems, sharing messages and therapy. Agema summarized every writer’s essence as to produce art that’s significant, that communicates and changes at least a soul.
He further gave tips on how to improve their arts especially in writing. Reading was the master of all of them that he’d mentioned. Other prolific writers invited to the event also graced this session with few words from their saged gourds.
Writers like Muhib Aslu gave the young writers a brief tale on how he started his writing career and urged them to listen to critiques on their art. He encouraged them to continue even though these critiques seem discouraging.
On his part, Saddiq Dzukogi also tipped them on how he started his online publishing streak with countless rejections.
The event proper began with Deborah Oluniran coordinating. This time, more top dignitaries blessed the occasion with their presence.
Engr. Yahaya D. Daudu, Sheikh Dada Paiko (Muhibb Aslu), Aminu S. Muhammad, Dr. Mahmud Tanko, Mr Nur’din Busari(AMAB), members of the Association of Nigerian Authors Niger chapter: Mohammed Mohammed, Bilkisu Abarah, Awwal Evuti, Abdullahi Gussoro, Hassan Usman Katsina, Nana Sule and many more were also present.
The event also featured performances by the members of the art centre such as spoken word poetry, songs and a short cake cutting for the founder BM Dzukogi, who coincidentally happens to be celebrating his birthday too. Saddiq Dzukogi gave a short toast to his Dad and Priscilla Adeshina added a birthday song to his many gifts.
During the event proper, when asked how he balances writing poetry and short fiction together, Agema turned the question to a member of the art centre, Victor Ugwu, who also combines this two art forms.
Victor’s reason was time, “I’ll write fiction if have much time and poetry if I have less,” Victor said.
Agema said that he had always loved telling stories but he has never liked writing long notes.
Saddiq further asked how he always finds a story to tell. Agema replied that at each time he wants to feel or have a particular emotion, something to fire up his and renaline and there’s nothing to trigger such emotions, he’ll just pick his pen and put down a story or a poem that has this fire.
Mr Nurdin Busari of AMAB insisted that writing out of depression isn’t “art” because there has been so much deviation from its true meaning and form. He cited an example with American poet Sylvia Plath and her eventual suicide. He also argued how we’ve normalized inane occurrences as the works of art.
Soon after the floor was open to questions and suggestions, Peter Kwange (a member of the foundation) brought up his issue with Agema’s ‘Bottom of Another Tale’ where he stated that some of the stories are too poetic and obscure for some readers who struggle with poetry. Agema responded that he was sending a particular message to selected readers and also he disagreed on the stories being “too poetic”.
Mustapha Gimba, another member of the centre argued on the cover of his poetry collection ‘Home Equals Holes’, insisting that there was no connection between the cover and content. Phidelis Obaseki came to the rescue, first asking the guest to read a poem called “Transition” from the collection. Then he explained how that poem alone befits the cover of the book.
Peter Kwange presented a portrait of the guest which drew loud cheers and wows. Fidelis Obaseki gave the closing remarks and Muhib Aslu rounded up the event with a closing prayer. After the event, Agema gave out books to members of the foundation and donated some to the library and the NIFESTEENA.