Writer Chukwuemeka Ike turns 80

The arthouse crowd is planning a literary feast for the author of Expo 77 two weeks after. On the grounds of the Nigerian International Book Fair on May 13, 2011, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo, professor of English at the University of Lagos, will moderate an exploratory discussion of Ike’s novels. The conversation involves Odili Ujubonu, author […]

The arthouse crowd is planning a literary feast for the author of Expo 77 two weeks after. On the grounds of the Nigerian International Book Fair on May 13, 2011, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo, professor of English at the University of Lagos, will moderate an exploratory discussion of Ike’s novels.

The conversation involves Odili Ujubonu, author of the ward winning novel  Pregnancy of the Gods and  the poet Tade Ipadeola, president of PEN Nigeria and author of The Rain Fardel, a collection of poems. The conversation will be preceeded by commentaries on three books of Ike, by three secondary students. The publisher, Modupe Oduyoye, will also be speaking around the efficacy of Ike’s book on publishing.

The Arthouse forum is an occasional series of events, organized by the Committee for Relevant Art, to celebrate a distinguished career, or call attention to a very specific subject in the contemporary arts of Nigeria.

This time, CORA is working in collaboration with NBTF, organizers of the fair, which Ike helped found, PEN Nigeria as well as the poet Osita Ike, son of the celebrant.  Ike’s works include   Toads for Supper (1965), The Naked Gods (1970) The Potter’s Wheel (1973), Sunset at Dawn (1976) Expo ‘77 (Fontana, 1980) The Chicken Chasers (1980), The Bottled Leopard (1985) Our Children Are Coming (1990)