By ESTHER ONYEGBULA

It was indeed an evening of inspiring poetry, beautiful music and alluring fashion, as friends, colleagues, and well wishers gathered to celebrate one of Nigerian’s ace broadcaster, prize winning author and Vlisco Ambassador, Eugenia Abu at a recent poetry reading session held in her honour at the Eko Hotels and Suites.

Starting the poetry reading session on a sober disposition, Eugenia Abu read poems dedicated to her late mother who passed on two years ago, titled a thousand graves. After that she also read Rock solid, I miss you when it rains, from her collections and that changed the rhythm of the reading session into a celebratory one.

Eugenia fluency in literary works especially poetry, is earning her an appeal which cut across tribal lines. Giving insights to the thoughts that inspired some of these poems before reading each, Eugenia stated that “the poem ‘don’t look at me like that’ is from a collection I entered for an HIV/AIDS poetry competition. It is a poem of rejection and pain, but it also has many layers. Don’t look at me like that is for the down trodden, the unjustly accused and the unlucky in love and those who are looked at like that for no reason other than envy and spite”.

The highlight of the event was the official presentations of her book, titled Don’t look at me like that; a collection of poems that celebrate freedom, life and redemption. The 114 page book contains a total of forty-eight poems in different flavors. For instance, the visitor visits, the year 1994, I go forward and the day after are poems of despair and rejection, while my mouth is sealed is a poem of freedom. It also contains some love poems for the young at heart.

During the poetry reading session, Vlisco held a fashion show held in her honour, displaying uniquely tied turbans; as she was well known for her signature turban during her news casting days.

Extolling the virtues and personality of Eugenia Abu, Ruth Benemesin Opia, said that “Eugenia  represents the woman and Nigerian brand, within and outside the nation; she typifies all the beautiful things that can come out of the African woman”.