By PRISCA SAM-DURU & VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU
For the master story teller, Onuora Nzekwu, famous  writer of best-selling novel,Eze Goes to School, it was all accolades last week at the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) Hall, National Theatre Complex Lagos, when friends, family members, colleagues and government representatives joined him in a triple celebration of life as well as a sterling come back to the business of writing , fifty one years after his  novel, Wand of Nobel Wood.

In what  looked at first like a gray hair competition, as the hall was filled with elderly people including those who were supported into the Hall, surprisingly, the event turned out to be one in which Nzekwu celebrated his 84th birthday, 51st anniversary of his first novel, Wand of Noble Wood  published by Signet Book, 50th year marriage to his wife, Justina  and the public presentation of his latest novel, Troubled Dust.

A historical novel

The new offering, Troubled Dust is a historical novel masterfully narrated in  a  suspense filled, compelling and sumptuous manner which objectively  examine the  tragic thirty months civil war that almost tore the unity of Nigeria as a country.

*From left: Amb. Arthur Mbanefo, chairman of the occasion; Prof. J. P. Clark and Chief Patrick Nwagbogu at the event.

“Dust is raised when you disturb the earth and the dust raised is the land of Nigeria.” Written at the blurb of the novel , so that when the reader goes through the content, he or she would know how exactly the dust became troubled in Nigeria then he will know how  to speak and act in such a way  that can  prevent any future uprising.”

Speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the event, Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Amb. Arthur Mbanefo described the presentation of the book as timely adding that, “It is unfortunate that Nigeria has remained stagnant and  we do not seem to be interested in history. Nigerian historians have already said that Nigerians do not have a sense of history and that is why people are making noise about breaking up Nigeria….

Continuing he  asked, “ who is going to break it up, if these people had experienced the civil war, they will not make that type of noise. The only thing is  that there is need to solve the problem of Boko Haram and the people in charge should put the interest of Nigerians first.”.

About the author, Nzekwu, the founding  General Manager of NAN, Mbanefo pointed out that “It is a good thing to be alive to celebrate our craft and age”. As a minister in the government during the Civil War many people at the end of the war wrote all kinds of story but Nzekwu, almost 40 years after the war has been able to come out with a unique book that keeps history and experience of civil war alive for our young ones in a way that even the key actors; Gowon and Ojukwu  are not able to document.”.

High point  of  the occasion was the reading of a letter from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in which he commended Onuora for his artistic vision and position as a strong proponent of a united Nigeria.

Reviewing the book, Chike Ofili described Nzekwu as a brilliant writer who has been deliberately neglected in the politics of literature. He noted that the celebrant as a literary giant  possesses the power to bringing  a subject vividly to the  reader’s eye  while emphasising on his artistic vision.

Commentaries on the book

Akachi Adimora- Ezeigbo – Troubled Dust, presented at right time.

I  welcome Troubled Dust into the Literary world. I read all  the author’s books as an undergraduate. Nzekwu is one of the best writers that Nigeria has produced. He is indeed a fine writer and the content of his work is quite rich.

There is usually conflict between modernity and tradition in his narratives, but he usually balances both. Troubled Dust is very topical and is presented at the right time, a time when Nigeria is going through a lot of troubles.So, the book is actually a premonition.

Femi Osofisan –Unique docummentation.

Onoura Nzekwu is a veteran in the creative profession.His books especially, Eze Goes to School was read with great enthusiasm by children. All of a sudden he went silent and even got missing in gathering of writers.

Different chronicles about the Nigerian civil war have emerged after the war, but I have waited with frustration to read his own side of the event. I am glad that he has eventually released to the public, a unique material quite different from every other documentations.

Prof. J P Clark – Troubled Dust is an aspect of history forgotten by Nigerian Authors. We have a problem of not having time for history in Nigeria. Onuora is highly commended for this noble documentation and for remaining in the business of writing since 51years.

Also in attendance at the high profile event were; Mabel Segun, Nwakibe Egbuniwe who spoke on Nzekwu in Onitsha Cultural History and Oluremi Oyo.