Before the advent of the colonizers, what is today known as Nigeria was a cacophony of peoples and cultures engaged in the art of living according to their peculiar circumstances and destinies. It was Lord Lugard, the first colonial Governor-General of the area, who facilitated the amalgamation of the so-called Southern and Northern Protectorates to create one entity called Nigeria. His very imaginative wife proffered the name Nigeria and composed the first national anthem for the new nation.

Impressed by the turn out of children at the inaugural National Troupe of Nigeria Creative Station project, the management of the troupe has assured that the exercise will be held on a regular basis as a way of developing the imaginative skills of children.

Helon Habila, Nigerian born US-based award winning novelist and first Chinua Achebe Fellow was home recently and took his turn on Abuja Writers Forum’s Hot Seat. The occasion was the Forum’s monthly guest writer’s session for the month of July which held at its usual venue – the Pen and Pages Bookshop on the very last day of the month. Habila, whose new novel is on the Niger Delta conundrum is being keenly awaited by literary buffs, read ‘The Hotel Malogo’, a short story to the packed hall.

The Mazonia Suite of Eko Hotels and Suites was the venue and the event was the second edition of the annual book party organised by CORA. The event which was in honour of the eleven playwrights whose works were short listed for the prestigious $50,000.00 prize instituted by NLNG lived up to its bidding as the literary community once more gathered to celebrate the playwrights despite the non award of the prize to a winner last year.

The great Russian playwright and short story writer, Anton Chekhov, could have died unknown if he remained a medical doctor all through his life. Chekhov is universally known today because of his plays and short stories, ranking alongside Guy de Maupassant as the greatest short story writer who ever lived.