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.

The Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON, has concluded plans on its Muson Festival 2010 which has been billed to kick off with a Brazilian Samba. The programme according to the chairman of the occasion, Bashorun J.K Randle is in collaboration with the Brazilian Consulate General bringing in eight multi-talented Brazilian musicians and samba dancers who would thrill the audience.

Nigeria is a country that has lost many steps in the direction towards greatness. The dreams of the founding fathers were aborted before they were hatched, and since independence in 1960, things no longer hold as they should. A mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.