One issue towered above others in the just concluded conference on oral literature in Nigeria organized by Nigerian Oral Literature Association (NORA). “No fieldwork no oral literature”, this was Prof. G.G. Darah’s ‘Oriki’ all through the duration of the conference.

While writing may be regarded as a natural ability, it is also one which should be honed and improved upon. In recognition of this, writing workshops remain a key component of the Port Harcourt Book Festival (former Garden City Literary Festival).

The screening of the documentary film on “the March on Washington” and “I Have a Dream” Speech by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the US Consulate General in Lagos last week, greatly exposed the importance of non violent revolution all over the world.

It is in every word and description the Nigerian story. At a time in the history of the nation when after 52 years of independence, various ethnic groups are working and scheming assiduously to control the political space especially ahead of the 2015 elections, the menace of terrorist groups, kidnapping, corruption as well as the growing religious and sectarian divide in the nation, the dance drama, Nigeria The Beautiful, aptly comes alive.

When “The Bombers” stormed the stage with a most exhilarating performance, the entire audience comprising the honourable Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; representatives of Centre for Black Art and Africa Civilisation (CBAAC), National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), National Theatre, Ministry of Education, Professors from different universities across the federation, etc, knew the afternoon was that of super entertainment.

Art has been described as a goldmine as well as the best alternative to oil as far as revenue generation , job creation etc, are concerned in Nigeria. In fact, Art has made Nigeria a significant country in the world culture map as a major contributor to the development of world civilisation. But despite these laudable goals, the sector is still faced with many problems which need to be addressed by the various actors in the industry. And for art to overcome some of these challenges, there is the urgent need for the establishment of a foundation for the arts by the federal government run by a Board of Trustees with professional integrity and ethics where all the various sectors of the arts have a clearly defined fund to draw from.

Caught In The Storms is a non-fiction authored by a budding writer, Amaka Ezenwankwo, an Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) graduate of Mass Communication, who though expresses herself in key genres of Literature, flaunts a bias for prose and poetry.

The Paroche Foundation last week at the Muson Centre, Lagos, held a colourful and elaborate concert in memory of the 26year old graduate of Political Science from Babcock University, who was killed in Lagos on the 19th August, 2012 by a drunken driver.

She looked at the monstrous machine with sadness written all over her face. She quickly snapped out of shock and put on her thinking cap. Before her was what one could rightly describe as a sleeping giant, a massive rice mill capable of producing 180 tonnes of rice daily, lying fallow at Elele Alimini in Rivers State.

One issue towered above others in the just concluded conference on oral literature in Nigeria organized by Nigerian Oral Literature Association (NORA). “No fieldwork no oral literature”, this was Prof. G.G. Darah’s ‘Oriki’ all through the duration of the conference.