The importance of poetry as a vehicle for proper historical documentation was brought to the fore last week during the commemoration of America Independence Day, held at the consulate’s office in Lagos.

Considering the central, even towering, role that journalists play in shaping the thoughts and perception of a nation, it often makes sense to acknowledge their contribution to national discourse whenever it comes in form of a book. For journalists who are blessed with long lives and remarkable careers in particular, the tendency to make their narratives the barometer for measuring the nation’s pulse is very high.

Poetry is one area that many people do not understand very well because it embraces the accessible as well as the inaccessible. But which ever way people see it, the mere fact that a poem is unclear does not disqualify it from being a poem as long as it possess all the poetic devices like rhythm, profundity, imagery etc. This is what many will see as they go through the refreshingly rich collection of poems by Abike Muyiwa titled “Uncut”.

As Nigeria gradually matches on to her centenary year come 2014, the modest effort of Port Harcourt based non governmental organization, the Rainbow Book Club, the organizers of Garden City Literary Festival, Garden City Book Fair and Get Nigeria reading may bestow on the nation a garland of honour in the area of book and human capital development.

All roads will, no doubt, lead to the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), venue of the launch and public presentation of two books written by former Chairman, Editorial Board of Vanguard, Chief Kola Animasaun.

African societies is the craze for European cultures at the expense of theirs. This is evident in the high level of western encroachment on the rural lifestyle of the people. But ordinarily, it is not supposed to be so as there are many positive values in some African cultures, hence the need to preserve and document them for posterity.

Life in the prison yard is same in every part of the world though with a slight difference from the experience in developed countries. Here in Nigeria, it is usually nothing to write home about as few lucky ones who leave alive on completion of their terms, end up becoming worse than they were and worst of it all, face societal prejudices meted to them by society. These are basically some of issues Inyang E. Ekwo sets out to address in his latest literary offering, Beyond The Yard.

Can anything good come out of music? This may have been the question that shaped the minds of Emeka Nwodi’s parents in the early days of the young lad’s contemplation to make a career out of music.” Of all professions, is it music you found to study?” was the question posed to him by his supposedly caring parents from Ichida, Anambra State.

Beads are small, round and perforated objects which are usually strung to form necklaces or bracelets or attached to garments or articles of clothing for decorative effect. Beads are made of a great variety of materials namely: glass, copper, wood, silver, brass aluminum, bone, horn, shell, coral, pearl, jet, amber, mineral, including precious stones, ceramics and plastics.

Build Entertainment Industry and Business into this total re-branding of Lagos Metropolis. Step out of Lagos for a few days, step back in and there is a remarkable change. Roads are wider and cleaner, traffic flow is improved, Estates springing out of swamps, music blaring from road side shops to blend with the hooting, screeching, and revving announcement into Eko-Lagos.