Authors recreate Air for national development
The 39th global convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) that held in Ilorin, Kwara State, penultimate week, offered writers, young and old, the opportunity to recreate air for a national discourse on literature, national growth, creativity, and more. Edozie Udeze was at the convention
THE function of a writer in a society that’s ready to tow the line of development can never be contested. For three days in Ilorin, Kwara State, last week, Nigerian authors under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) gathered for its 39th International Convention. Surprisingly, the conference came from all odds. No one ever thought at that Nigerian authors could withstand the huge financial hardship and other social hazards occasioned from the Covid-19 pandemic to arrange such a massive and largely successful convention.
But that is the spirit of writers-resilient, dogged, resolute, irrepressible, undaunted, even if every hope of survival looms and seems utopian, the author strives to move on. And so the same spirit performed in Ilorin as the various venues scattered in different areas of the city wore the toga of ANA. The banner proclaimed it obviously: In quest of a better world; the function of the writer. Even if the expectation of tomorrow does not seem to be in the offing, the writer finds a way to allow it to be feasible, realizable, surmountable.
On the banner were images of a long time ANA patriarchs and matriarchs who’ve given their all to ensure a constant advancement for Nigerian literature. As delegates arrived from various parts of Nigeria to the venue at the Peoples Hall of Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, GRA, Ilorin, composed on their faces were wide smiles of a brighter ANA, a more united body.
Some delegates came late due to poor roads, long distances, name it. This never discouraged them because of the literary issues of a nation at a crossroad predominated. The executive directed by Camillus Ukah squared up to the occasion. Accommodation hiccups never became a problem. Ilorin has quite enough hotels to select from and writers immediately settled ahead of this evening of festivals to unwind and place their heads for the literary talks forthwith.
The opening ceremony was grand. The bigwigs were there, keen to place the ball rolling. The hallway quickly came alive as music oozed out in torrents of pleasure. From the Nigerian Copyright Commission came its D.G. John Aisien and Dr. Wale Okediran a former president of ANA, but now the executive secretary of Pan African Writers headquartered in Accra, Ghana.
Chairman of Kwara ANA Mallam Ade praised the congress because of its capacity to gather at short notice. “That really is an epoch-making event. Some annual programs have been canceled as a result of Covid-19, but not that of ANA. What we’re experiencing in the world now is enough to stop the convention, yet we stated no. We, therefore, commend ourselves with this rare feat, this golden success. This really is remarkable and we thank God for this. Literature has to live; Nigerian authors must proceed as we exceeded all odds to be here”.
As he talked, people sat to the covid-19 conditions with face masks. Social distancing was duly observed. In the entry have been water to wash hands, enough sanitizers and the checking of temperature. Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Mrs. Oshatimehin brought home the genuine job of ANA in those dicey times. She explained”ANA has a part to play to enhance the condition of the market through literature. Reading culture is nose-diving in our society. Now, it’s the role of ANA to provide new ways of hope, ways to lead us from the forests. For all of us, we understand a reader is a leader. If it’s possible to catch up with what’s going on in our society through your functions, our society will be better because of it”.
They need to learn how to read, the way to lead. This will help for the massive societal development of Kwara State. There is lots to learn from good books. This is precisely why we will always encourage ANA” she explained.
Okediran came with packages of goodwill against Ghana. He was full of excitement that the yearly tradition finally held. He said”I’m happy to be here. I commend the state authorities for their advocacy to use literature to lift society. The following year, ANA will be 40 years, a fantastic moment to increase the bets of literature outside these shores. We will need to extend our frontiers into the Pan African Writers Association whose members had been thankful to have Nigeria as the largest concentration of authors in Africa.
“The covid-19 requirements are observed and I’m happy about it. This is a serious pandemic although we’re a little fortunate here in Africa. It is good also that in spite of that ANA is thriving. When the surface of the world opens I will encourage members of ANA to Accra to groove with Pan African writers over there. This is the reason they sent you a goodwill message to demonstrate their solidarity with Nigerian writers”. Okediran who has assumed this portfolio as a complete-time occupation was all smiled to see African American literature rise to its crescendo.
John Aisien of NCC was glad to be in the midst of writers, although he arrived with a sterner message for ANA. “We shall continue to collaborate with ANA on copyright issues. By next year, I will lobby for copyright problems for Nigerian authors. But we need cooperation in the publisher’s institution to be able to achieve this. Nigerian authors also have to create use of the Nigeria Copyright Commission to conquer piracy and restore the dignity of writers”.
He explained the real essence of the fight to safeguard writers’ rights and loyalties. “At the 40 years anniversary next year, we expect to intensify this level of advocacy to lift the fortunes of ANA. Really ANA was one of those bodies that requested that NCC be established and we will continue to honor that”.
Sunny Ododo, the G.M of National Theatre, Lagos, believed it was like a minute of a homecoming for him. “ANA has given me the necessary platform to be who I am today as a writer. It was the first significant instrument that helped me to hone my writing career. I was once the vice-president. I also have won ANA literary prizes previously. It was here in Ilorin I became a member 32 decades ago”.
Olu Obafemi in his speech traced how in 1995 if Ken Saro-wiwa was murdered and no one had been bold enough to host ANA. “We took the boldness and hosted ANA”, he remembered. “Today we do not require an emergency in ANA. Most bodies do not endure a crisis once it starts. Literature is the voice of those people. So let us face literature and prevent crisis”, he admonished as he looked forward to the 40th anniversary next year at Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Yesas always, creativity and its own intellectual capital are vital to development. This assertion derives from the fact that evolution, of any sort, begins from the mind…”
Nonetheless, he had been thankful to countries chapters for the honour done ANA by his or her presence. “We are grateful to our elders, resource persons, et al, to be here today for this 39th convention…”
ANA did not neglect to declare winners of different sorts of prizes. Other classes were drama, prose, kids’ literature.
Over twenty states chapters were in attendance that established that ANA is on the move.
