Wale Okediran @ 70 Poetry Competition Longlist Unveiled

 WALE OKEDIRAN @ 70 POETRY COMPETITION LONGLIST UNVEILED

In celebration of the forthcoming 70th birthday of renowned Nigerian writer and literary administrator, Dr. Wale Okediran, the organizers of the Wale Okediran @ 70 Poetry Competition have officially released the longlist of selected entries. 

The announcement follows a rigorous assessment and consensus by a panel of seasoned judges tasked with selecting standout works from a pool of impressive submissions by young and emerging poets across the country.

The judging panel, chaired by Professor Mabel Evwierhoma of the Department of Dramatic Arts, University of Abuja, included distinguished literary voices such as Khalid Imam, a published poet and arts curator, and Akudo Nkemjika Okeke, a poet, scriptwriter, and screenwriter. 

The panel expressed admiration for the creativity and thematic depth displayed by the young poets, many of whom explored themes of healing, resilience, nationhood, and personal identity.

The Wale Okediran @ 70 Poetry Competition was instituted to honour the literary legacy of Dr. Wale Okediran, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and the current Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA). 

Aimed specifically at young and emerging Nigerian writers under the age of 25, the competition has served as a platform to spotlight fresh talent while celebrating a literary icon.

According to the organizers, the selection of the longlist was based not only on the literary merit of the works but also on their originality and clarity of voice. 

The judges noted the difficulty of their task given the impressive quality of entries received.

The longlisted entries, in no particular order, are as follows:

1. Sojourner – Abdulrazaq Godwin Omeiza

2. Wale Okediran, A Man of Healing Ink – Abdulmumeen Humul

3. A Bloom, A Breath and a Song – Deborah Usak

4. Digging Deep for Happiness amid Fossils and Bones – Muheez Olawale

5. Sambisa Girl – Nwegbo Miracle

6. Fate Think Me A Victim – Grace Oni

7. Echoes Beyond Time – Fasuyi Favour Iyanuoluwa

8. Wale Okediran @ 70 – Adegoke Oluwabukunmi

9. Bird in My Mouth, Grief in My Palms – Felix Eshie

10. A Passionate Jeremiad for My Homeland – Olobo Ejile

The organizers have congratulated the longlisted poets and expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participants for their remarkable passion and creativity. 

They further announced that the shortlist for the competition will be officially unveiled on April 19, 2025.

Joop Berkhout: Death and a Writers' Loss by Wale Okediran

 JOOP BERKHOUT: DEATH AND A WRITERS' LOSS

       

                                                                                                      

On one sunny day in July 1987 at the Enugu Trade Fair grounds in Enugu, Nigeria when the late iconic African Writer, Cyprian Ekwensi held up my hand and publicly presented my first novel; RAINBOWS ARE FOR LOVERS (RAFL), I felt a glow of happiness and relief flow through me.

 After several years in ‘the publication wilderness’, I was finally a published author. I was still relishing that golden moment when my Publisher, the indefatigable Joop Berkhout of Spectrum Books Ltd, Ibadan nudged me to life and reminded me to make a speech and later taught me how to autograph a book.

That momentous day in Enugu marked the beginning of my over 40-years relationship with that great man, a quintessential man of books, a writers’ delight and a loyal friend. During those years, three of my books were published by Chief Berkhout’s then publishing stable, Spectrum Books. 

While RAFL went on to become one of Spectrum’s best- sellers, THE BOYS AT THE BORDER was shortlisted for the 1991 Commonwealth Literature Prize. Even though DREAMS DIE AT TWILIGHT (Malthouse Press, 2001) was not published by Spectrum Books, the book was adjudged as one of the best 25 books in Nigeria in the last 25 years during Spectrum Book’s 25th anniversary in 2003.

Although a hard- nosed businessman, Joop Berkhout invested in writers and remained until his death, perhaps, one of the most writer-friendly publishers in this part of the world. Apart from paying me a generous advance royalty for RAFL, Chief Berkhout also put me on the then Nigeria Airways, Lagos to Enugu flight WT 264, ‘ Ikogosun Warm Springs’ for the book launch. Unlike these days when many authors have to run after their publishers for their legitimate book royalties, regular twice yearly royalty payment was the norm during Chief Berkhout’s time at Spectrum Books. 

In 2007, when Joop Berkhout founded Safari Books Limited after his temporary retirement from Spectrum Books, he appointed me a Publishing Consultant to the new outfit. In his Letter of Appointment he sated thus; ’’I am glad that you have joined us as our publishing consultant. I can assure you that I will keep you busy for many years to come’’.

 Even though at that time he was already in his 80s, he kept to his words by pilling me with loads of jobs and responsibilities especially in the area of Biography writing. In the course of my duty, Chief Berkhout introduced me to some leading captains of industry, political leaders as well as former Nigerian Presidents some of whom I personally interviewed for their biographies.

A great socialite and humanist, I was part of his regular league of lunch and dinner guests in his Ibadan home, Cambridge House, a house made famous by the past occupant, the late Nigerian poet, Christopher Okigbo. During those encounters, ‘Chairman’ as I fondly called him, regularly regaled me with his thoughts on almost every conceivable topic under the sky even if we didn’t always agree with each other on such topics.

With his demise, Nigeria, has lost a wonderful and illustrious senior citizen, as well as a publisher per excellence who despite his Dutch heritage was a naturalized Nigerian who made the country his home for 59 out of his 94 years on earth. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

FROM MANDELA'S SUNRISE, TO THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE FOOTNOTE OF EBEDI HILL

 FROM MANDELA'S SUNRISE, TO THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE FOOTNOTE OF EBEDI HILL

                   By

Aliyu Umar Muhammad 

Resident, Ebedi International Writers Residency, Iseyin, Nigeria. 

There's always a serenity belonging to a community that values what you do. As BM Dzukogi  will say, “you must belong to  that particular community that knows what you are doing.” 

A journey unfolds through the hasty, nauseous and unstable consciousness of leaving the state for Ebedi w

Writers Residency Iseyin, Oyo state. For the first time in my writing career, a welcoming joy envelopes my instincts from afar. I've never been to Oyo before, not even in a dream. A lot I've heard from friends who were fellows of the program. 

Whenever God wants you to be somewhere, He surely gives you an invisible card, driving you to paths you never knew before. It's good to be kind and of good morals.

 A man, old enough to be my father, whom we both respect each other saw me in a hasty state in company with my friend, Bilal. “Mallam Aliyu, Ina zuwa haka?” I responded with an apology first knowing I should have informed some people I always meet that I'll be traveling. 

The man always monitors my presence and absence in Mandela. Mosque was always my place of comfort once I'm out of home and not going out to the field. He immediately called a friend of his, connected us and that was how the unexpected late morning journey unraveled a lot of stories. Some were jovial, others were plain  discomfort. 

10 hours longing made me start meditating on many things to write about. Of human errs, lack of patience, my wild thoughts of cars always getting too close to hit one another.

 I'm not sure if i will one day, ride a car on long , rougher highways. And to the  cross border of Jebba, one day I'll write about you, “Does our state border need to look insecure and unsafe for drivers before crossing in and out?” I'm yet to know more about this self interrogatory part as a writer and passionate citizen of Niger, I'm sure this is a projectile essay, someday in the future, I'll write about you. 

I didn't arrive at Iseyin before starting to learn some of the ethics and cultural ideology of Yoruba people. Baba will always say, “Children nowadays don't like to greet people. They feel it's an excuse sometimes, to pass before an elderly person or group of people and not say anything. 

But here in Yoruba land, you must learn to greet everyone you see to avoid being suspicious. “E karo, E ka san, E ka le” were fleeing out of people's mouth all the time as if it were a communal gift. I immediately name it, "Yoruba's ecstasy". Joining the race was easier despite my fluctuating accent, I'm a sharp learner at things I find amazing.

Do not say I'm missing a part by not sharing about my fellow residents. Of course, it'll be another essay of its own. 

God blessed me with 3 different brothers, 3 different mothers but with the same identity as proud Africans. Daniel  Kwaku Attah from Accra, Ghana, Ebri Kowaki from Enugu and Fatai Hammed Opeyemi  from Oyo tho, had most of his time traveling to states after studying at the great ‘Iqra’ Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.

 We share bonds of identity as Africans, struggling with voices to be heard, as black people with undoubted creativity and uniqueness.

We decided to hike up to Ebedi Hill, of which the White House based at it's foot. The stories were much therein. We really suffered the climb and were full of high spirits when we finally got the one part of Iseyin community at our feet. Mr Solomon, the nice officer led the team and we had a wonderful time taking pictures of which I had many enticing shots for my smartphone photography.

Today is Friday and of course, after the subhi prayers, I was going back to the Residency when suddenly a voice rang in my head. “Try snapping the trees on this Hill.” I carefully obeyed and went closer. 

A man who held a bucket started talking in Yoruba. I know they're interrogation and quarrels as an elder watching a young adult doing something suspicious. I immediately go to him and luckily, “the E karo” magic suddenly worked. After explaining my purpose to him, he said no problems. I went back and to avoid other gazes, I quickly took my way to the house.

 Surprisingly, the man followed me, called me back and apologized that he doesn't know I'm a writer and from White House. I felt ashamed. The question is, how many elderly people can do what this man did?? Apologizing the second time to a boy young enough to be his son? This is Yoruba culture.

 I believe if Dr Wale Okediran  did not build up a legacy that the community always respected, I wouldn't have gotten this great admiration. White House in the Iseyin community is a golden frame, a strong name lying at the footnote of Ebedi Hill. 

Thank you all fam, Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation - NGO  Abba, Sir @BM Dzukogi, Mr Makama Shekwo'aga  friends, family and loved ones, thank you for all your prayers.

To Dr Wale Okediran, may your good name never perish, Amin. To managers and officials of the Residency, we're truly grateful for being our kindest keepers. 

Thank you, good people🥰.

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Judges Unveiled for Wale Okediran @ 70 National Poetry Competition

 

JUDGES UNVEILED FOR WALE OKEDIRAN @ 70 NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION

 

The organizers of the Wale Okediran @ 70 National Poetry Competition have announced the esteemed panel of judges who will assess entries for the ongoing contest. Launched to celebrate the 70th birthday of renowned author and medical doctor, Dr. Wale Okediran, the competition is designed to spotlight emerging literary talent in Nigeria and honor the enduring legacy of one of Nigeria’s most prolific writers.

Targeted at young and emerging poets aged 25 years or younger, the poetry competition aims to provide a platform for creativity and literary expression. It seeks to encourage young writers to explore the art of poetry while contributing to the growing richness of Nigerian literature. This initiative also offers participants an opportunity to gain national recognition for their work, further strengthening the future of poetry in the country.

The jury, consisting of three distinguished figures in the literary and arts community, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the competition. Leading the panel is Professor Mabel Evwierhoma, a Nigerian Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Abuja. An expert in dramatic theory, criticism, gender studies, and cultural studies, Professor Evwierhoma has held notable positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Abuja and Director of the Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement.

Joining her is Khalid Imam, a bilingual writer and multiple award-winning poet, playwright, and art administrator. Imam, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Poetry Renaissance Trust, has a prolific publishing record spanning various genres and languages, including English and Hausa. As the founder of the All Poets Network International and the pioneer Festival Director of the Nigeria Poetry Festival, Imam brings extensive experience in promoting poetry and literary culture, both locally and internationally.

The third judge is Akudo Nkemjika Okeke, a dynamic performance poet and fiction writer whose creative works resonate deeply with audiences. Known for her vibrant performances and compelling storytelling, Okeke represents the growing influence of young Nigerian poets and writers on the global literary stage.

Speaking about the competition, the Coordinator of the contest, Wole Adedoyin emphasized that the trio of judges was carefully selected to ensure fairness, integrity, and a comprehensive evaluation of all entries. They noted that the judges’ combined expertise in literary criticism, performance arts, and cultural studies would play a pivotal role in identifying and rewarding outstanding poetic talent.

The Wale Okediran @ 70 National Poetry Competition has already garnered significant interest among young writers across the country. Entries are expected to explore diverse themes, reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of Nigeria’s emerging poets.

As the deadline for submissions approaches, the organizers urge eligible poets to seize the opportunity to participate and make their voices heard. Winners will be announced at a special event commemorating Dr. Wale Okediran’s 70th birthday, further cementing his legacy as a champion of Nigerian literature.

For more information about the competition, including submission guidelines and deadlines, interested participants are encouraged to follow the organizers’ official blog @ https://waleokediranat70poetrycompetition.blogspot.com/2025/01/call-for-entries-wale-okediran-70.html.

 

Organizers Announce Wale Okediran @70 National Poetry Competition, Call for Entries

ORGANIZERS ANNOUNCE WALE OKEDIRAN @70 NATIONAL POETRY COMPETITION, CALL FOR ENTRIES

 

In honor of the forthcoming 70th birthday of Dr. Wale Okediran, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated literary icons, the Wale Okediran @70 National Poetry Competition has been officially launched. Dr. Okediran, a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and the current Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), has made indelible contributions to the growth of literature in Nigeria and Africa. This initiative seeks to celebrate his legacy while nurturing young literary talent in Nigeria.

The poetry competition is targeted at young and emerging poets aged 25 years or younger, providing them with a platform to showcase their creativity and contribute to the rich tapestry of Nigerian literature. It offers an opportunity for budding writers to express themselves through poetry and gain recognition on a national level.

Poets are invited to submit original works written in English. The poems must adhere to either free verse or stanza format, with a maximum of 20 lines. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format, typed in Times New Roman, font size 12, and double-line spaced. Participants should include their name, phone number or WhatsApp contact, and email address in their submissions.

Entries should be sent via email to waleokediranpoetrycompetition@gmail.com with the subject line “WO@70.” The competition is open until February 28, 2025. For further inquiries, participants may contact the coordinator, Wole Adedoyin, via email at woleadedoyin@gmail.com.

Winners of the competition will receive monetary prizes, with ₦50,000 for first place, ₦30,000 for second place, and ₦20,000 for third place. In addition, ten honorable mentions will be recognized for their exceptional contributions. All prize winners will receive certificates of achievement, while every participant will be issued a certificate of participation.

To immortalize the competition, the top 20 outstanding entries will be compiled and published as an e-book. This initiative aims to preserve the creative works of these young poets and document the impact of the competition on the literary landscape of Nigeria.

The competition will be judged by a prestigious panel of literary experts, including: Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma – Department of Theatre Arts, University of Abuja (Chairperson), Khalid Imam – Renowned poet and arts curator, Akudo Nkemjika Okeke – Accomplished poet, scriptwriter, and screenwriter.

Speaking on the competition, Wole Adedoyin, the coordinator, emphasized that this event not only celebrates Dr. Wale Okediran’s milestone birthday but also aims to inspire young poets to explore their creative potential and contribute to Nigeria’s literary heritage.

The Wale Okediran @70 National Poetry Competition stressed the importance of literature in national development and the need to encourage young writers to excel. It provides a rare opportunity for emerging talents to gain exposure, network with literary professionals, and leave their mark in the literary community.