RBC Celebrates World Poetry Day

On March 21st, the Rainbow Book Club joined the rest of the  world to celebrate the World Poetry day. The event held at the poolside of Le Meridien, Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt and featured a discussion of Mr Ogbonge Poliktisan an anthology of poems in pidgin English by Chief  Anthony Abagha. 

            

Dr A. Abagha, an Engineer by training described himself as a teacher and politician who branched into literature when an interesting literature teacher in secondary school.           

            

The evening was a blend of poetry, jazz and games with poets-- like Dr Obari Gomba, senior lecturer University of Port Harcourt, Joy Esku Sec. PEN and Treasurer ANA (Rivers State Chapters), Annah Dornubari and  budding poets like Tokoneh Kalango --thrilling the audience with their poetry. The event also had representatives from British Council, members of the press and The University of Port Harcourt community.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation ‘Port Harcourt UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, our City, our Project’ by Mrs Koko Kalango, Founder of the Rainbow Book Club. In her address, she explained that the World Book Capital was an initiative by UNESCO where a city is designated on the account of the quality of their programmes to encourage books, to represent the world as “Book Capital” for one year. Rainbow Book Club put in a bid for Port Harcourt and beat cities like Oxford to win the title for next year. She called on everyone to get involved with the Port Harcourt World Book Capital programmes as there would be events for different groups of people; schools, individuals, communities, organisations, etc. She concluded by saying that 2014 will be a year of learning, reading, fun and promoting Nigeria and Africa through books. 

While this celebration of poetry and literature was going on in Port Harcourt, news came in, that miles away in America, one of Nigeria’s greatest literary exports, Prof. Chinua Achebe had died. Achebe was an honorary member of the Rainbow Book Club.

The Reading ended with the announcement of date for next month’s event,  Friday April 26th, and in honour of the late Achebe, the RBC Book of the month for April will be Things Fall Apart.   

--Report was written by Daniella Menezor and Maxwell Masi, Rainbow Book Club

RBC Adds a Colourful Feather to Mr. President's Cap

The last day in the month of January 2013 will remain special in the history of the Rainbow Book Club (RBC). On that beautiful Thursday morning, President Goodluck Jonathan was welcomed as an honorary member of the Rainbow Book Club. 

The occasion was the formal presentation of the book; Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours, to the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. The Founder of the RBC, in company of trustees and patrons paid a courtesy visit to the Nigerian President for the book presentation.

The book, a pictorial anthology of fifty Nigerian writers, is the first of its kind in Nigeria. Compiled by the founder of Rainbow Book Club, Mrs. Koko Kalango, the foreword to the book was written by the President. Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours features legendary writers including J P Clark, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, James Henshaw; and contemporary writers such as Chimamanda Adiche, Helon Habila and Kaine Agary.

In presenting the book, Mrs Kalango pointed out that it was an important national document that should be in every library in the country. She also said it would make an excellent gift from the President to his international guests. In addition she suggested that the book be placed in Nigerian embassies and foreign missions all over the world. She then went on to share with the President her plans to produce a revised edition of the book to feature hundred authors in commemoration of Nigeria’s centenary. 

While thanking Mr President for initiating the “Bring Back the Book” Project and the priority given to education in his 2013 budget, Mrs Kalango used the opportunity to intimate the President on the nomination of Port Harcourt by UNESCO as the World Book Capital City in 2014. The nomination was made possible by the bid submitted by the Rainbow Book Club. Ten other cities across the world, including Oxford  bidded. This is the first time a city in Sub- Saharan Africa will be holding the title in the fourteen years of nominations. “This nomination”, Mrs. Kalango pointed out, “is an honour to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.”

Through this investiture, Mr. President joins the list of honorary members of the Rainbow Book Club, which include Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Professor Wole Soyinka.

The "Fine Boys Reading" in PH

Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen has been described as “a coming of age story” that many readers can easily relate to. For the younger generation, the story isn’t far-fetched and for the original “wounded generation” it brings back feelings of nostalgia. 

Medical doctor, Eghosa Imasuen was guest author at the Rainbow Book Club reading which held on Sunday, 25 February at Le Meridien Hotel, Port Harcourt.  Eghosa writes skilfully employing pidgin English to render a gripping account. Every new page promises more adventurous escapades from his characters. The story points to the decadence of our government, our failed university structures, and the menace of increasing violence associated with confraternities on campus. The story is set at a time when Nigeria was  under the weight of the annulled June 12 elections, even as the execution of human rights activist, Ken Saro Wiwa and his men caused an uproar from the international community. The book aptly captures the scenario: “There was the junta and the gap toothed Maradonna, trying to keep the peace on campus, with the presence of the military when in fact the country was in turmoil”.

Ewaen and his oyinbo friend, Wilhelm, get into the university a year later than usual due to the incessant staff union strikes. They get acquainted with Tuoyo, Ejiro, Odegua, KO, Tambo, in room A109 and share the pressure to blend into one of the campus confraternities as “fine boys.” The author sums up the Nigerian university, “This was not a university. It is a jungle. We were all jungle rats huddled around a candle, watching it flicker and burn out slowly.” 

At the Rainbow Book Club reading, Dr Imasuen read an excerpt about first loves from his book. In response to a question on why he had to kill one of the characters at the end of the novel, Eghosa explained that we tend to shield ourselves from tragedy but life is full of them and sometimes they are the drastic consequences of trivial decisions we make. 

Attendees at the reading commended the book and suggested that it be made compulsory reading for all university undergraduates because of the embedded lessons for social development of youths. Imasuen informed the audience that the University of Benin already adopted the book for their Department of English and Contemporary Studies. The publisher, Farafina, is also working on an abridged version to make the book suitable for younger readers. 

Imasuen shared three techniques writers employ in their craft: experience, research and imagination. He urged aspiring writers to read widely, study and listen to people. 

The book reading ended with an autograph session and photographs with the author. There was an announcement that the Rainbow Book Club’s March reading will be a celebration of poetry to mark the World Poetry Day on 21 March.                                                                 

---report  sent in by Ibiye Alalibo

RBC Reviews Achebe's "There Was a Country"

"I believe quite frankly this country is at war..."  Wole Soyinka's words at the unveiling of Port Harcourt as UNESCO World Book Capital 2014 during the 5th Garden City Literary Festival,  re-echoed at the Rainbow Book Club’s January Reading of Chinua Achebe’s  There Was a Country. The reading which held Friday 25th January at the poolside of Le Meridien, Ogeyi Place, Port Harcourt, was explosive! While Professor. Soyinka made his comments with reference to the killings of the ‘Aluu Four’ last year, the sentiments at the reading were from 1967-1970, the years of the Nigerian Civil War. 

Chinua Achebe goes to great length to put the war into geographical and political context; quoting numerous sources and narrating the events in simple language, thus making his account accessible to a wide audience. This however was all but lost on the book club members who were more concerned with the content than the delivery of it. Some members felt that while Chinua Achebe is entitled to give his personal account of the war, his memoir coming forty two years later, was a bit late, opening old wounds and possibly inciting new ethnic hostilities. On the other hand, were those who felt that his book was timely, as one member questioned, ‘Has the war ended?’ He was referring to the killings done by Boko Haram. Indeed this group felt that the book was precautionary  and that our leaders need to be students of history to prevent it from repeating its self.

An ex-Biafran soldier, with scars from the war front amused us with his war tales and kicked the hornet’s nest when he asserted that Ojukwu started the Biafran war. While, in his book, Achebe is careful not to lay the blame squarely on Ojukwu’s shoulders, the ex-soldier--still referring to himself as a Biafran--gave his  eye-witness account, oblivious to the din his statements were causing. His was a sobering tale of suffering, famine and death.    

‘War is not simple,’ said Mrs. Judy Nwanodi, whose stay in Nigeria pre-dates Independence. Aunty Judy--as she is fondly called relocated to Nigeria from England with her husband in 1958--encouraged members to read as many accounts of the war as they could, because one person’s account could not adequately capture its numerous  complexities. She told of how her husband, who was actively involved in the creation of the old Rivers State, had all his law books burnt by the Biafrans and on one occasion, along with others, he was imprisoned  for his own safety. 

The youth, who though were not witnesses to the events in question, were surprisingly well informed on the subject. Debating the issue of meritocracy over the government quota system, the house was once again sharply divided among those who felt that meritocracy was the only way Nigeria would move forward, adding also that meritocracy would remove tribal domination. The opposing side said that it was the responsibility of government to address the social, political and economic inequalities that exist in the country, and that until these are addressed, the quota system remained a necessary evil.

Thus ended an eventful day, with more questions. 

Rainbow Book Club: Vacancies

Rainbow Book Club, organiser of the Garden City Literary Festival and the Port Harcourt World Book Capital bid, is seeking team members. Among the available positions are those of Chief Operating Officer, Communications & Public Relations Officer, Programme Coordinator, and Accountant. Go here for the full list of positions.

President Jonathan congratulates Rainbow Book Club

‘The city of Port Harcourt, here in the heart of the Niger Delta, has just been declared the UNESCO World Book Capital City for 2014... The UNESCO Selection Committee chose Port Harcourt over ten other world cities... We welcome UNESCO’s recognition of our collective efforts to revive the reading culture. I would also like to congratulate The Rainbow Book Club led by Mrs. Koko Kalango, for their vision in moving this now historic bid for a Nigerian city, Port Harcourt, to be the World Capital for books, in the year of our beloved nation’s centenary’.

President Jonathan was speaking at the launch of the Bring Back the Book campaign in his home state of Bayelsa on July 12. He was represented by the Federal Minister for Education (State), Barrister Nyesom Wike. The President kicked off his campaign in December 2010 with a reading for children, in company of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka. The campaign trail has since made stops in major cities such as Benin and Abuja. Its latest outing in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital, coincides with 2 notable achievements in Nigeria’s literary life: the emerging of our 4th winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, Rotimi Babatunde, as well as the emergence of Port Harcourt as UNESCO World Book Capital for 2014.

Continue reading.

Port Harcourt is the 2014 World Book Capital City!

UNESCO has just announced Port Harcourt as the 2014 World Book Capital City! Port Harcourt was chosen over such formidable cities as Oxford and Lyon. Congrats to the Rainbow Book Club and the Rivers State government. And we hope to see you at the special World Book Capital City edition of the Garden City Literary Festival in 2014.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi Celebrates with Children

In what has become a Children’s Day tradition, the Governor of Rivers State Chibiuke Rotimi Amaechi, read to children at the State School Mgbuitanwo, in Emouha Local Government Area. The Governor, whose birthday falls on the same day as Children’s Day, read to the children from Gabriel Okara’s book Little Snake and Little Frog which narrates the friendship between the little Snake and the Little Frog and how this is shattered by their parents’ revelations of its deceptive nature.

After the reading, the children treated the Governor to a wonderful reception in their assembly hall. There they sang and danced and gave him a birthday present. Governor Amaechi who appeared to thoroughly enjoy himself, thanked the children, the Rainbow book club and the Ministry of Education for the enriching experience.

Mrs Koko Kalango, founder of the Rainbow Book Club, the organisers of the ‘Rivers State Reads’ campaign and, the anchor of the session asked the children what they thought of the story. The children, many not more than 10 years, were quick with their responses. Impressed by their confidence and boldness, the governor too shared his understanding of the story with them. He said it was a story about conflict and survival which was not necessarily a bad thing. He pointed out, for instance, that the snake needs to eat to survive just like the frog wouldn’t play with food if it were hungry. Mrs Kalango, who agreed with the Governor went on to give another interpretation saying that fear, as seen in the mother frog, instigates conflict while faith and love promote peace.

In a brief interactive session that followed the reading, the children once again amazed the governor and dignitaries present by their insightful questions; ‘Did you ever dream of being a governor?’, ‘Do you like being a governor?’ ‘Why did you decide to celebrate your birthday with us?’ In his characteristic disarming way, Amaechi told the children that he decided to become Governor in 2002 because he felt he had something to contribute to the state. He added that though it was good to be a governor, there were also challenges. He narrated to the children how he rose from a humble background to become governor and challenged the children to aspire to greater heights especially as his administration has renovated schools, created a conducive environment for them to learn in.

The event ended with the donation of 300 bags of books to the children by the governor. The reading was also attended by the Hon. Commissioner Education Dame Alice Lawrence.

Report by Daniella Menezor, Member, Rainbow Book Club.

Rainbow Book of the Month: July

The Rainbow Book Club "Book of the Month" for July is The Spider King's Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo. Details here.

Oby Ezekwesili Reads to Ajegunle Pupils

Rainbow Book Club, celebrated the International Day of the African Child with a book reading at the Alakoto Senior High School, Ajegunle. Over 150 students from 13 schools participated in the reading. The message of ensuring a good education by developing a reading habit set the tone for the day and the children were thrilled to have one-time Minister for Education and former World Bank Vice-President Dr. (Mrs) Oby Ezekwesili read to them from Mai Nasara's The Missing Clock, the winning book for the NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2011.

The school  principal, Mr. Titoni Ikhigbo said, in his address, that he believed that the mindset:  “can anything good come out of Israel (Ajegunle, the jungle city)? was put to rest with the visit of Ezekwesili, who herself attended a family-owned primary school in Ajegunle. The Ajegunle House of poetry engaged the guests to a soul stirring drama performance of Ajegunle Cannot Cry written by Daggar Tolar, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos. One of the children also performed a rousing choreography of Infinity's "Olori Oko." 

Pupils relished the moment as they listened with rapt attention to Dr. Ezekwesili share her story, on her rise to fame. Drawing a moral from a line in the story; ‘though you start with little, you end with much,’ she enjoined the students to cultivate a reading habit: ‘‘I went to primary school here in Ajegunle. I really need you to know that you can be anything you aspire to be in this life. I want you to imagine that even though you are here today, you can rule the world. Develop a strong appetite for reading. When you read, you become superior mentally to your old self. When you read, you prepare yourself to become a success. You must plant something by reading."

Ezekwesili emphasised reading as the common denominator for a successful life. She responded heartily to every round of questions. She asked the students to take a cue from Banji the central character in the story who brought wealth and fame to his parents by an idea he got from planting. The students were made to understand that through reading, ideas are planted that would help them contribute towards nation building. She called on everyone to eschew corruption, become diligent and embrace hard work. "The best investment for you is to get the best education possible. Girl-child education is vital to building and development of the society. A literate woman makes the best choices for her children," she said.

Skye bank representative, Mr. Lekan Faleye, donated books to the students on behalf of the bank. Every child at the reading will have a lasting memory of this event as they had photo sessions with Ezekwesili in swift successions. She exited the classroom with a rapturous standing ovation. No doubt Ezekwesili's visit made a big impression on the students and the entire community. 

Report by Joel Cicero

Rainbow Book of the Month: May

This month the Rainbow Book Club, one of the organisers of the GCLF, will be reviewing Why Women Won't Make it to Heaven by Dul Johnson.

Date: Friday 25 May, 2012 / Time: 11.00 am to 12.00 pm / Venue: The Poolside, Le Meridien Hotel, G.R.A Phase II, Port Harcourt