The American Corner of Murtala Muhd. Library was filled to the brim by established and budding writers, university dons, as well as other literary enthusiasts for witnessing the monthly Creative Writers' Forum of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kano State Branch's August 2015 edition where poems, short stories, articles, plea and travelogue by various writers were presented, followed by audiance comment to which the presenters responded amidst avalanche of photographs shot by some audience and rounds of applause at reasonable intervals which embellished the August's literary gathering.
The Literary session took off at exactly 11:00 AM with Bello Sagir Imam as the chairman of the occasion assisted by Badamasi Aliyu Abdullahi aka 'Maximum Bodmas', the Coordinator of ANA Kano. Having invoked divine Providence, the presentations which were splitted into two sessions began. More than ten entries ranging from poems, short stories, plea and travelogue were presented in all. It included 'Ten Poems' presented by Malam Isma'il Bala Garba, a lecturer of English And Literary Studies Department, Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The 'Ten Poems' is a collection of ten different poems presented by the poet at Ayowa Writers' Workshop in U.S.A, which includes 'Both Together And Each Alone'. This poem eulogizes Yehuda Amichai, an Israeli friend of the presenter. Here is an excerpt from the poem below:
'The dawn is slicing night in half above-
Come, and we will set out for half way love.
Just the two of us will camp, before the park is opened.
Certainly everything can still be changed.
Both of us together and each alone.
My love, it appears, has changed me
To sweet crumbs of cookies that was sour dung
I come to you gingerly, and I stumble.
Accept me. No dark angels fall.
For we are both together. Each is alone.
'Watering The Trees' and two other poems were presented by Dr. Faruk Sarkin Fada, a lecturer of Micro Biology Department, BUK. The poem won Daily Trust's 'Poet of the Week' of June 20, 2015. This poem satarizes the sixteen years of fruitless democracy we had in Nigeria. The excerpt:
A nation of trees
With drying branches and fallen leaves
Hit by droughts, 16 years they lived
For blight and hunger, the masses leave
For killings and burnings, all the residents flee
To safety domains in search of peace...
And the last stanza reads:
Now the rain has come to water these trees
To revive their branches and regain their leaves
Logophile was presented by Badamasi Aliyu Abdullahi. The poem expresses the poet's love for words. The excerpt:
'Once upon a time in the island of words
I fell sick because of the love of vocabs
To the hospital I was taken in haste
The doctor diagnosed me in depth
A vocabulary deficient patients he said I was
He grabbed my card and prescribed some notes
His prescription astounded my friends
Books, pamphlets, dictionaries, and thesaurus
Were my capsules, tablets and syrupy medications'
Pilot Muhammad Rufa'i Jega and Dr. Ammar Rabiu are Primary three pupils of Hanan International College Kano. The former presented a plea entitled: 'An Appeal To ANA' while the later presented a very short travelogue entitled: 'My Visit To Dubai'. The appeal reads:
'My fathers, elder brothers and wonderful and powerful writers. I'm very happy to be with you in this august celebration of writing and writers.
On behalf of all my fellow children, I appeal to ANA to create a kids' section for us. We are the future and we are your legacy so, please do not forget us.
The travelogue reads:
Life in Dubai is expensive, eg taxi from here to our house you pay 50 Dirhams (3000). There are big hotels in Dubai. There is power supply all the time. We went to Dubai by Ethopian Airline in the morning on Wednesday. Dubai is a small city, it is not like Kano. But it is very beautiful and they did the change in ten years only.
Doohemba Gwa presented a short story entitled 'My Illuminator' which is an excerpt from 'The Diary of The Corper Across the Benue River'. It illustrates the notion that every one of us as human beings, no matter how virtuous we might be has a demon in us; meaning the good and bad side of our lives. The excerpt:
'As I sipped directly from the bottle of beer, I let my mind traveled back in time to the first moment I had my first sip of beer. I was only fourteen then when I, in the company of my mates scrambled the school wall and went for an adventure. True, background and upbringing conceal our true self; that experience taught me that. I was like a virgin land waiting to be explored; a spring waiting to be discovered. That night, my second personality was born. This very one that sat in a night club on a weekend Friday enjoying the scenario I was surrounded in.'
The writers that also presented fantastic entries are: Hussain A. Hussain, Ibrahim Yahaya Adam, B. Balarabe aka 'Nigerian Man', Aliyu Abul Hussain, and Ammar Femoh Sesay. Others are: Zaharaddeed Ibrahim Kallah, the writer of the new novel, 'The Right Choice', and Almustapha Iliyasu aka 'Amidido' the Secretary General of ANA Kano.
The international poet, Mal. Ismail Bala Garba offered some excellent tips for becoming a successful writer to the audience. This was vividly especially to the upcoming writers who listened with rapt attention. He emphasized that as a writer it's a must to: 'Read and read much more than you attempt to write. Read it out to yourself. Read in your natural way. Write and present seldom. Be a self critique', etcetera.
The Author of Microbial World: A mysterious journey (science fiction): Faruk Sarkinfada PhD, on his part just like Logal Peasal Smith, talked about the fraternal relationship of writers and creativity where he said: 'The sustainability of ANA Kano Creative writers' forum over the last 2 decades, demonstrates that Creativity never dies. It is a naturally acquired instinct that could only be improved upon, but not taught.
'In the past, the joy, inspirations and anxiety generated during the monthly presentations go beyond a mere symposium lasting for 2-3 hours. Participants often spend a longer period brainstorming and cross fertilization of ideas after every symposium. Perhaps, such interactions should extend to our homes and working place.'
On creativity, he professed: 'Creativity is just like a naturally acquired provision for a traveler on a journey but could not reach his destination if not guided; its like a traveler with adequate provision in an open desert, but lacks a guide. Young aspiring writers therefore need to be mentored by the seasoned and experienced ones to guide and help shape their focus and quality of their outputs.'
The forum was equally graced by the presence of the Coordinator, American Corner, Murtala Muhd Library Kano, Mal. Nura Mudi and Dr. Nura Abdullahi, a lecturer of Islamic Studies and Shari'ah Department Bayero University Kano (BUK), among others.
The literary forum rounded off at exactly 2:00 PM after the closing prayer. Group photographs were shot and all the attendees dispersed to their respective destinations.
(C) Bello Sagir Imam 2015.
08057680032/belsagim@gmail.com/wwww.bellosagirimamam.blogspot.com
