IN continuation of the programmes lined up to mark the 7th anniversary of the Poets in Nigeria, PIN, will be hosting writers and literary activists to a discourse on “The Role of Creatives in Face of Religious Extremism.‘
Hold on October 5, at 5 pm via Google Meet — https://meet.google.com/kaj-xnvn-qzd — the discourse is organised as part of its ‘Celebration of Freedom & Creative Expression’ series, in honour of the 62nd anniversary celebration of Nigeria.
With Ismail Bala as Facilitator, the speakers are Sheik Dada Paiko, educationist, writer, and politician; Jerry Adesewo, writer, theatre producer, and director; Dr. Saka Aliyu, writer, and scholar; Aminu S. Mohammed, founder/curator of The Arts Muse Fair; and, Dr. Ola Ifatimehin, theatre practitioner. Nana Sule will serve as anchor.
A statement released by the founder/director of PIN, the poet Eriata Oribhabor, via the organisation’s Facebook, gives a glimpse of the facilitator, Bala’s preamble as:
“The reality of what we have become as a result of bad leadership in this country is readily underpinned against different excuses but in all, the orientation or perspectives of key players who are wont to manipulate the unsuspecting populace via tribe, religion, and the like matters. If this is to be seriously viewed, the touchy question on the expectations of “we creatives” cannot be downplayed.
“In celebration of PIN@7, a panel of creatives is to discuss the topic: “Role of Creatives in the Face of Religious Extremism” aptly described as “…the vexed, often fraught and contentious relationship between the arts and religion and how they complement and support or even increasingly antagonize each other.”
The PIN@7 celebration continues on October 7, with a seminar on “Plagiarism – implications and the way forward”, with speakers including Shehu Mubarak Sulaiman, Ifunanya Juliet Ottih, Elder Alita II, and Benjamin Musa Didams.
The synopsis of the event, as submitted by the organisers, states: “Plagiarism has become an inherent bane that lots of poets are oblivious of its legal and social implications, especially on how it impinges on the guilty’s credibility.”
The PIN administrators say that the seminar idea is part of their mandate to continually enlighten participants on diverse literary and literary-related issues. It will also hold via Google Meet. Details will be supplied via the PIN Facebook page.
The event is supported by among others, Eriata Heights, the Arthub established by the passionate poet, literary activist, and promoter, Oribabhor in the Ori Oke area of Ikorodu town, which over the 62nd Independence Day anniversary, has been hosting a series of events as part of the 7th anniversary of the PIN.
On September 30, the ArtHub staged an Evening of Poetry Reading under the theme: 100 Poets for Change, an obvious adaptation of the globally renowned project ‘1000 Poets for Change, 100TPC,’ which was founded in 2011, to advocate for peace, justice, and sustainable development across the globe through staging of poetry reading and related activities.
The event at the Eriata Heights Arthib drew a full house and had as contributors both young and old poets, and two international poets.
On Independence Day, October 1, the PIN@7 hosted the third edition of its PIN summit at the Eriate Heights, which saw “moderators of different Initiatives within the PIN Initiative, connect centre reps and co-reps, as well as discuss on the way forward for the literary promotion hub driven by poetry.”
Founder of the popular Poetry platform, ‘War of Words’, Olumide Holloway, the creative writer and former banker, who is easily described as one ‘with a special interest in poets/creatives living off their works’, presented a report on “The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria.” Fondly called ‘King Olulu’, Holloway is an energetic and resourceful poetry activist, who regularly curates several literary and poetry-related events. He recently partnered LACASERA company to organise Spoken Wars poetry performance contest.
Also, as part of the celebration, the PIN also formally opened an art exhibition, that will run through October 31, which targets talented and skillful teenagers and young adults.
Tagged, ‘Unique International Exhibition’, the showcase is curated by founder/Art director of Unique Arts International, Abimbola Otu, a multidisciplinary artist with strengths in theatre arts (acting and percussions as major), visual art/crafts, poet/writing, costume design, and management, who is also a language translator, production coordinator.
As a theatre artist, Otu has been involved in several productions and worked under the tutelage of great directors. Her visual works are on the edge of nature portraiture and experimental designs. She uses her knowledge in crafting to creating exceptional pieces which are regarded as functional art – Adire (Tie/Dye bags, footwears, clothing, neck pieces, bracelets), Bead works, woodwork, wool works, and many more.
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