The literary giant of our time and author of many books, Pa Gabriel Okara stormed the 5th Garden City Bookfair 2012 at the poetry and dance drama night.
The poetry night which took place at the banquet Hall of Hotel Presidential was one of the finest moments of the garden city festival.
The event was held on October 20, 2012 with presentation of poems from across the Niger Delta.
Pa Okara who is still very strong, presented some of his collection of poems. The literary guru who gave the closing remark, urged young writers to keep their dreams burning and thanked those who presented the beautiful works of poetry, especially a poem dedicated to Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, “Gbene Ogoni”.
Pa Okara noted that the poems are of everyday life issues in our society and how we can correct them to have a peaceful society.
Some categories of poets were selected from the poetry class of the festival and other Radio presentations and all performed creditably.
It would be recalled that the 5th Garden City Book fair 2012 has as Theme: “Women in Literature”. Both foreign and African writers came to Rivers State and talked much on their inspiration and the challenges facing African women which include culture.
Some of the women who graced the occasion include, Chibunu Onuzo, Doreem Bangana and the keynote speaker Veronique Tadjo, among others.
Prof. Charles Nnolin of the University of Port Harcourt was one of the discussants including Dr. Julie Omokoro, Mrs. Sophia Obi and Prof. Julie Oko all discussed different issues affecting the Africa women especially love ending disastrously in the African literature.
The issue of polygamy, monogamy and people getting maimed as a virgin in the African culture in the past and the dissatisfaction of love in the African communities were also discussed. The acceptability of the foreign culture such as homosexuality, lesbianism and gay marriage were also queried.
During the interactive forum Prof. Chioma Opara another Africa writer asked why women always fall victim in the African society.
Chatting with newsmen after the event, the organizer of the 5th Garden City Bookfair 2012 and also the Directress of the Rainbow, Mrs. Koko Kalango expressed thanks to the main sponsor, the Rivers State government under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi who contacted her Rainbow Bookfair club for collaborating especially to increase the reading habit of the people of Rivers State and the Niger Delta.
Mrs. Kalango said other corporate organizations like Shell also partnered with them for the huge success.
On sustainability of the project, she said the governor has thought of institutionalizing the corporate sponsorship. Answering questing on how to expose the talents discovered at the event, she said there will be an autology of those who presented ideas to be shown to the whole world.
There was a dance drama that touched on female genetal mutilation. Why the focus on women this year, Mrs. Kalango said it is very topical and appropriate to discuss the issues concerning women, especially as it relates to the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, and the 35% of women inclusion in governance.
There where dance drama, poetry session and workshops. The greatest achievement was the publication of 50 prominent Nigerian authors where president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan wrote the forward and governor Chibuike Amaechi wrote the introduction. Mrs. Kalango also talked on other eventsd such as fiction workshop among others.
On the challenges, she said some time there was delay in funding, although the government sponsored and some corporate organization too.
On evaluation, she said it was getting bigger and better especially by bringing Pauly Alakiger, English writer who writes for children and illustrates.
“The content is getting bigger to,” she said. ###
Pius Dukor
