Young writers ignite Macmillan Youth Literary Day
By FEMI SALAWU
Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Hope for the future of literary appreciation in Nigeria especially among younger generation in Nigeria rose as youths, under 18 years from all part of Lagos State gathered recently at Muson Centre, Onikan for the fourth Macmillan Youth Literary Day. The theme of the event was The Adolescent Writer: under Eighteen years.

Venue of the event, Shell Hall was filled to capacity as youths drawn from both public and private schools as well as a few adults including literary icons such as Prof, Babatunde Fafunwa and Dr. Felicia Emmanuel sat for over three hours to the best of various presentations including poems, prose, drama, dance and music.

While welcoming the participants, Mr. Bode Emmanuel, Chairman, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited explained that the event was organized with a view to encouraging more young writers towards contributing their quota to the pursuit of nation building.

He notes, that older writers such as Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, Mabel Segun among others have strived to mirror society through their works but adds, "the juxtaposition of the old writings with the new ones from the young, under 18 writers would definitely give room for comparative literarture for the procurement of maximum benefit."

"Mamillan’s commitment to the procurement of an enlightened public is irrevocable as clearly evident in our diverse consistent literary programmes and publication activities basically oriented towards the youths representing our primary constituency. We have churned out all kinds of literary genres celebrating a very wide range of topical issues like misrule, oppression, corruption, illicit love affairs, girl-child syndrome, gender equality, child abuse, drug abuse as well as HIV/AIDS to mention just a few," he concluded.

A short rendition of two poems entitled Food and Your Book written by 11 year-old Esther M. Body-Lawson kick started the presentations section of the event followed in quick succession by an excerpt of Not Too Far, a prose written by Yetunde Sotimirin, 12 years old and Broken Calabash, a poem by 13-year-old Opere Dimeji.

One of the highpoints of the event was a presentation of dance entitled Osusu Owo and Zulu Dance by Segun Adefila’s Crown Troupe of Africa at different intervals. In Osusu Owo, Adefila makes use of a young cast of kids ranging from eight to 18 years with the exception of the drummers. The piece which centred around unity saw the three major tribes in Nigeria namely Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa being potrayed with Trouble, an adversary who tried effortlessly to break their ranks.

Some of the presentations include poems Love, by Meziem Afoma(14 years old), Madmen, by Fola Adeyemi(17 years old), Boomerang by Onwumere Chukwudi, Africa is Enough for Me by Mcdonald Okeke(16 years old), Where and We are Kings by Precious Anyanwu(18-year-old). Other presentation include song presentation by Holy Child College Choir, playlet entitled Stepping Stone by Stella Obi and The Trial of an Adolescent, a drama written by 16-year-old Mcdonald Okeke and performed by pupils of Command Day Secondary School among others.

An elated Stella Obi, a 15-year-old SS3 art student of Our Lady of Apostle whose playlet entitled, Stepping Stone was presented revealed that she drew inspiration for the playlet when she contested for a writing competition on stigmatization by an organized by NGO.

"I feel very happy seeing my work performed by other people before a large audience. I am grateful to Macmillan Nigeria and I advise them to continue to organize programmes of this nature."
For Mcdonald Okeke, a 16-year-old SS2 pupil of Command Day Secondary School whose works The Trial of an Adolescent(drama) and Africa is Enough for Me(poem) were showcased, being a commercial student does not prevent him from pursuing interests in arts. Okeke who hopes to be an actor, writer and producer wants students from other fields such as science and commercial to join in the next year edition of the Macmillan Youth Literary Day.

In his remarks, Folu Agoi, Chairman of the occasion and former chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos State Chapter, commended Macmillan Nigeria for its efforts at promoting literary appreciation among youths whom are the future of Nigeria. He also expressed hope at the future of young emerging Nigerian writers.