By Olamide Babatunde
Since its inception 18 years ago, The Lagos Book Festival has attraction members of the public, authors, publishers, academicians and book lovers. Activities range from book displays, discussions, workshops, poetry and drama performances, film screening and the notable stampede. On November 6-12th, 2017, Freedom Park, Victoria Island, Lagos, opened its doors to receive guests for the ear’s culture picnic themed Eruptions: Global Fractures and our Common Humanity, and guest of honour was Niyi Osundare, one of Africa’s renowned poets.
The week-long jamboree did not look like it had piped down a bit even on the last day. The 19th Lagos Book Festival came to an end with the procession to the food court for the poetry grand slam featuring poets from all ages bearing worded messages that transmitted the essence of values binding humanity, irrespective of social class and structure. It was nothing short of an appealing and enchanting delivery of creativity under a clear sky and colourfully lit up outdoor space. While the leaves rustled gently as the cool evening breeze swept through, humans, in twos, threes and fours, were huddled together in the peacefully electrifying ambience of the park where the event had run through the week.
The play time was what it was, much needed, after the stampede, the mother of all conversations on literary criticisms from CORA, in partnership with ANA (Association of Nigerian Authors), had taken place at the Kongi’s Harvest Art Gallery that snowballed into the usual heated reactions by discussants and general audience.
On the panel were Dr. Kayode Kofoworola, English Department, University of Lagos; Toafeek Olatunbosun, Lecturer, Fountain Top University; Anote Ajeleruo, Arts Editor, The Guardian Newspaper; Yakub Abdullahi and Deji Toye, the moderator.
Dr Kofoworola led the provocation on the question, “Is the critic dead in Nigeria’s literary firmament?” The issue, although, one that has been addressed overtime on global platforms, seemed like one that needed critical answers within the Nigerian context. The lead panelist stated from his address that critics in the Nigerian literary space were dead, “Critical thinking requires deep introspection, and the attention span of the younger generation today is very low. Literary critics are ordinary people with extraordinary qualities, because they do not relate with text the way others do. He named Ben Tomoloju, Abiola Irede, Isidore Okpewho as critics of old who functioned in the capacities of engaging text to crate worthy and unworthy assertions passionately. This, he said, was “the underlining factor to being a critic, looking out for aesthetic and buoyant structures that can affect social change”.
Abdullahi argued likewise that critical thinking was not anyone’s or everyone’s job; rather, it required training, which he said some media practitioners did not have. Anote, in a reaction, threw the ball back to the academics, saying it was the responsibility of the university to train and equip students for deep levels of introspection; therefore, it wouldn’t be wrong to go with newspaper reviews, which, he said, was History in a hurry. Sitting in the audience, Prof. Hope Eghagha, chipped in with his teaching experience.
“We teach students from Year 2 and in their final year core critical thinking. Most students do not want to get to the nitty gritty of it, and I also think we should know the difference between the academic and the man who writes for the public”. Olatunbosun did not pitch on any of the established sides now. His submission was that the critics were not dead, but dying, which he attributed to poor educational system and society which does not encourage critical thinking.
Within the conversations, more questions were fleshed out about what a newspaper and academic review should be considering, that some in-depth reviews could pass for a critique. Kofoworola spelled out the differences, noting that a media and academic critic article should vary in length but have same basic line of critical thinking, adding, “The critic and his duty is further faced with the challenges of the new media. A virtual space where all and sundry can have a say at anything just by the click of a button, critiques in this space can easily be added to or reduced based on the writers opinion. In some cases too, objective criticism tend to offend the authors who get infuriated for an inconsiderate representation their works. It could end up badly for first-time authors and their publishers.”
In addition, kofoworola remarked that the essence of criticism was to shape the direction of literature whether it engaged from the aesthetic angle or structural, “A critic needs to find a balance, understanding that art is not for art sake or for just for social change. Toye moderated the discussion towards the audience, who made significant contributions. A member opined that it wasn’t right to submit that only those who are trained can critically think on issues and for young ones who are caught up with the social media, he suggested that the medium be used to steer young minds towards social change.
The Lagos Story was also not left out. Justin Okwarachuwku, Larayetan Tope, Miracle Okpala, students of the English Department of University of Lagos, had an interactive session with the audience, where they talked about My Lagos Story, which was moderated by Head of English Department, Unilag, Prof. Hope Eghagha.
Miracle said, in her encounter with Lagos, she had to put a lot of issues to make people sad in her book, which pictures Lagos on a sad state, “but, at the same time, Lagos is not a sad state. Lagos shows that there is unity in disunity. When a foreigner says things negative about Lagos or Nigeria, Lagosians will unite and condemn what the foreigner says about Lagos.”
For Justin, who was born in Port Harcourt, River State has a very different experience from Lagos. “For me, I experienced Lagos molue, and I observed that many times, you see people angry and may start fighting over little issues. My writing is based on my experiences, and music is universal, irrespective of where it is been played,” he said.
A student from unplug said his experience about Lagos is not pleasant. If an individual goes to market, he/she has to be smart so that his/her personal belongings are not stolen by robbers.
Larayetan Tope said Lagos was a story explaining what happens on a daily basis. For example, people are called Lagos lookers because when something happens, they come together and watch what is happening without offering help when the need arises. Lagos is good and bad, it is the mixture that makes it interesting. I enjoin people to come to live in Lagos so that they can experience the mixture.
On his part, Prof Niyi Osundare congratulated Unilag for their contributions towards the growth of literature in the country. “I am fascinated by the age of these students from Unilag. Lagos has been used as the theme for so many songs and what you have done in the spirit of CORA and I hope other universities will emulate Unilag.”
Prof. Eghagha noted Lagos is Lagos ,and people can experience both bad or good spots in Lagos. Lagos is not different from New York because the things you find over there, you also see them in Lagos. One positive thing about Lagos is the commercial viability where a lot of businesses thrive.
MacDonald added there was no complete story about Lagos without the speed at which things happen. It is some how interesting but when it belongs too long, it becomes boring. Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Olasupo Shasore, SAN in Lagos, you find every tribe in the country.
There are positive stories about Lagos because Lagos works which shows that Nigeria is working. Lagos is a place where there is chaos which brings creativity into people. In conclusion, it was agreed that more infrastructure should be put in place in order for Lagos to be more organised.