Myne: hello Ikhide and Laura, good morning Ikhide: Good morning, Myne! Myne: Thanks for being on time Ikhide: Sure Tola Odejayi: Morning, Ikhide Ikhide: Morning, Tola! Tola Odejayi: So Ikhide, I found your ‘self-bio’ very interesting… what do political views have to do with the eating of red meat? Ikhide: Oh, don’t mind Myne, it … Continue reading Transcript - Online Real-Time Chat with Ikhide R. Ikheloa
I sat up straight as the pink door curtain in front of me parted, announcing an entrant. Led by her sweet and subtle perfume, she slowly stepped into the dimly-lit room, releasing the curtains to wrinkle respectfully behind her. I inhaled. A hint of jasmine. She paused, made eye contact with me, and then flashed … Continue reading The Preacher and the Prostitute 1
STAYING PUT It sounded like someone was crying. Omololu listened quietly for a moment and was sure someone was crying. And the sounds were coming from the couple next door. Maybe the man had been beating his wife again. He clenched his twelve year old fists as he felt a small spurt of anger. Maybe … Continue reading Staying Put
I am a rebel. That is just the way I have always been, and that is the way I will always be. And let me be clear here; when I talk about being a rebel, I don’t mean someone who challenges authority for the sake of it. I am talking about righteous rebellion – challenging … Continue reading Rebel With A Cause (1)
Aramule rubbed her large belly absently as the infant within kicked enthusiastically. She expected to be put to bed anytime soon as Opoti, the midwife had determined. She munched on another piece of fruit as she thought again of the turnabout in her mother-in-law’s behaviour since she conceived a son-Aramule had told her so- for … Continue reading Timeline(2): Continuity
He opened his eyes. Awake. Finally. Beads of sweat lined his neck like a noose. A taut noose. About to snap. He clasped his neck with both his hands and groaned, willing the sensation to stop. But it wouldn’t. He looked around him. The room was dim. Clearly there was no power in his house. … Continue reading Hello Dinner
Scene Four (Back at the dining room in Frank’s house. Anong barges in with a small travelling bag. He drops it on the floor and sits down on one of the chairs dejectedly. Afterwards, Choba enters.) CHOBA: (in American English) Hey, men! Don’t get so worked up about it! So the gig didn’t happen. At … Continue reading ONE BAD NIGHT — 4 and 5
Days of hays Hay, good days When the sun shines so bright Bringing forth a lofty plight Forever, Till eternity My Joy will witness no calamity ‘Cos -Titi-Ni-Ayo, a worthy ‘affinity’ What a combination of name and ‘dexterity’ Olami-ti-de’, I can audibly shout! That at ‘Edun’s clan’, lies the beauty lounge For me to to … Continue reading From Me, Just for HER.
As I make my way through Ojuelegba en route Akoka to my alma mater, the morning rush characteristic of the city is at its peak with a beehive of activities already picking up as traders of all sort display their wares. Amongst my early callers is the newsstand just under the Ojuelegba bridge where I … Continue reading Urban Blues: Newsstand commentaries
I am Hakeem, Made of the stuff of rockets it seemed, They also call me ‘The Dream’, My star rising sky high before it dimmed. I came from across the Niger to chase a dream, My skills as tall and elegant as any dream can be, I was the find of Houston’s team, Attested … Continue reading The Nigerian Dream
Scene Three (A hotel room: a single bed, a table and armchair and a telephone on top, three beautiful portraits hung on the wall along with a decorative clock. Frank is seen speaking on the phone, dressed in a house-robe, underneath it his pyjamas. Noise outside.) FRANK: I could not find a place to stay, … Continue reading One Bad Night — 3
Although we ne’er lived in the days When the chalky chaps tread our lands And our generation is not of those Whose culture was stolen under their noses Nor is it of those Who saw the Nation in all its glory But we, Who only read but never saw the pompous pinkies Are left with … Continue reading Nursing a Nation
The drops seemed a few All it touched came new But how shallow a man’s mind To bear this rain’s own mind *** Soon a few drops tripled Almost like a mindless ripple Suddenly nature seemed unkind And submerged toils of every kind *** Here, landowners richly accrue Each building for afterlife’s use Pelting followed … Continue reading Purple Rain
The second literary cafe event has been scheduled; Date: Friday, 5th of August,2011. Venue: Risenetworks Library, No 20, Bayode Oluwole street, by Balogun street, off Awolowo way, Ikeja, Lagos. Time: 3:00pm Featured writers: Oyindamola Affinnih, Author of Two gone, still counting, Temitayo Ilori, author of Doom’s wing, Tope Apoola, author of Times of the Supermen … Continue reading Literary Cafe and Poetry competition at the Rise library, Lagos
The Board of Trustees for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa has announced the call for entries to the fourth edition of the prize. Full story at The Nigerian Voice “According to Mrs. Frascesca Emmanuel, who chairs Lumina Foundations, organizers of the prize, entries will close on October 1, 2011. On June 1, … Continue reading The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature