by Izunna Okafor » December 15th, 2019, 10:34 pm
Yesterday, 14th December, 2019; I and my team of young writers in Anambra State had our last reading for the year 2019, and our end-of-the-year get together as well. It was indeed awesome, to the Glory of God.
That same yesterday, I finally met and exchange books with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the global woman I respect so much in the literary field.
Recall that I had once been to her place in Abba (in Njikoka Local Government Area) sometime last month, to invite her to our 2019 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival.
When I got to the town and enquired about her house's location, her people denied ever knowing her nor her house, to my utmost amazement.
Probably, they guessed I was one of these rural kidnappers or something else I don't know.
Even though I took Okada to the place, and appeared innocent too (as confirmed by the Okada's side mirrors).
However, I eventually found her place and entered, but was told she wasn't around; and that my letter could not be received on her behalf.
That reminded me of similar experience I had in 2016, when I visited Chinua Achebe's place in Ogidi to invite his children to the literary festival was hosting in honour of their father.
There, his gateman (as the villagers showed me) consummately denied ever knowing any writer called Chinua Achebe nor ever hearing of any emerging from Ogidi.
Eventually I had to smuggle the letter into the house through a tiny hole beneath the gate. That was after the apparently pusillanimous janitor had repeatedly denied his identify at a close-by beer parlour where I went to meet him, as people earlier directed when I arrived and enquired.
At last, after all the Ogidi drama, I met with Achebe's son —Chief Ike Achebe, and he happily invited me for the second time with my team.
That same way, after all the Abba drama, I have finally met with Chimamanda Adichie; and the meeting was a fecund one.
I discussed the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival with her, and also called her attention to the nonexistence of any writers residency or writers village in Anambra State — an idea which she swiftly subscribed to, and pledged to look into.
Aside meeting Adichie, this weekend also, I met with the veteran actor, Chief Pete Edochie, the man Okonkwọ in the Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart (movie).
I had earlier invited to our 2019 Literary Festival —a phonecall invitation which he accepted, but could not honour due to unforeseen circumstances.
Similarly, over this weekend, I met and presented our latest Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology to Mr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan...
Indeed, 2019 has been a wonderful literary and journalistic year, and more importantly, a period of greater connection for me.
As the year winds up, we humbly look forward to seeing more of such, and even much more in the year 2020.
Ahead ahead we move unto 2020.
- Attachments
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- Izunna Okafor And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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- Izunna Okafor And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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- Izunna Okafor And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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- Izunna Okafor And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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- Izunna Okafor And Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Yesterday, 14th December, 2019; I and my team of young writers in Anambra State had our last reading for the year 2019, and our end-of-the-year get together as well. It was indeed awesome, to the Glory of God.
That same yesterday, I finally met and exchange books with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the global woman I respect so much in the literary field.
Recall that I had once been to her place in Abba (in Njikoka Local Government Area) sometime last month, to invite her to our 2019 Chinua Achebe Literary Festival.
When I got to the town and enquired about her house's location, her people denied ever knowing her nor her house, to my utmost amazement.
Probably, they guessed I was one of these rural kidnappers or something else I don't know.
Even though I took Okada to the place, and appeared innocent too (as confirmed by the Okada's side mirrors).
However, I eventually found her place and entered, but was told she wasn't around; and that my letter could not be received on her behalf.
That reminded me of similar experience I had in 2016, when I visited Chinua Achebe's place in Ogidi to invite his children to the literary festival was hosting in honour of their father.
There, his gateman (as the villagers showed me) consummately denied ever knowing any writer called Chinua Achebe nor ever hearing of any emerging from Ogidi.
Eventually I had to smuggle the letter into the house through a tiny hole beneath the gate. That was after the apparently pusillanimous janitor had repeatedly denied his identify at a close-by beer parlour where I went to meet him, as people earlier directed when I arrived and enquired.
At last, after all the Ogidi drama, I met with Achebe's son —Chief Ike Achebe, and he happily invited me for the second time with my team.
That same way, after all the Abba drama, I have finally met with Chimamanda Adichie; and the meeting was a fecund one.
I discussed the Chinua Achebe Literary Festival with her, and also called her attention to the nonexistence of any writers residency or writers village in Anambra State — an idea which she swiftly subscribed to, and pledged to look into.
Aside meeting Adichie, this weekend also, I met with the veteran actor, Chief Pete Edochie, the man Okonkwọ in the Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart (movie).
I had earlier invited to our 2019 Literary Festival —a phonecall invitation which he accepted, but could not honour due to unforeseen circumstances.
Similarly, over this weekend, I met and presented our latest Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology to Mr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan...
Indeed, 2019 has been a wonderful literary and journalistic year, and more importantly, a period of greater connection for me.
As the year winds up, we humbly look forward to seeing more of such, and even much more in the year 2020.
Ahead ahead we move unto 2020.