The Picture's from Wole Oguntokun's stage play, 'The Other Side'.

In a reversal of roles, Europe and North America are the continents of lack; Africa, the continent of abundance, and Lagos, its most attractive city. In the premiere, a lagos ruffian (Osagie Okedigun, right) meets 'a boat person', (Anthony Offiong, Centre) and asks for his work permit. Another ruffian, (Kenneth Uphopho) backs up his 'home-boy'. In the play, Darren Campbell (Offiong), a caucasian born and raised in the U.K. had come to Lagos in search of a better life. The premiere was staged at the Muson Centre, Lagos, in November of 2002, re-staged in April 2004, featured Kate Henshaw-Nuttall in October 2005 and for the Associated Press in November of the same year. All performances were at the Muson Centre.



The Immigrant


I’m trying to lose this accent
trying to blend into my surroundings
like insignificant wallpaper
I’m trying to smile
when you laugh at my mistakes.
Trying to be a good sport.


I’m trying to appreciate John Keats
and William Butler Yeats
I’m trying to put up a jolly good show
I’m trying to sit in this blood-red bus
and act as if I know this city
and I’m trying to look inconspicuous.


I’m trying to be dismayed
when you catch a corrupt official
Trying to forget
he’d be a lord in my land
Trying not to think of those I left behind
Trying to forget
how I almost didn’t make it out.


I’m trying to be you, curse this clumsy tongue.


© Wole Oguntokun 

First came across this in the library of the Nigerian Law School as a student there. The poet and publisher, Tade Ipadeola, also a student at that time brought this letter published in a book, the title of which I have long forgotten, to my attention. Years later, I sought the picture of James E. Agate on the web.

JAMES EVERSHED AGATE (1877-1947)

Dined last night with an old manchester friend and he vouches for the authenticity of this letter from a native of Lagos to the owners of the vessel which he was helping to load:


Sir,
My statement to you about my speech to my lawyer when he came to demand as per legal orders the sum of 50 pounds for my poor damaged body by falling in company's lighter while doing my honest due on account of which I might have gone to heaven that day. Praise the Lord I did not go.

But, Sir, when you said to my legal adviser:
1st that I was drunken
2nd that cause of drunkeness was stealing gin from lighter.
Well, Sir, those two speeches, 1st and 2nd proved that you are a son of the father of lies i.e. Devil because said gin had been freely drunk at 8am prompt. I fell headlong into lighter at 11am prompt.

AT 11am gin had passed through body, so cause of top-heaviness had finished. Therefore you are the very first born of the father of lies, to wit the Devil.
Because 2nd charge of stealing gin is libel. Beware Sir,do not take away my poor character beside thousand pounds are often lost legal by libel, as legals cost plenty money.
Now Sir, for God's sake try and sign for 50 pounds for damage to poor frame of mortality as follows:

Fell down in lighter on tons of metal
One head splitten
One nose useless (very grave)
One shoulder broken (blood extracted)
One arm bent (blood ditto)
One thick leg dashed (ditto ditto)
One private member damaged (slightly bent)
One leg half broken (blood freely)
General conditions (breakings, dashings-all blood freely etc)

Now Sir, this hurts are cheap at 50 pounds...I will come for book re 50 pounds to morning, meantime may God watch and protect your slumbers tonight so as to keep you safe till morning and I get my 50 pounds

-Yesufu Illorin 

Saw this sign at the University of Lagos a week ago. I assume a group of bright students put it up as their contribution to the well-being of the school. "Say no to indiscriminate urination. Urinate inside the gutter"? We've fallen a long way. 

At the short-listing of the nominees for the LNG Prize for Literature (Drama) last Thursday the 7th of September- Venue: Ocean View restaurant, Victoria Island. Some of the judges of the 77 entries (3 were disqualified thereafter) included (from left- Chief Joop Berkout-Publisher of Spectrum Books, Professor Ayo Banjo-former V.C. of the University of Ibadan and Professor Theo Vincent). The three shortlisted books were Hard Ground by Ahmed Yerima, C.E.O. of the National Arts Theatre, Ajayi Crowther by Professor Femi Osofisan, Professor of Drama at the University of Ibadan and Esoteric Dialogue by Emeka Egwuda, former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors-Lagos State Chapter. For some reason, they failed to recognize my genius with my entry, The Other Side.  

At the presentation of the book, THE WINGS OF DAWN, an anthology of New Writing by the Women Writers of Nigeria (WRITA) and edited by Akachi Ezeigbo and Veronica Uzoigwe, Jahman Oladejo Anikulapo (Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, left) chats with the time-tested writer, Mabel Segun. Venue was the British Council, Ikoyi on Thursday the 7th of September. 

The Comic and Cartoon Carnival will be a big part of the Lagos Book and Art Festival this year from the 14th to the 17th of September. The Comic Carnival kicks off at Terra Kulture on thursday the 14th. 

Stopped by to see Joke Silva yesterday at her office to sort outstanding Inheritors maters. J Silva is a member of the planning committee of the government sponsored annual Abuja Carnival, meant to showcase Nigeria's tourism potentials.