₦airaland Forum

ONE OF THE THINGS TO GIVE AND HOW

A choice!

All we’ve got to give is a “choice”. A close observation will reveal how low the so-called Nollywood movies have descended. Yet, an average Nigerian will spend hours watching it but groan about 30 minutes he spent reading. It’s because they want to be entertained, we all want to, but when they cannot get what they want in the prints, they submit to screen work.

We are going to give them a choice by redirecting their attention to the prints.

We are going to do this by giving them exactly what they want to read just the way they want it.

Our people are craving for local stories; those prepared from local ingredients, garnished with the flavour of everyday’s life and served on Nigerian background. I am talking about stories that are potent enough to hold even writers spellbound.

rapmike:
Okay.

Unfortunately I am at Ife currently (that's in Osun state) so I can't join in. However, I may be following this thread.

No wahala, bros
I understand
Whenever you stop by, remember to drop in some goodies, idea wise.
Regards.

rapmike:
Hello.

Please I hope you won't mind me asking some questions.
1st- what do you exactly mean by Literature? Are you talking of the Achebe or Adiche level or is it the level of what is currently on NL? I feel its the latter but just want to be sure.
2nd- why only Lagos? Can't you work with others outside of Lagos using online platforms like Whatsapp and e-mail? Creating a Whatsapp group for your team could help- at least your team is less than 100, am I right?
3rd- when you said 10 writers, I hope it ends at just writing? I say so because folks can be funny. I once worked with a group like yours (only that it was not Literature). They also made this demarcation that the writers will only write. Lo and behold, after the first issue of the paper was released, all those who were part of the editorial team was forced to buy 10 copies of the magazine @ #50 per copy and we were then told to sell them! That was so unforgettably annoying, not to talk of the fact that I did not even make any profit or even recoup the money I spent because the magazine was everywhere. So don't blame me for being skeptical.

Until I get answers to these questions before I take your talk serious.

No, I don't mind. Besides, your questions are very relevant.

1. My intention is to initiate a dynamic literary platform that can accommodate generations of writers. And since I cannot do it alone, those who will co-assist in laying the foundation are the pioneer members who will retain its right of ownership.

It's neither Achebe's kind of literature nor what is on NL; but of course, we can borrow useful tips from them. One of the ideas I'll like to present is on the area of monthly publication of entertainment magazine. Something different from what is in the market today. That would be my own idea.

I have a reason for saying that my ideas are not conclusive. That is because I envisage a body of creative and willing individuals. It is possible that after brainstorming, my own ideas might not even number among the first to be launched.

2. I'm not psychic but I can feel your time constraints. Why would I tell somebody to start coming from Abuja or any of those far places for a project that is yet to yield any income.

You said something about your involvement in a similar organization that eventually brought only stress to you. That is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. In future, things will definitely change, but for now, I want people who can easily reach each other.

There is a limit to what can he done online. For instance, when we get to registration stage with CAC and other relevant agencies and you happen to be a signatory, you can't sign such documents online.

3. That I'm initiating this idea does not give me any right whatsoever, over anybody.

Why would I impose a levy on you? Even if I do, would you be happy to pay? I'm trying to be understood here. If we sign an MoU today, I'm just a member like every other person until an election decides who occupies which position. It's not my firm. I don't even have any name registered to this effect. Rather, it will be our firm. And since it will be our firm from which we'll derive equal benefits, wouldn't it be fair to share the task alike?

Here comes the link:
www.nairaland.com/2927627/ekwe#42839303
Go there and do the needful.

He took his face from the direction of the disappearing bike to notice his cohorts displaying their brown teeth in excitement. He chuckled, slowly pulled on his few strands of grayish moustaches – long and scanty like cat’s whiskers. He then raised his snuff box and observed it carefully. That would take him for three days, needless to order for more.

He tapped the cork thrice with his thumb and yanked it open.

He pushed the first pinch into one nostril, blinked severally and farted loudly.

“It is difficult to find good snuff these days. Potash potash everywhere” he murmured to himself.

He took another pinch into the other nostril and gave out a soft, relieving sigh.

Noticing some flies, assembling to feed on his open sore, he flicked a piece of towel to drive them away.

In his hay days, before the advent of the Nigerian civil war, Ekwe was a big player in smuggling in all kinds of country banned products from neighbouring countries through unofficial channels. He drank, smoked and womanized.

On one occasion, he was caught rapiing an eleven years old girl. But he managed to escape jail term. He stole a car and escaped another.

When the war broke out in 1966, he gladly joined the military. He shot and shot and shot until he began to fear that he might never stop shooting. Then he was shot. Again, he escaped death but not without a bullet that stuck deep into his left ankle, leaving him a permanent wound to nurse. But when he talks, one would think that there is another in his head.

When he got home that day, the cold, windy morning had slowly turned to a harsh sunny day. He came back with different renditions of war songs on his lips. Those were his songs whenever he was happy.

“Who is inside? Boil me some water let me treat my leg?” he shouted as he took a seat under a mango tree within his compound to benefit from its comforting shadows.

Ekwe took a gulp of the hot whisky and fired a comic shot at an okadaman who just alighted to take a share of the early morning blessings.

“Okperi, if I was not there at your birth, I would be in doubt what your gender is. The magnitude of your back side keeps me asking who actually gave birth to your children, you or your wife.” He said jokingly.

To Okperi, it was too early for such frivolities and indeed, he tried to ignore him but not when Ekwe continued whispering something to another man of a similar age, sitting next to him. He would whisper to the man, they would both laugh heartily and then look up to catch a glimpse at Okperi.

Having paid for his drink, Okperi stood and demanded for his balance.

He couldn’t just take his eyes off this silly old man called Ekwe. He didn’t know what he hated more, his tongue or his looks. He looked at his smooth, shinning top and wondered if hair had ever grown on that region of the head.

“Listen Mr. Ekwe or whatever you are called” he said in obvious anger.

Ekwe who just dug out a snuffbox from his pocket looked up in an awaken alertness.

“Don’t you notice that I’ve not been greeting you? It might be of your interest to stop talking to me if truly you want to respect your old age.” Okperi growled, snatched his keys off the chair and zoomed off.

“Oh, wait, wait! Okperi don’t misunderstand me. It’s only a joke. Although if you ask me, I would advise you to be careful because of this gay thing that is gradually coming into this country. Those boys can go for anything big.” Ekwe shouted sarcastically.

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Ekwe woke up very happy.

The clock was yet to hit 6:00am, and he was already at Iya Joy’s kiosk, discussing current affairs with cohorts, each holding a bottle of whisky to fuel their brain.

It’s almost a week since that liquid flowed down his throat. And that was too bad for a man who only feels alive when his brain is on fire.

The month hadn’t been a sweet one because none of his predictions came off. He depended on pool for income and his wife for feeding. And it was quite a while since he won any game. So his wallet was already empty, leaving him at the mercy of friends to get any drop of liquor. Not that Iya Joy doesn’t sell on credit to customers but because she set a limit, which Ekwe had already exceeded.

How lucky he felt last night when he noticed a slight bump at one angle of his faded carpet and found ten crispy notes of N200, enveloped in a black nylon. That was a rare opportunity because everyone in the house had learnt invisible ways of hiding money except the woman to whom he said “I do” several decades earlier. A mother of nine who was unfortunately luck to have worn Ekwe’s marital ring since the days of her youth - the wife, the mother and the bread winner of the house.

To beat the ever busy Lagos traffic, this bread-winner would leave her home very early in the morning to enable her secure a stand at the open part of Oshodi market where she sells vegetables and other perishable items. Before she returns at night, those at home would’ve run rounds of ultimate search to uncover any hidden treasure. She would snarl and shout like a hen fighting off a hawk from her chicks. But like a piece of coin swallowed by a might ocean, any money taken would sink without anybody accepting responsibility for its disappearance.

That was her cross which was not to continue because she soon gave an appropriate response to that by building a secured bank around her waist.

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I'm looking at creating a team of 20 writers, 5 editors and 10 marketers at this inception.

Each qualified member will be redirected to another platform, more private, where our ideas will be discussed in full.

It's all about literature, it's all about business, it's all about giving and receiving. It wouldn't be bad to get a lodge in your bank account as a reward for good values you laboured to create.

For me to start this thread on a public forum is enough to tell that I need contributions of ideas. While I believe that the idea I have is not bad, I know certainly, with your good contributions, they will be far better. So I need you just as much as you need me.

Here, nothing is conclusive yet. We are going to throw each idea open for discussion with the hope of arriving at something better. And fresh ideas are highly welcome. But not until we have chosen our team members.

What is it that qualifies one as a member of this team beside the above listed criteria?

Commitment. Yes! That is one thing you need to qualify. And again, we need a little proof that indeed, you are a writer.

Once I go on break, I will start a story on another thread. I will post the link here. You remember how we tend to do it here. You are expected to read my incomplete story and continue from where I stopped. Another person will continue from where you stopped and so on. If you are shortlisted from your performance there, you will get a special invitation to join our whatsaap group.

Expect the link soon.
Good luck!

Obichi98:
Just might not follow you write up conclusive,pls love to read you article to the end,so send more details to...aobushhands1@gmail.com

I would rather insist that your presence is needed here. You can always squeeze out time to peep once in a while. And perhaps, slip in your contributions.

At this beginning, who can be a member of this group?

That person must be:
1. Aged18 years or above.
2. Residing in Lagos state.
3. A passionate and creative writer
4. Willing to contribute ideas that would enable the easy growth of this young literary venture.

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I hold you in good esteem, that is why I'm willing to work with you. But before you accept or reject my proposal, kindly ponder on the subsequent questions.

1. Are you willing to convert this writing hobby of yours to part time job? (Be mindful of time here)

2. If truly you are prepared to write, can you do that with someone?

3. Wouldn't you mind if that "someone" is me, or any of those who will make up our team?

If your answers are in the affirmative, then follow this thread. Otherwise, save yourself some stress now, we will understand.

I thought about yesteryears literature and the icons that held the stage, in comparison to what is obtainable today. I thought about the other things - the efforts, the rewards, the old players and the upcoming.

Finally, I thought about you.

Something that doesn't lie to me keeps whispering into my ears that I can form a unique team from this forum. A team that will be renowned for her strategic revolutionizing of the dying African literary entertainment.

I want those who, of their own volition, have chosen to walk the distance with no element of persuasion. I want people who are gifted to add values to the lives of others. Above all, I specifically want those who are willing to use these gifts to awaken our literature from abeyance.

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Alright folks, beautiful lovers of the print. This is inkon.

Sounds new? Yeah! I've been passive, really passive - an evidence of time constraints right? So it seems.

Well, I'm here now. And I'm going to be brief.

First, I want to acknowledge the awesomeness of some talents in this literature section. You guys are wonderful - many active writers, ever willing to come up with some intriguing stuff to entertain the passive viewers. Such a free-will-donation, but with streaks of rewarding encouragement, nonetheless.

I'm sure some of you guys don't know how good you are. Just some well taken pertinent criticism and you are good to go. Yes! A little touch here or there, that is all we need to become the special individuals we are made to be.

Secondly, and more importantly, I'm here to extend a proposal to you for literary collaboration.

You have been doing great here. Time to give it a nudge. Time to take some steps outside the circumference of this forum. If you have ever been applauded for a job well done, this is when to give more and, of course, receive more.

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