₦airaland Forum

I just visited ANA website and when I saw the news on Environment, I thought ANA was inviting Nigerian writers to write about the environment.
Had no idea it was some boring conference or workshop or whatever they call it.
I am just thinking will they discuss more meaningful thing than what was talked about at Copenhagen?

Any one with info on free to enter short story competitions to enter? I already know about Commonwealth short story competition, which other can one enter for this year.
Any info will be appreciated.
Thank you.

I JUST SENT MINE OUT NOW.
I HOPE I WIN OR EVEN GET ACKNOWLEDGED FOR STARTERS.

THE DAY I DECIDED TO STAY ALIVE.
I WAS not always counted among the children while I was growing up, Aunt Flo made sure of that. She constantly reminded my parents of their sorrows, of the children they had lost to sickle-cell anaemia and when anyone insisted that I must be included she was quick to state clearly that I would definitely die so why bother with me.
The day I decided to stay healthy and alive was that very day the Muslims in Jos decided to attack the Christians in that religious crises crisis that caused the destruction of so many lives and properties.
My brother Emmanuel and I had just left the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where he had taken me to see the doctor when we noticed the mob ahead of us. There was no way to go back on reverse because of the cars behind us and Emmanuel could not turn to the other lane because of the cars that had been abandoned by the road side. Emma and I began to panic and his mobile phone began to ring as well. He asked me to pick it and put it on speaker.
"Hello Emma, if you are still in the hospital please don't come out of the hospital gate." It was Mama's voice.
"Mama we are at Ahmadu Bello Way," he answered her.
"Turn back please and go back to the hospital."
But we were looking at the mob and they were marching aggressively towards us and, frankly, there was no way to turn back to the hospital. I looked from the mob ahead to Emma and wondered how we wiould ever get out of this. He did what I still call the decision that saved us that day. Emma put the car in full motion and headed straight into the mob. He knocked so many down, probably killed some, but the car glass and windscreen was completely damaged and we sustained injuries too. Emma drove with such great speed until we were safe in a deserted Birom road before he slowed down a little bit. I wanted to tell him that Birom road did not look safe to me when we saw another mob coming from the end of the road. Emmanuel took the only free route out of Birom road and began criss-crossing streets in his bid to get back to the hospital which is closer and safer than going home.

Just before Terminus market, while we could almost smell the characteristic antiseptics odour of JUTH, we bumped into another mob. There could not have been a way out except to repeat the same stunt he performed before but the danger was that there was no glass to be broken anymore and so when we encountered this group, their weapon landed directly on us. We managed to get to the hospital gate before Emma passed out on the steering. Hurriedly, I took off from the car and ran to the hospital to get the nurses and paramedics to come help my elder brother.
Emma was sleeping peacefully the next day, after seeming calm had returned to the streets because a combined force of Army, police and other paramilitary had been deployed to force peace on us when Mama and a Aunt Flo came to the hospital to see Emmanuel and I. Though I tried so hard not to read meaning to her glance, I know aunt Flo was rebuking me and possibly blaming me for Emma's condition - after all, he sustained more injuries than I did. When I could not take it anymore I excused myself to go to the toilet so I could be freed from that accusing look from aunt Flo even for a second. On my way back to the room, because the people in other parts of the hospital made me even more depressed, I overheard aunt Flo rebuking mama.
"You didn't have to have sent them together; that is what I am saying," I heard aunt Flo saying.
"What would I have done? No one knew such a thing as that would have happened," Mama replied her.
"People who have ears on the ground knew it will happen soon except that the day and time was not known. You should have been more careful, this boy is the only son my brother has got and you should not have put his life in line for a sick and dying one."
Mama shook her head and nodded. She knew just as everyone else knew that nothing could come out of an argument with aunt Flo when she gets in this type of mood.
That was the day I renewed my decision to be a healthy person and to whip that sorrow in mama's eye away.

When I figured the hectic situation in the hospital as a result of the crisis to have been reduced, I took a trip to the hospital to the doctor again. I wanted all the information I could get on how to keep my health on balance. I also began a hungry research on sickle-cell anaemia and how to keep healthy.

As each year passed and I celebrated my birthday, aunt Flo made sure she was absent. Even when I got into the university, she still disapproved but I kept my resolve and finished my studies.

I had not expected her to be in the house during my graduation party. I insisted on taking a picture with her and mum was surprised. She had no idea I was not angry with aunt Flo, I am grateful to her for the challenge I got from her though she did it in hatred and anger.
After the picture, she tapped mama on the shoulder and declared with surprise in her eyes that I have remained healthy for a long time now.
"That is the irony of life," mama answered her. "When it comes to Chinazo onu kwuru njo na ekwu nma."

It is as I have dreamt it and I intend to keep it that way, I told myself.

I will like more info cos i am really looking for a writing job.

This is a good example of Ochoroni anagi ahu, ohururni anagi acho. he who wants something don't get while he who has it does not want it.

That Faaruk does not know how many admissions people like me have missed because we were unable to raise just 8500 pounds for Masters Tuition. I am sure the amount is just his Pizza money. Complete money miss road.

i will contact you.

Hey thank u so much gbenga

Story of our lives here in Nigeria.
I have stopped wondering why people's eyes -especially they ones I trust and love- turn red each time success pays me a visit.
I have also stopped wondering why they spend so much energy and time trying to stop good things from coming my way.
I have accepted that it is in their blood and so I chose to keep them ALL out of my business-after all it is my business.

Have you ever wondered why Timiya the musician spends so much time talking about 'bad belle people' when he can use the time to sing about love?
Kill joy like that abound amongst us, they are not alien to us here in Nigeria and If anyone is lucky to have very little number of kill joy people around him, them such a one should rejoice exceedingly.

WHAT A DAY.
It was a sunny Sunday and the eve of idil fitri (the Muslim celebration of the end of the fasting period), I had gone to the market to buy my regular supply for the week when I noticed an unusual crowd at the main entrance of the market. They crowd was made up of three distinct people-shoppers, beggars and the almajiri`s. The whole place was ‘screaming’ with people and I almost turned back home but on a second thought I dared it.
I kept bumping into people and kept saying ‘sannu’ as I tried to make my way into the centre of the market. Almost every shopper I looked at the face wore a frown and I kept wandering what in God’s name was going on. I soon discovered that food stuffs like tomatoes, pepper, onion, rice, beans and meat had tripled their price. In the spirit of the celebration, the traders have tripled the prices of food stuffs in order to maximize profit. No matter what amount they increase the food stuffs to, we must buy them because ‘we are celebrating’ and we need the food stuffs to celebrate.
The beggars had more to show to anyone who cared to see. They screamed at the top of their voice “Please for the sake of God, spare something for me. God will bless you” as they extended their plates further for alms but most shoppers hurried past them with angry faces on their way home without dropping the usual 5 or 10 Naira notes into their extended plates. Some shoppers however lingered on, hoping to get cheaper price for goods by persisting and combing the market.
The almajiri boys spiced up the chaotic picture with their dirty rubber plates, dirty clothes that I can swear have not seen soap and water for the past one month or more. They all walked from one shop to the other in groups of 2 or 3 boys singing while asking for alms. It is usually that one of the boys will lead and the other(s) will respond. I could not help but notice that some of the boys have good voices that could have made them wonderful singers.
While I was still making up my mind on what to buy and what not to buy since my money cannot possibly buy all I wanted, it began to rain. The rain came unannounced and began pouring as if God had opened the cloud and was pouring water directly into the market place. They traders began to gather their wares that were displayed outside or cover them with tarpaulin while shopper, beggars and almajiri boys all began running helter-skelter. I started laughing as I watched the beggars all hurrying to take cover while some shoppers ran, people were just running and I began to wander if it was not raining where they were running to.
“This rain don spoil am por market today walih.” The owner of the shop I was at said. I just burst into laughter and he smiled back at me with his tobacco stained teeth.
“What a day.” I said.
HENRIETTA

Hi everyone,
I need to get a copyright for the work I just finished but I am a little bit confused.
I like to know if a copyright registered in Nigeria here will be recognized internationally or if it is limited only in Nigeria here.
The copyright service I always see advertised here on Nairaland says the registration covers several countries who are registered members of Berne Convention.
I want to know if any registration done in one of these countries is applicable to the rest or,

Thanks.

I think it will make an interesting read.

As much as I love to write because of the passion, I want to make a good living from it too.
Musicians love to sing because they are passionate about singing and they make real big money from it too. Same applies everywhere my dear.

So I am not going to write just for the joy of writing alone.
@trekkie
Even 'caring pro' made money from their books. I want to do same too.


In Abuja, we have Abuja Writers Forum where we meet to read and critique each others work and we have workshops last Saturday of every month, I think we are lucky here to have that.
Maybe more contests with good prices to be won will be wonderful especially if it is organised locally. That will motivate people like me and spur us to write.
Seriously is ANA alive?

I have not stopped wondering how many Nigerian writers make a good income from writing. I mean those writers who write fiction.
The successful ones everyone knows live and write in Europe and USA or some other parts of the world.
Every writer i have met in the Abuja Writers Forum has a day job. Is it not a sure prove that writing alone can not provide sustainable income for any writer here in Nigeria?

Secondly, I keep wondering why politicians always talk about poor reading standards in the country; words have to be written before it can be read, isn't it?
You can not keep lamenting about poor harvest when you did not plant.

Hi
Everyone, I am glad to state that i have contracted an editor and i met him here on nairaland too.
Thank you everyone who indicated interest.

Please I want a professional editor or someone with a background in English Language for this work.
The Bulk of the work is to make sure my grammar is correct.
Thanks.

HI,
Everyone, i need a copy editor for my draft. It is about 56,000 words.
When replying this please include the amount you will charge and how long it will take you to complete the editing process.

You can contact me on charlenechi331@yahoo.com or 08038879865.

Thanks.
Nwadinma.

CURRENTLY, I HAVE STARTED READING ROBIN COOK.
I THINK THE GUY IS HOT TOO.
MAYBE HOTTER.
OR SHOULD I SAY I LIKE THE WAY HE HANDLES ALL THE GENETIIC
INNOVATIONS THAT CAN CAUSE HUMAN CATASTROPHY.

I HAVE READ
INVASION
CROMOSOME 6
CONTAGION
ABDUCTION
GODPLAYER
FATAL CURE

I LIKE HIS WRITINGS.

why did you hid your contact when you want people to contact you?

great.