©Rasak-Oyadiran
Opeyemi
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Rasak-Oyadiran Opeyemi (second left) |
I live in Abeokuta, was born and
bred there and I happen to have a relationship with it that is not very unlike
the one I have with my old pajamas. Warm, baggy, very comfortable, worn out
with memories and beautifully uninteresting. Then
AKE happened and it was
hellooo! Victoria secret lingerie.
--First
Day--
And so it came to pass that on
November 18 2014, I breezed into the June 12 Cultural Centre, baseball cap on
head, body bag on arm and tongue fully in cheek. I was getting registered when
I received a text from a friend letting me know he and the others were at the
bookstands, I hadn’t seen my inner circle in a while, this festival was getting
me drunk on joy already.
Walking down the lobby, I
recognized a couple of virtual friends, some of us walked up to each other,
peered at one another’s nametags and exchanged hugs and delighted squeals. I
did find my friends later huddled together in a circle with some unfamiliar and
vaguely familiar faces, having a debate on books and their film adaptations.
Ibukun Adeeko, friend and mentor wrapped me up in a comical bear hug and
introduced the others to me, we all got off to a great start.
The vibes and the energy in the
air with so many writers, art lovers and readers from all the country and
outside was great and yours truly basked in it like a lizard in the sun. Lola
Shoneyin, the festival director was all over the place seeing things were going
on smoothly and reminding us of next events, I would have missed some panels
but for her, amazing woman. The guys and I were soon joined by Sueddie Vershima
Agema and Agatha Aduro and I learnt that Amu Nnadi, a brilliant prolific writer
and father of many Facebook children, was around. I went off to pay homage and
was glad to find he was just as witty, kind and sweet as he was online.
An informal reading was soon
organized and writers, both established and upcoming sat round and shared some
of their works. My dear dear Gbenga Adesina, poet, essayist, friend and mentor
called at this point to announce his arrival and it took restraint not to dance
around the chairs. Amu Nnadi, when about to do his reading, called me out and
sat me in the middle of the circle then read me Osa, my favorite poem in
one of his collections. I think I died a little bit.
The screening of Kunle Afolayan’s
October
1 came next, it was a beautiful work and I was particularly impressed
by Kehinde Bankole and Kayode Olaiya’s performances, sheer genius.
Day 2 and the festival was in
full swing, I was blown away at the Mutation and Mutilation; Feminism in Africa
panel discussion, Bisi Adeleye Fayemi was endearing as she dropped f -bombs at
will. The book chat on Okey Ndibe’s Foreign Gods Inc. moderated by Kola
Tunbosun followed. I was gratified to find Okey was as fascinating as his works
and there was the Literature for Africa’s Children where I spent a lot of time
gawking at Nnedi Okorafor’s dreadlocks and laughing at Ayodele Olofintuade’s
repartees. I rounded up my day at the bookstands stocking up my library and
admiring the various dreadlocks I saw being sported tastefully. Stocking up my
library will later teach me a lesson. A not-so-good one.
---Third
Day---
Day 3 was back-to-back excitement
with Chude Jideonwo’s book chat moderated by Patrick Okigbo, the Religion,
Education and the Menace of Violence panel discussion where E.E Sule, a
panelist suggested the abolishment of religion in Nigeria for a while, followed
by Zukiswa
Wanner’s book chat moderated by the classy Molara Woods. Then the big
highlight of the day, the panel discussion with ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Shey you know our ex-president is an author too? *smiles* The panel was
moderated by Patrick Okigbo. Issues ranging from Baba childhood, his time in
the military, the civil war and the current administration which he rated below
average. When asked about his view on homosexuality, the ex-president said he
was a conservative and that the practice was an abomination. Mini hell danced
on social media. Pro-gay attendees went on twitter and pronounced him a
homophobe. Come see drama. Hen eh! Later in the evening, the 2015 Caine Prize
judges were announced to the applause of many and Writivism collections were
launched. Yeah, that was one good thing about being there. We got the news
before everyone.
And my facebook friend and real
life tormentor, Noah Oladele finally made his appearance on Day 3 and we traded
jibes, our very style of friendliness.
---Account Went Red---
I started the final day with the Poisonous
Gas; The Crude Politics of Oil in West Africa panel discussion which
featured Rotimi Amaechi as one of the panelists and anchored by Ayodele
Morocco-Clarke, then went to the Poets Anonymous panel which was very
titillating and featured the poets on the panel reading some works. I gawked and reveled in the presence of
Professor Wole Soyinka. Jerome Okole moderated the chat and Wole Soyinka with
his shock of white air, regaled us with tidbits of his relationship with
Olusegun Obasanjo, Femi Banjo and his clashes with the military government
among others. An autograph session followed.
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Rasak-Oyadiran Opeyemi (right) |
The Palm wine and Poetry
session was a befitting way of ending the festival. Sublime poetry was read and
performed by acclaimed poets like Jumoke Verissimo, Efe Paul-Azino, Kei Miller,
Amu Nnadi and more, a guitar player whose soulful voice captured ears and
hearts almost stole the night and all these went down while the audience downed
palm wine in pretty little calabashes.
Barbeque and dancing followed later in the night with writers showing off
their dance skills and party spirits. But some writers can dance sha. And
some…issokay.
I was really excited about all
the new books I was getting. Amu Nnadi gifted me his entire collections!
Sueddie gave me a discount on his books, all autographed too! Did I mention
that I took pictures with Kunle Afolayan, shared boiled groundnuts with Victor
Ehikhamenor and almost stole Okey Ndibe’s pen when he signed my copy of Foreign
God Inc? My ‘famzing’ antenna was going crazy! I however wasn’t excited
about the fried rice that was always finished whenever I got to the caterers. I
take fried rice very seriously. My future husband had better know o.
Nnamdi had tried in between
panels to teach me Igbo but all I got was how to say ‘we are going downstairs’ for the panel discussion. Thanks Nnam!
There was a time when Wole Soyinka walked past me and I thought ‘if only I
could just touch his cotton shirt, perhaps I could be filled with the
brilliance too’ get it?
I left that night after
exchanging contacts and long hugs with a heavy heart. There was Amu Nnadi and
his charm, Nur’ayn Ali Balogun with his
wit, Adeola Opeyemi and her smile, Mimi Adebayo, Tolu Daniel and his hugs,
Nnamdi Anyandu with his bubbly spirit and many other fabulous people. I had new
determinations and goals. The Ake Book and Arts Festival was a breath of air so
fresh, y’all should come over next year and breathe.
And Yes. My account went red. Bought books like they were
food and clothes. What does that make me?
- ·
Rasak-Oyadiran
Opeyemi is a poet, essayist and short story writer. She loves the colour brown,
books, great music and the stage. She aspires one day to be a Jill of all
trades and share drinks with Zadie Smith and Ben Okri but in the meantime is chasing
a law degree.