‘We‘ve not neglected indigenous literature’ - Okediran

[Sola Osofisan]

President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Dr. Wale Okediran, speaks on the body’s plan for indigenous literature and on conflicts in some chapters of ANA.

INDIGENOUS literature which appears stagnant at the moment will be come vibrant soon, Dr. Wale Okediran, national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has assured. In a chat with literary journalists at the environmental writing workshop sponsored by Chevron at the University of Lagos recently, the president of the writers’ body explained why, contrary to his promise that indigenous writers would be empowered through writing workshops, none has been held while workshops have been held on drama and on the environment.

“ The issue of knowing which literary genre to promote has to do with sponsorship. Last year, when we wanted to have a workshop, we approached Centre for Black African Arts and Culture (CBACC), and they said they were interested in drama”, Okediran said. Explaining further, he said: “This year, Chevron decided on environmental writing. We are still looking for somebody to sponsor indigenous literature. A few years ago, we got grants from Ford Foundation to do a workshop on indigenous literature which we did and we have two publications from that.

“We have not neglected indigenous literature. In fact, Hausa literature in Kano is very vibrant and British Council promised to sponsor something on Hausa literature last year. Unfortunately, the director was transferred before we could conclude the arrangement so we are still looking in the direction of indigenous literature. As soon as we get sponsors, we’ll go into that.” The president also spoke on the conflict between ANA national and some state chapters, particularly the Lagos State chapter. “ Of course, there are some frictions, not only in ANA Lagos but in about six ANA chapters. The Lagos one has to do with one Adewusi who was suspended. Folu Agoi, the chairman got in touch with me about the disciplinary action they wanted to take against him. I advised that whatever they were going to do, they must make sure the fellow is given the opportunity to defend himself.

“He later told me that the fellow was given an opportunity and that they’ve reached a decision on him. But in Bayelsa, the fellow wrote a petition to the executive, saying he was invited to the disciplinary panel through a text message which was less than 24 hours to the event and because of that he couldn’t make it. “The executive council considered his petition and said in light of that, the best thing was for ANA Lagos to write him formally. We wanted to give the man the chance to defend himself. But unfortunately for reasons I’m still at a loss to understand, the ANA Lagos chairman reacted in a negative way. An official letter I wrote to him in his capacity as chairman, he took it to the internet. And on the internet, I can still recollect, he was so abusive. I don’t know why he did that but we are handling it maturedly.

“It’s not only in Lagos that we’ve been having problems , Imo ANA was another hotspot which by God’s grace we’ve been able to intervene. We also have some pocket of problems in ANA Abuja but it has been nipped in the bud too. “ The issue of Nduka Otiono that came up in Bayelsa was... This was an incident that took place five years ago in Delta and when the matter came up in Bayelsa, all I did was say in any civilized community, you don’t discuss issues behind the personalties involved particularly when it has to do with corruption. And I said can we suspend discussion on Otiono until that time when we can have a feedback from him? That was what I said and I think this is the norm anywhere in the world. Unfortunately, somebody went on the internet to say we wanted to cover up the case. But these are distractions that won’t distract us from our focus”.

Okediran allayed fears that money attached to some ANA prizes endowed by individuals have been exhausted and that affected prizes would be cancelled. “We had problems with the Atiku Prize for Children Literature in the sense that the bank where the money was lodged was distressed. But luckily, another bank took over the distressed one and we’ve been able to rectify that. The money is intact. “Then we also had problems with Ahmed Maiwada Prize which he endowed recently before Bayelsa. I think the money he paid was only for a year and Otiono’s position is that whoever is going to endow any prize must be ready to, at least, put down enough money for three years so that we won’t be going there every year. We have seen him and we are talking. “ The problem we have with NECO Prize for Teen Authors is time constraint. If we want a long term endowment, they will have to go to the board to get approvement. But if we want something quick, the then Executive Secretary, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, said he had the power to grant the request for that year but that for the long term endowment, he will have to get the Board’s approval. So we got the money for last year, now we have decided to approach the NECO board for a long term endowment”.

http://www.tribune.com.ng

[Kabura Zakama]

We need to say it as it is: we, collectively, have all neglected indiegnous literature!

The first step towards literature in indigenous languages is to promote literacy in the indigenous languages. I think (I am not sure of this, but I will find out) that the National Policy on Education provides for the teaching of indigenous languages across the country. This is not the case in practice and a large chunk of Nigerians do not speak, not to talk of reading in, their mother tongues! This is unacceptable. The three major languages and a few others have dominated the education systems. It is, for instance, unacceptable that Hausa, and not Bura, should be taught in the primary and secondary schools in my village!

This is where writers come in. There are hardly any writings now in the Bura language except the ones produced by the Christian missionaries. If the policy of teaching indigenous languages is to be realized there must be materials in indigenous languages that can be taught. We, as writers, must begin to produce materials in our indigenous languages and then we can advocate to the Ministries of Education to implement this policy.

One suggestion is for all writers, especially those writing within the country, to begin to engage in bilingual writing. If you can write in your mother tongue, then write in your mother tongue and translate into English or write in English and translate into your mother tongue. This approach was what helped me to participate for the second time in the British Council’s Crossing Borders online mentoring programme. My mentor, Menna Elfin, bilingually published in Welsh and English and I wanted to learn the techniques and approaches for that. Her approach helped to sustain interest in her native Welsh language and she still remains relevant in the universal English Language.

May I appeal to Nigerian writers who can to please consider bilingual or multilingual writing. I have been encouraged by - . I have seen only one of her bilingual poems, but it really challenged me to get back on track. She said she first wrote that poem in Efik and then translated it into English. If we as Nigerian writers can do that, then we can approach the Ministries of Education and say here are the materials, let us now teach indigenous languages. Then we can advance African literature in indigenous languages because we have supported the development of literacy in these languages.

Of course, there are other factors, such as publishers' inputs, government/political commitment and social re-orientation (not rebranding). When the platform is there, we can discuss these and generate useful and practical ideas to move forward.

Your opinions are welcome.

[Nnenna]

I believe that Nigeria as a nation will benefit from a radical shift towards the mother tongue as against the current senseless emphasis on the English language and Arabic. There is no excuse for keeping the English Language at the prominent place it occupies in our education system 50 years after independence.

There's hardly any prize for works written in local languages. I think this should be harped
on to encourage people who have the ability to write in their mother tongue.

More imprtantly, i think it is time for writers, teachers and policy makers to challenge themselves to rescue our mother tongue from imminent extinction.