We are excited to announce the list of Special Guests for the 2018 edition of the annual Words Rhymes & Rhythm Literary Festival – ‘FEAST OF WORDS’ scheduled for Saturday 1st December 2018 The International School, University Of Ibadan, Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The guests are Iquo Dianaabasi, author of Symphony of Becoming; Uchenna Eze winner ANA Prose Fiction Prize (2018); veteran journalist and orator Macaulay Maduwuba; Jide Badmus, author of Scripture and There is a Storm in My Head; Adedayo Agarau, author of For Boys Who Went; and Ghanaian writer Oppong Clifford Benjamin.
FEAST OF WORDS, a one-day, free-entry literary festival, is one of Nigeria’s most anticipated literary festivals, especially among the younger generation of writers, performers, thinkers, artists, book lovers and lovers of literature. It will feature performances (music, poetry & drama), discussion panels, award presentations, and book readings.
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GUEST SPEAKER’S BIO:
IQUO DIANAABASI writes prose, poetry and scripts for radio and screen. She often performs her poems with a touch of culture-rich Ibibio folklore. An avid student of human nature, Iquo’s writing explores socially cognizant themes, pain, love, womanhood and trials of the griots of this age.
Her first collection of poems, Symphony of Becoming, was shortlisted for the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, and the ANA Poetry Prize; both in 2013. It has also been shortlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature.
Iquo is an alumnus of Fidelity Bank’s International Creative Writing Workshop, and was writer in residence at the Ebedi International Writers Residency In 2013. Her writings appear in Kalahari review, Saraba magazine, ANA Review, AfricaInWords and Olisa.tv. She has been featured in several poetry anthologies.
Stages she has graced include: Lagos International Poetry Festival, Ake Arts and Book Festival, The Big60 Cultural Exchange, Wole Soyinka @80, Lagos Black Heritage Festival, The Macmillan Literary night, PLAY Poetry Festival, Word slam, The Lagos Poetry Festival, Word and Sound.
The mother of two resides in Lagos where she has just completed work on a collection of short fiction set for release in early 2019. She is also writing a second volume of poetry.
Iquo will read from her forthcoming collection of short stories. Copies of Symphony of Becoming will be available for N1000.
UCHENNA EZE comes from Uburu in Ohaozara local government Area of Ebonyi State state. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki; and a Master of Arts degree from University of Ibadan, Ibadan. His interest in Medical Humanities has seen him attempt further studies in key areas of the same discipline he considers rather exciting.
The Longest Trial, his debut novel, won ANA Prose Fiction Prize (2018). He is at the moment, a postgraduate student at the University of Ibadan from where he writes.
Eze will read from The Longest Trial. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
JIDE BADMUS is an electrical engineer, literary promoter and poet who is inspired by nature and beauty. He is the author of two poetry collections, There Is A Storm In My Head (2017) and Scripture (2018).
Some of his literary works appear in online journals: Dugwe, Kalahari Review, Dwarts Online, PIN etc,. He was named on the EGC Top 50 Contemporary Poets who rocked Nigeria in 2017.
Badmus, who lives and writes from Lagos, is married with two daughters and is, among other things, a Christian and Manchester united fan.
Badmus will deliver a brief talk on: ‘The Creative Crèche: Nurturing Your Imagination and Expression’. He will also read from his new poetry collection, Scripture, which will be available for N1000.
ADEDAYO AGARAU, author of For Boys Who Went, is a Nigerian documentary photographer and poet whose writings revolve around the themes of godhood, boyhood, distance and absence.
Adedayo’s works have been featured or are forthcoming on Kalahari, Brittle Paper, Gaze Mag, Allegro, Obra Artifact, Praxis Magazine, Jalada Africa, Sankofa Mag, African Writer, Click 042, One Jarcar Press, Expound Magazine, Geometry, 8poems, BarnHouse, Barren Magazine and elsewhere.
Adedayo was shortlisted for the Erbacce UK Poetry Chapbook Prize 2016. He is the Winner of the Eriata Oribhabor Food Poetry Prize 2015, Runner-Up Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize 2017 and Runner-Up, PIN Food Poetry Contest 2017. His poem, Stones, made the shortlist of 2018 Babishai Niwe Poetry Prize.
Adedayo loves to travel, read poetry journals, eat and work. He lives in Ibadan, Nigeria.
ADEDAYO will deliver a brief talk on: ‘Poetry in Time of Depression’.
OPPONG CLIFFORD BENJAMIN is a Ghanaian writer and Civil Engineer. He has authored a collection of short stories titled The Virgin Mother and Other Short Stories and is the Founder and Executive Director of Ghana Writes Literary Group, GhanaWrites.Com.
His poems have appeared in several platforms including KWEE Magazine, Portor Portor, Ghana Writes Literary Journal, Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR), Brittle, MyJoyOnline in Ghana, Blog Nostics and Vagabondcity Lit, the UK Online Poetry Library, PoetryBit and others. He has read his poems in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia, Rwanda, Germany and Russia. In 2013, he was named Ghana Poet of the Year by WRR.
Clifford is currently researching on the places and characters in his next book In Parco Torri Gemelle, Vera Finally Rested, a collection of twelve short stories about a young lady’s quest to find her happiness in life. He lives in Ghana.
He will read from the manuscript of his forthcoming collection. Copies of The Virgin Mother and Other Short Stories will be available for N1000.
MACAULAY MADUWUBA is a Nigerian journalist, orator, entrepreneur and creative soul with interests in the Arts, Business Education, Media, Sports and the Affairs of Humanity. He is the founder and director of indigenous Media, Communications and Enterprise Management Company, MACWRITES
Maduwuba has worked for several years as a broadcast journalist, sports reporter and is passionate about endeavours that enrich lives and create happiness. A Truth-Seeker, he advocates for moral and righteous living. He describes himself as a visionary leader and Spiritual being who still has a great lot to learn from Jesus Christ, his role model, and the Holy Spirit, his mentor.
Maduwuba will read a passage from The Secret Lives Of Baba Sege’s Wives by Lola Shoneyin.
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Authors and booksellers who wish to display books at the event should reach out to us before Wednesday the 28th of November, 2018. There will be no fee charged for displaying books.
The FEAST OF WORDS is one of the many ways through which Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers Ltd. promote Nigerian writing and support the development of young Nigerian writers. The Festival presents an opportunity for interaction and networking amongst young writers all over the country. The 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions had in attendance writers and literary enthusiast from all over the country.
For more information on participation or sponsorship, please call/SMS 08060109295; 07034847164 or 08160179151 before Wednesday the 28th of November, 2018. Inquiries can also be mail
