AkeOnTheRocks - Day 3

#AkeOnTheRocks was supposed to be a daily entry on my experiences at the Ake Arts and Book Festival, 2015, but somehow I got stuck and for that I apologise. Waking up by 6am and going to bed by 11pm had its toll on me and then my sinusitis hit me with intent to burst my bubble so I couldn’t carry on. This is me trying to briefly sum up the remaining days, hopeful that my memory would serve me right.

Tuesday, November 7^th was ushered into our world with a gust of hope and lots of expectations. There were two major events- School Environmental Awareness Day and a Fiction Writing Master Class. On arrival at the cultural centre, our first task was to prepare and ensure everything was in place for the schools arrival and the writing workshop. With that done, myself and two other volunteers who were stationed at the chat room helped place Tyna Adebowale’s art works (Shadows and dreams) which depicts the challenges surrounding female identity and gender discrimination. Tyna says that her work is an attempt to give voice to the struggles of women in her society.

About 9 different schools from all across Ogun state gathered in the cinema hall with their teachers in anticipation of what they would find or take home from this event. Lola Shoneyin (LS) anchored the event and began with introductions and sharing her experience as a teacher. Also present at the event were the first Lady of Ogun state Mrs Olunfunso Amosun, Mr George Salami of Lafarge Company and other environmental activists.

After an interactive session on the importance of being conscious of our environment, the students watched a documentary “Nowhere to run” which was being screened for the first time ever at Ake. The documentary is about environmental degradation due to human practices and urbanization. I am very sure that the documentary awoke a sleeping consciousness in everyone present to be more aware of the danger we are subjecting ourselves into by not paying close attention to environmental needs.

 Unfortunately, I had to leave the cinema hall at this point as the fiction master class was about to begin in the chat room which was my duty post. I learnt however that the students were made to recite an environmental pledge and thereafter were given an environmental art challenge to create beauty from everyday materials such as cardboards, calico fabric, buttons, pins, newspapers etc. Gateway secondary school emerged winner of the art challenge. The school and students were awarded cash and book prices for their creativity. At this point I wished I could metamorphose into one of them. A smile of satisfaction was etched on my face as I looked out the window to see the student all talking with exciting expressions on their faces. I know for sure that this experience has left with them a positive mark.

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The fiction master class was made up of 16 enthusiastic writers seated in a round table so as to create an intimate network during discussions. Sci-fi and magical realism writer Nnedi Okoroafor began the training by bringing to the fore attention of these budding writers the importance and necessity of editing from the very first draft till it goes into print. She narrowed down the complexities involved in publishing and editing while making reference to her own personal experiences. The class was invigorating and enlightening as many of the students could be seen taking down notes.

The next session had the fascinating and ever smiling Taiye Selasi detangle the web surrounding narrative voices. She explained how to exploit the various narrative voices and had the class writing a three minute flash fiction draft with each of the narrative voices. It was a class I personally enjoyed and it was amazing watching Taiye move, laugh and observe every single detail. The session ended with an exercise where the participants had to write a letter or diary entry. Taiye read hers which was a letter to her sister Kehinde, telling her how this was the best fiction class she had ever taught.

Helon Habila ended the writing workshop by covering the topic “Broadening Your Horizon”. His first task which was introduction and ensuring everyone has a writing pad couldn’t emphasize more that he is a professor at the George Mason University. With his calm and confident demeanour, Helon emphasized the importance of voracious reading and exploiting the available set pieces such as suicide, mirror reflection, flaneur etc. This class also had writing exercises and ended with questions and yes of course photo and selfie sessions

I for one enjoyed very much the master class especially when the participants had to share their flash fiction drafts. I think I went to bed that night in awe of Taiye and brooding over the fact that I couldn’t get a selfie with her.  Highlight of the day was having to watch Nnedi chase a lizard around, her fascination with animals was indeed a wonder to behold