Living our Stories in Africa!
Taking a rest after supper, I basked effortlessly in the echoed glory, uniqueness, significance of the 320th inaugural lecture in the series of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Nigeria, titled, "LIVING OUR STORIES IN AFRICA: FICTION, FICTIONALITY AND THE WISDOM OF UNCERTAINTY", delivered by Professor of Literature-in-English, Chima Anyadike at Oduduwa Hall on Tuesday, 12th June, 2018.
Cheerfully, I picked, opened its published version and was richly entertained over and over again by its invaluable content.
The inaugural lecture starts on an elaborately enlightening note.
The giant academia's expressions wrapped in the very first paragraph note that "our individual and collective lives in Africa today are shaped in significant ways, not just by the nature of our natural and social environments, but also by the actions resulting from the stories we tell ourselves and the ones told or written by others about us and our continent.
Download The Bukolapedia Android App and Instant Access to The Latest Posts
Apart from the obvious that Prof Chima Anyadike attracts an eternal appreciation of his objective academic findings about us, our story, our lives, how we write to talk about, describe, express all of them in a positive or negative light in fictional or non-fictional styles, and how they impact on our minds and actions with the assertion, its composition exudes everything capable of inspiring a new, dynamic, revolutionary way of viewing, telling the African story mainly for the purpose of fostering development in Africa.
Of course, whatever we say or write, or whatever others say or write about us can have positive or negative effect on our mindsets, opinions of ourselves and actions. This stand suggests that internal or external point of views of us and our story not only shape standards we set for ourselves and powerfully influence our deeds, but also determine our successes and failures. We create challenges almost bigger than our efforts can successfully contain for ourselves when retrogressive or stagnant accounts of us are rendered, accepted as true and permanently recurrent.
It is notable the literary icon stresses that seeing the world not from the perspective of reality imbued with positivity, but a "single story" hinders growth and impregnates us with beliefs without basis and melancholy, but stories well made from a variety of sources and cultures are eye openers, as well as teachers of how we can "successfully free our minds from powerful impositions and oppressive relationships, and cope with problems created by greed, dishonesty, jealousy, religious and social prejudices and broken hearts."
I regard all as subtle advocates of unprejudiced records, valuable accounts of Africa, and making a case for the need for Africans not to accept, live out anything written or said by others about us, our history, as though they are utterly faultless, not to live by the influence of stories creating, forming and presenting wrong impressions of Africa even by any African, but to live only by the influence of forward-looking written works that will reflect the true African culture and excellence, and facilitate advancement in the continent.
All these facts are professionally underscored, logically framed in just three of the 49page book.
I read more; as a matter of fact, I read all, and I gained so much.
A hard copy of the lecture provides the details of how fiction, fictionality, and the wisdom of uncertainty in relation, relevance to Africa, the African story and its developmental prospects are highlighted by Prof. Chima Anyadike, with special reference to renowned writers and their written works.
Something spectacular struck every observer at the event. He enjoyed the priceless company, support of his adorable, huge wife and renowned intellectual, Dr Adebisi Adewumi Anyadike. Without her, the photo session that took place immediately after the lecture would have been devoid of its sweetness.
I remember seeing a set of red headgears of beautiful Igbo women light the occasion with their identity and rich culture, too.
Chaired by The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, the prominence of the Registrar, Mrs Omosule and prestigious, elephantine academic staff of the Department of English language were outstandingly colourful, invaluable. I recollect spotting familiar faces at the photo session arena, including the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Gbemisola Adeoti; Prof. E T O Babalola; Dr James Faleye; Dr Ifeanyi Arua, Dr Eunice Fajobi and Dr Kemi Wale- Olaitan among others.
Also, students, especially of English language who added invaluable numerical and graceful importance to the event, as well as greatest OAU alumni, basically, lovers and well wishers of the great scholar, and guests were in attendance at the lecture.
Highly appreciative of an earlier inspiring mandate created by Dr Yemi Adegoju, I must say kudos to Dr Omoniyi Ayeomoni and Dr Ifeanyi Arua for the fresh, fulfilled mandate, too.
A big thanks to Brother Emmanuel and sweet Sisters, Niyi Olaoluwa and Nwude Princess for supporting me with nice pictures.
We are be able to live our stories in Africa entirely without any feeling of inferiority and depression but with pride, pleasure, make productive inputs and outputs and be outstanding successes. It is high time we built Africa with optimistic views of our past, present, future and end. Cheers and cheers.
 |
| Prof Chima Anyadike and I |
Cheerfully, I picked, opened its published version and was richly entertained over and over again by its invaluable content.
The inaugural lecture starts on an elaborately enlightening note.
The giant academia's expressions wrapped in the very first paragraph note that "our individual and collective lives in Africa today are shaped in significant ways, not just by the nature of our natural and social environments, but also by the actions resulting from the stories we tell ourselves and the ones told or written by others about us and our continent.
Apart from the obvious that Prof Chima Anyadike attracts an eternal appreciation of his objective academic findings about us, our story, our lives, how we write to talk about, describe, express all of them in a positive or negative light in fictional or non-fictional styles, and how they impact on our minds and actions with the assertion, its composition exudes everything capable of inspiring a new, dynamic, revolutionary way of viewing, telling the African story mainly for the purpose of fostering development in Africa.
 |
| Prof Chima Anyadike and his Wife |
Of course, whatever we say or write, or whatever others say or write about us can have positive or negative effect on our mindsets, opinions of ourselves and actions. This stand suggests that internal or external point of views of us and our story not only shape standards we set for ourselves and powerfully influence our deeds, but also determine our successes and failures. We create challenges almost bigger than our efforts can successfully contain for ourselves when retrogressive or stagnant accounts of us are rendered, accepted as true and permanently recurrent.
It is notable the literary icon stresses that seeing the world not from the perspective of reality imbued with positivity, but a "single story" hinders growth and impregnates us with beliefs without basis and melancholy, but stories well made from a variety of sources and cultures are eye openers, as well as teachers of how we can "successfully free our minds from powerful impositions and oppressive relationships, and cope with problems created by greed, dishonesty, jealousy, religious and social prejudices and broken hearts."
I regard all as subtle advocates of unprejudiced records, valuable accounts of Africa, and making a case for the need for Africans not to accept, live out anything written or said by others about us, our history, as though they are utterly faultless, not to live by the influence of stories creating, forming and presenting wrong impressions of Africa even by any African, but to live only by the influence of forward-looking written works that will reflect the true African culture and excellence, and facilitate advancement in the continent.
All these facts are professionally underscored, logically framed in just three of the 49page book.
I read more; as a matter of fact, I read all, and I gained so much.
A hard copy of the lecture provides the details of how fiction, fictionality, and the wisdom of uncertainty in relation, relevance to Africa, the African story and its developmental prospects are highlighted by Prof. Chima Anyadike, with special reference to renowned writers and their written works.
Something spectacular struck every observer at the event. He enjoyed the priceless company, support of his adorable, huge wife and renowned intellectual, Dr Adebisi Adewumi Anyadike. Without her, the photo session that took place immediately after the lecture would have been devoid of its sweetness.
I remember seeing a set of red headgears of beautiful Igbo women light the occasion with their identity and rich culture, too.
Chaired by The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, the prominence of the Registrar, Mrs Omosule and prestigious, elephantine academic staff of the Department of English language were outstandingly colourful, invaluable. I recollect spotting familiar faces at the photo session arena, including the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Gbemisola Adeoti; Prof. E T O Babalola; Dr James Faleye; Dr Ifeanyi Arua, Dr Eunice Fajobi and Dr Kemi Wale- Olaitan among others.
Also, students, especially of English language who added invaluable numerical and graceful importance to the event, as well as greatest OAU alumni, basically, lovers and well wishers of the great scholar, and guests were in attendance at the lecture.
Highly appreciative of an earlier inspiring mandate created by Dr Yemi Adegoju, I must say kudos to Dr Omoniyi Ayeomoni and Dr Ifeanyi Arua for the fresh, fulfilled mandate, too.
A big thanks to Brother Emmanuel and sweet Sisters, Niyi Olaoluwa and Nwude Princess for supporting me with nice pictures.
We are be able to live our stories in Africa entirely without any feeling of inferiority and depression but with pride, pleasure, make productive inputs and outputs and be outstanding successes. It is high time we built Africa with optimistic views of our past, present, future and end. Cheers and cheers.
Writer: Bukola Olafenwa.
College: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife, Nigeria.
Email: bukolaolafenwa@gmail.com.
Comments