The fourth leg of the Arrow of God @50 celebrations held at the University of Lagos, Akoka, April 16, 2014. It was another moment to relish by the literati as Lagosians joined in the historic nationwide celebrations of Chinua Achebe’s fictional classic.
Commencing with a courtesy call on the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahman A. Bello, at 10 am at the VC’s Office at the University’s Senate Building, the National Organizing Committee, led by Dr. Wale Okediran. together with the Local Organizing Committee, members of the Association Of Nigerian Authors and the keynote speaker, Prof Charles Larson, the visitors were welcomed by the principal officers of the foremost institution.
After the opening remarks by Dr Okediran, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the programme’s organizers for choosing the University of Lagos as one of its centres. He thereafter pledged the university’s support towards the success of the one-day colloquium.
The prelude over, the main occasion took centre stage later at the Afe Babalola Hall, chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management), Prof Duro Oni, who stood in for the Vice-Chancellor. The first event of the day was the final of the literary quiz competition among secondary schools in Lagos.
Hitherto, students from three schools had made it to the final. Hence, they had to compete with each other for the ultimate prize. At the end, prizes were handed over to the winners by special guests, such Prof Charles Larson, Dr Femi Olugbile (former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health) and Dr Tolu Ajayi (former Chair, ANA-Lagos).
A sensational performance by, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, the Coordinator of the LOC, was to follow. She rendered a dirge and a traditional dance in honour of late Chinua Achebe in Igbo language. Her spellbinding performance was preceded by that of a 10 year old literary sensation, Chukwuemeka Obi Obasi, whose evocation of Achebe’s legend, kept the audience on their toes.
Prof Charles Larson, Emeritus Professor of Literature from the University of Washington, USA, took the audience on a pilgrimage round the Achebean artistic universe. His encounters with Achebe and his immersion in his works and those of his contemporaries, he said, changed his perception of African literature, which motivated him to embark on its scholarship, though with little initial success until in the 1990s.
Subsequently, seven papers on the writings of the author of Arrow of God were presented by scholars, which, expectedly, generated short but lively discussions.
However, the day wasn’t all about intellectual discourse. Students of the University’s Creative Arts Department later entertained the audience with Isaac Ogezi’s stage adaptation of Arrow of God entitled Ezeulu, a performance that went down well with the audience.
With the day far spent, the Lagos outing climaxed with a cocktail party hosted by the University’s Vice-Chancellor at the University’s Senior Staff Club. The event, which was attended by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management) was used by participants to unwind and network after the day’s intense but highly enjoyable event.
Dr. Wale Okediran was grateful to the authorities of the University of Lagos, the Department of English, Unilag; members of the NOC and LOC and the Lagos Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors and sponsors for another successful outing.
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