A Mixed-Grill For AWF’s September Guest Writer Session

The September 28, 2013 edition of the Guest Writer Session, an initiative of the Abuja Writers Forum(AWF), will continue to explore the realms of creativity by showcasing the poetry of Obemata, the fashion designs of Temi Sode, and a documentary on last year’s flood to be presented by Peter Egwuda on behalf of the Civil Society Coalition for Poverty
Eradication (CISCOPE) and International Rescue Commission(IRC).
Obemata, the pseudonym of Abdul Mahmud, will read from his long-awaited debut poetry collection, Triptych. Born in1968 in Bauchi, north-east Nigeria, thelawyer, essayist and poet had his university education in Nigeria ( Jos and Lagos) and the United Kingdom( Durham
and Reading).
A radical lawyer and former President, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS, 1990/1991), Obemata was arrested and detained in 1991 at the Kirikiri Prisons under the dreaded State Security and Detention of Persons Decree Number 2 of 1984 on account of his opposition to the military dictatorship led by General Ibrahim Babaginda. He was arrested in 1996 and detained by the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the State Security Services following claims that he knew or participated in the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election.
Obemata is widely represented in poetry magazines and anthologies, notably Sentinel, African Writer, Wordriot, African Writing, Origami, Liberty, Swalelife, Blackbiro, Next, Ijele, The Nigerian Guardian and ‘Witness’: anthology of war poetry (Serengeti Press, Ontario, 2004).
The scholar and critic Chijioke Uwasomba describes Obemata’s debut collection as “nuanced and scintillating evocations on identity, home and exile in a globalised world with all its contradictions and ramifications for the post-colonial subject and his existential roving’’. While USA-based reviewer and literary critic, Ikhide Ikheloa, notes that “Obemata spins pretty words and weaves them mysteriously into beautiful poems pregnant with profound meaning’’.
His second volume of poems, ‘’Poems of arrivals and departures’’ is due for release in 2014. He’s currently President, Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL); and lives in Abuja where he runs his private legal practice.
Temi Sode is the founder of Veronica’s Closet (VC) label. In three years, her flair for fashion
has gotten stronger and has led her up until this point to create this fashion brand. Having worked in a managerial position at the bespoke alteration department in one of the leading fashion companies in the United Kingdom, Ms Sode has been able to gather lucrative experience needed to impact on the fashion scene in Africa and beyond.
In three years her flair for fashion has inspired her to influence the fashion industry with the
creativity and innovation of her brand. VC has been featured in African and international media including The Story Train and the Richard Branson Centre Entrepreneurship programme (subsidiary of the Virgin Unite Group) in the United Kingdom. Ms Sode received her Bachelor of Law (LLB) from Kingston University in Surrey, London. She is
currently also pursuing a masters in Law (LLM).
Peter Michael Egwudah, will be representing the Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE) and International Rescue Commission(IRC) who jointly produced the documentary with funding from ECHO.
Born October 24th 1975 in Bauchi State to the Family of Chief Mr &Mrs Michael Egwudah, a native of Anocha community in Ibaji LGA of Kogi State. He attended Army Children School between 1981 – 86 in Bauchi State, had his secondary school education at Pilot Junior Secondary School Bauchi and St. Peter’s College in Idah kogi State. He acquired his
National Diploma Certificate in Business Admin & Management from the Federal Polytechnic Nassarawa State and the Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo Benue State for HND Certificate in Business Admin & Management.
Working with CISCOPE has enabled him support the poor and vulnerable in different communities in Nigeria with skill acquisition, education and advocating for pro – poor policies for the vulnerable as well as support and rescue people who are affected by one form of disaster or the other.
Through his effort and other agencies like the International Rescue Committee, a United State based aid agency, Oxfam GB and ECHO were on ground to support the flood-affected people of Ibaji LGA. For the records 80,000 affected people in 54 villages in Ibaji LGA benefited from the project He is married to Mrs. Lucy Ojochide Egwudah a marriage that is blessed with Master Ojodale Godfrey Egwudah.
The Guest Writer Session, which started in June 2008, holds at the prestigious Nanet Suites located at the Central Business District in Abuja, and runs from 4-7pm on the last Saturday
of every month. It also features side attractions of poetry performance, mini art exhibition, a raffle-draw for book, and a stirring dose of live music.