A Report on WRR Literary Festival by Oppong Clifford Benjamin
Introduction.
The first time I saw writing unite men was on the evening of 2nd December, 2016. I quietly watched a group of committed young men from all over Nigeria cook their words for the ensuing morning. It was a night of rehearsals for the biggest literary festival in the ancient city of Ibadan- The WRR Annual Literary Festival. As if the organizers knew there would be some ravenous vampires in attendance, they rightfully nicknamed the event ‘Feast of Words’ and strategically themed it ‘Words in a Season of Change’. The theme sought to open the minds of writers and poets about the power of their words and their importance in our busy and dynamic world.
After what seemed like a long night in slow motion, we were gradually ushered into 3rd December by the hour hand. The morning came with the aroma of the feast. Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, the CEO of Words Rhymes and Rhythm, who single handedly built Africa’s largest hub of contemporary poets, was all over to make sure the venue was ready and befitting a feast. Actually, I must praise the decorators of the event grounds-the institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan- for job well done. Some selected books from the WRR publishing house were neatly arranged on shelves at the entrance which prepared the mind of anybody entering the venue for a daylong celebration of the finest of African literature.
Attendance.
The attendance was beyond the expectations of the organizers. The overflow was twice the number of people who were seated in the hall. It was a crowd of poets, writers, lovers of words and the media. There were also in attendance cameramen who squatted, prostrated just to capture every passing moment and freeze every memory in a picture.
Open Mic Session.
The event started with a freestyle session which was so professionally hosted by Bliss Oyindhamolher Akinyemi. Poets made us laugh, cry and provoke our thoughts with the charms in their words. My favourite was a poem on the national story on MMM in recent Nigeria. The poet was really funny yet stayed focused on his message.
The Main Event.
The main feast actually began with a motivational speech by Mr. Kukogho himself. He inspired everyone with the story of how WRR came to be the largest poetry sharing platform on the African continent and also how it grew from a mere Facebook page to a big publishing house and a college. He gave us more to believe in the saying 'never give up'.
His inspiring speech was followed by a few others before a male MC called me to deliver the lecture of the day. I was tasked to prepare a lecture around the theme. My paper was titled WRITERS AND NOETIC SCIENCES- the power of the writer's intentions. The only magic I did with my lecture was creating a lasting impression on their minds; actually making them realize that by words alone writers can influence the pattern of thought of their readership and by sciences, collective intentions generate a force that really have effect on the physical world. So as writers they possessed more than a pen or a keypad. I made them understand that they were demons and angels at the same time, if not God himself.
Sadly for me, I had to leave Ibadan right after my session for a meeting in Lagos. I wished I stayed for the evening session which I was well informed it was a smiling night of dance and more words to feast on, a night of African cultural setting as they went from being under the roof to sitting on mats under the sky, a dark night of colourful traditional dance.
Conclusion
In all, it was worth travelling from Accra to Ibadan. Thank you WRR family for having me, thank you Sir Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, thank you, James Ademuyiwa and you all gallant soldiers. I salute!
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