Tunde Okoli
17 January 2005
Lagos — The dust raised by the controversy that trailed the execution of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Literary Prize by Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) was yet to settle when the literary community received the unexpected news. Ibadan, Oyo State-based Spectrum Books Limited has announced the list of winning books that made its list of the 25 books of the last 25 years. This was just before the close of last year.
The front-line publishing firm organised the contest in celebration of excellence recorded in the Nigerian literary firmament in the last 25 years.
Welcoming guests to the award ceremony at the company's premises in Ibadan, the Chairman/Managing Director of Spectrum Books Limited, Chief Joop Berkhout stated that "This literary event is the celebration of excellence of Nigerian authors."
He extolled the importance of books saying that "The importance of a book can not be overemphasized. Book is an ever-lasting legacy. A book continues to remember, pay tribute, and honour the author, even those who have passed away."
Twenty five books written and produced in Nigeria by Nigerians made the revered list. The selected books include works of fiction, drama, poetry, biographies, and biographical novels.
They include Professor Wole Soyinka reveling childhood memoirs, Ake: The Years of Childhood, Professor Chinua Achebe's short, but concise treatise on the state of the nation, The Trouble with Nigeria, and the Booker Shortlist Anthills of the Savannah, John Pepper (Bekederemo) Clark's Wives Revolt, Bisi Ojediran's political biting satire, The Governor's Wife, Ben Okri's Booker Prize-winning The Famished Road, Chief Ajibola Ige (Bola Ige) biographical novel, Kaduna Boy, Chukwuemeka Ike's The Chicken Chaser and Our Children are Coming, Eddie Iroh's Without a Silver Spoon, Ken Saro Wiwa's prison notes A Month and a Day, and Festus Iyayi's Heroes.
Others are: Kole Omotosho's fictional accounts of the Nigerian civil war, Just Before Dawn, Ola Rotimi's near absurd drama of the less privileged, Hopes of the Living Dead, Wale Okediran's Dream Die at Twilight, Buchi Emecheta's The New Tribe, Elechi Amadi's The Concubine, Mobolaji Adenubi's moving true-to-life Splendid, Cyprian Ekwensi's Jagua Nana's Daughter, Adewale Ademoyega's first-person account of the maiden coupe detat, Why We Struck, and the first part of Professor Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo's trilogy, House of Symbols among others.
The books and the authors were lavishly celebrated at the colourful award ceremony at Spectrum House on Ring Road, Ibadan as part of the silver jubilee (25 years) anniversary celebration of Spectrum Books Limited last month.
According to Berkhout, these books were selected winners among about 488 nominations received from across the country. Though the organisers did not state categorically, the criteria for chosen the winning books, the winning books were written between the intervening years covered by the award - 1978 and 2003.
Though a few of the books were published by Spectrum Books Limited, most of the winning books, THISDAY checks revealed, are published by different publishers while a some self-published. The duo of Chukwuemeka Ike and Chinua Achebe both have two books each in the list as against one each of other authors.
It was a memorable celebration at the award ceremony in Ibadan. Most of the winning authors were on hand to receive their awards. They include: Eddie Iroh, Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Professor Niyi Osundare, Bisi Ojediran, Corporate Head Communications and Media of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Dr. Wale Okediran, former Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), now a House of Representatives Member.
Nevertheless, son of the slain Attorney-General of the Federation, Muyiwa Ige and Mrs. Funso Adegbola were on hand to receive Chief Bola Ige's post-humous awards from the organisers.
It was also an occasion to remember and celebrate notable Nigerian authors that have passed to the great beyond. A sober Joop Berkhout remarked: "Sadly we remember today with great affection: Chief Bola Ige, Major General Joe Garba, Professor Ola Rotimi and Ken Saro Wiwa who passed away. I would like to invite you to stand for one minute silence."
Berkhout explained that the essence of the celebration is not just to mark the anniversary of Spectrum but to focus on authors whom he described as "the back bone and the main source why publishers are in business."
He added that the object of 25 Best Books written over the last 25 years project is to draw attention to writing and reading.
He enjoins all to take issues relating to books and reading culture seriously. "Books are of crucial importance. Books must be part of our life. It is a well known fact that reading increases our knowledge, exposes us and stimulate our thinking and in the end, our conduct and behaviour. The wider we read, the better we will be. During interviews, we now ask applicants "which book are you currently reading"? If the answer is negative, most likely, the person is not employable, whatever the qualification.
He stated that the book industry in Nigeria must adapt to catch up with global trends in publishing, especially as regards technological advancements. "...we have no choice but to adapt," he said. "Nigeria is the only country without a paper mill, every piece of paper is imported. It is high time Nigeria produces their own paper," he said.
In the same vein, he lashed out at book shops. "Most of the bookshops are seasonal book sellers and only a very few are really professionals," he said. Nevertheless, he is full of hope. "I understand that Exclusive Books, one of South Africa's biggest book sellers chain are opening in Lagos, Abuja and Calabar. This is indeed a welcome positive development for the book industry and hope that it will encourage other book sellers to expand and improve their professionalism."
He touched on industry issues like the controversies that trailed the NLNG Nigerian Literary Prize and its indictment of the publishing industry, editing, self-publishing and other issues. He is of the opinion that self-publishing must be discouraged in its entirety. He advised publishers to improve their editorial skills while challenging the Association of Nigerian Authors to maintain highest ethical standards and be more prudent in executing its literary awards.
While lamenting the deplorable state of the publishing industry after 44 years of independence, he advocated for a major expansion of the industry to cater for the country's demand for good books.
"We should learn to cultivate the high value of book and the habit of giving books as presents at birthdays, Christmas, etc... Publishing and bookselling has a much wider dimension outside the traditional school market," he enthused.
He maintained that book piracy is still a major problem. For him, pirates are having a field day because, "the laws are far too weak, almost non-existent."
He expressed regrets that the government is not doing enough to help curb piracy in the country. "The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is poorly funded and therefore can not function properly. Years ago when I was in Singapore, the government made an announcement overnight, that anybody selling or buying pirated material commits criminal offence. Next day all pirated materials disappeared, the punishment awaiting pirates was so severe that they did not dare to continue with their illegal business. It can be done here, very easily, we just need political will and must do it ruthlessly, giving all necessary power to the right person. Why can't we follow NAFDAC example? They have saved many lives. Of course, it would be much easier if the system in which we operate is corruption free. Overseas, publishers are aware of the piracy problem and are reluctant to give publishing rights to Nigerian publishers," he said.
Accepting his award, the Director-General of FRCN, Eddi Iroh who came to the occasion with his son thanked the organisers for the honour asking other publishing firms to emulate Spectrum Books Limited, especially in the area of settlement of authors' royalties. "I still collect two cheques from Spectrum every year as my royalties on the book. It has never failed."
It was a case of surprise for Ojediran whose colleagues in the office nominated his The Governor's Wife (published by Book Plus Limited) for the book. "This is the way it went. My colleagues in the office saw the ad and they said one of my book is good enough for the competition. So, they sent my entry. All I knew was that they said, 'oga we want to send this (The Governor's Wife) and they did. Then I got a letter announcing that The Governor's Wife has been chosen as one of the best books of the last 25 years. It was a sweet surprise.
"I didn't make entry because of my philosophy. Presently, I believe I am still sowing seeds as a writer. I am not harvesting. The harvest time would come. So, now, I'm just writing. That's why I have not been entering my books for awards. Remember, I did not even enter for the NLNG award. This is not my harvest time. It's a personal philosophy," he says.
Nevertheless, he feels fine that the 'harvest time' is here earlier than he planned. "It's good that it has come this close. I am really happy about it to be counted among the calibre of writers who made the honours list. Even my publishers feel good about it."
Says he is writing part-time now. "You will notice that I am not a member of ANA. What I am doing now in writing is part-time. My primary job and responsibility is to function as SPDC's Corporate Head Communication and Media. Writing is just a gift which God has given me and if I don't use it, I would be unfair to him and to mankind. So, I am just struggling to use with the little time I can create. With time when I retire, I will be retiring into writing full-time, then everyone will see me everywhere."
Ojediran, we would recall, years ago set himself a target of a novel-a-year which he had tried to adhered to. Only last year, he launched three books, Raised From the Dead: The Story of Evangelist Dan Ekechukwu, The Baack Godfather and Sacred Seduction. We would also recall that the author signed a publishing deal with the Manhattan, United States-based publishing agent, Mark Sullivan Associates Literary Agency to do international editions of his novels for the US and the Western markets in 2003.
His literary works include a biography, four supplementary readers for junior secondary schools and several novels. He recently upgraded two of his old novels - The Black Godfather and Sacred Seduction. To date, Ojediran has five novels, eight plays for schools and six story books for junior secondary schools among his literary haul.
Industry pundits continue to praise Spectrum Books Limited for the initiative. Still a highly elated Berkhout thinks its a modest contribution which he hopes "will draw attention to the importance of writing, reading and bring literature again to the forefront of our society."
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