Lagos — Contrary to apprehensions and worries over the social life of the first Sharia State in Nigeria, Zamfara, where people were allegedly amputated and received strokes of cane publicly depending on the gravity of their offences, there is peace in Zamfara.

A critical review revealed that the implementation of Sharia Law in Zamfara is not as strict as it has been widely painted in the media. A visit to the state between Wednesday, October 30, and Sunday, November 2, during the 27th international convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has contradicted the preconceived notion about the community.

One of the prayers of members of the Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was never to be posted to Zamfara State, where one might not be free to unwind. It had been in the news that anyone who was unfortunate to board motorbike with an opposite sex may risk losing one of his legs or hands. It was also gathered before now that any lady found wearing trousers, regardless of her religion, may be caned.

Contrarily, the nightlife of Zamfara, especially at the local military cantonment guesthouse, otherwise known as mami market is as bubbling as Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Surulere or Lagos Island areas in Lagos known for zenith funs. Men are permitted to booze with their babes though it was not confirmed whether the place enjoys preferential treatment because of the caliber and brand of people that unwind there daily. Assorted music and drinks are available between 7p.m. and 10p.m. daily.

Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi, said that Sharia does not affect social life but rather reduce corruption and encourage godliness.

"Introduction of Sharia Law is all an attempt to sanitise the society. God told us to work hard. There is no provision for gambling, adultery, alcoholism, drug trafficking, cheating in trade among others. If you reduce all these, you have reduced crime and corruption rates drastically. The traders and farmers will spend their money judiciously," he said while addressing the media.

It was observed that Zamfara, an agrarian state with over 500,000 hectares of land for farming possesses brands of mineral deposits. The major occupation of the inhabitants is farming, including the state government. "We have over 2040 deposits of gold and iron ore. We have bauxite, manganese and other mineral resources. We are comfortable in Zamfara State. We are going to be among the richest state in Nigeria. We are basically agrarian state. We have over 500,000 hectares of arable land."

In its effort to improve reading culture, Shinkafi's government built an ultramodern library that worth N204million well stocked with books for students and researchers. The government also built a book publishing company to assist the authors. Plans are also on top gear to build Zamfara State Writers Village. The state promised to donate 18-seater bus to ANA national body to promote the Nigerian writers welfare while two buses were handed over to the local chapter during the convention.

The theme of this year's ANA convention was Literature, Identity and Civilisation, and the keynote speaker was Professor Tanimu Abubakar of the English Department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

In his opening address, president of ANA, Wale Okediran solicited for the support of the government to market Nigerian writers.

"Marketing writers can be done in several ways. One way is through the publishers who can arrange reading tours for their authors. The other way is the provision of grants and exchange programmes by the government, the private sector as well as philanthropists in order to expose our writers to the international markets."

While giving a pass mark to the local organising committee, ANA Zamfara chapter and the state government, for the preparedness and smooth coordination of convention programmes, Okediran stated that the theme of the convention was picked so that writers can discuss among themselves the direction of Nigeria Literature viz-a-viz recent global developments. He claimed that the year in view has been successful in ANA despite few problems in some chapters. Some of the notable programmes of the year, as referred by Okediran, were Achebe Colloquim, Worshop On Writing For The Environment at Eket, and the convocation of the first Northern Nigeria Writers' Summit in Minna. He also announced that ANA will start a bi-annual literary renaissance in Northern Nigeria in 2010, which would be hosted in Kano.

Among other things, Taminu stressed that "as argued by Nkruma, Blyden and Mazrui, the development of Africa revolves around a triple heritage namely traditional, Islamic and European," adding that, "Literature in Northern Nigeria or any part of the country for that matter, is thus not defined by its insularity but by the dynamics of change in its history and that of the society in which it is located."

Taminu noted that the relationship between the writer and tradition is contextual. "Although Islam influenced the creative works of such great poets of the 18th century as Ibn Alsabagh (Dan Marina) of Katsina, Abdullahi Thiga of Kano and Mohammed El-Barnawi of Borno, the subject of many of their poems is the organisation of society and the pillory of the correlation between power, corruption and oppression," he said.

The speaker saw 'identity' as crucial components of modern civilisation as a 'world-making,' culture-crossing' process and that they function as "signifiers of the incorporation and dominance syndrome of European hegemony."

He stressed however that the theme, Literature, Civilisation and Identity, "epitomises a disquisition and a practice circumscribed by our postcolonial condition." He therefore advised ANA to explore the implications of the transnational character of writing in the postmodern context.

The ANA was able to resolve the censorship crises. At a session of the convention, director general of Censors Board, Abubakar Abdukareem was invited to address the writers. It was a tough plenary session as writers challenged the censors' board for infringing on their rights as owners of intellectual property and denied of their freedom of expression based on what was described as 'religious propaganda.' Abdulkareem argued that the censors' board is not destroying the literary standard as accused but rather protecting the cultural entity. "For Moslem, ignorance is an excuse. We do things based on the original form of the society. When you submit your manuscripts based on the set down rules, you are in order." But the writers and the censors' board were able to reach a compromise that their rights as writers will be protected without violence. One of the respondents and former ANA president, Odia Ofeimun, said censorship board has moved away from literature. "The literature of the world has not been translated into Arabic language. You have moved away from literature in your board. There are worst books in Nigeria than those you condemn in Kano. Government is wasting money on censors' board. You are advised to give your children the standard of education they deserve," he said.

Nigerian writers visited the historic Kwatarkwashi Rock and water spring, which was estimated to be about 350 meters above sea level. The massive structure, which is located in Kotarkoshi town, few kilometers from Gusau, covers a landmass of about one square kilometer. It was gathered that in the past, the rock has some local legends attached to it which made some hunters to settle around it foot. Villagers told the writers that foremost settlers performed lots of ceremonies on the rock, which include catching of eagles on top of the rock to present to their leaders. There was also a furrow within the rock which was gathered to be about five kilometers. A villager told Daily Independent that a python was living within the furrow before but was killed recently.

However, the government needs to construct a good road to the location of the rock and make the place an ambient region for tourism. The state government should also consider the implication of quarrying the rocks around this tourist centre as observed in the name of searching for mineral deposits.

Addressing the Nigerian writers when paid a courtesy call, Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Muhammadu Kabir Dan Baba, who spoke all through in Hausa language but has his speech translated afterward, declared that Nigerians should learn to be united regardless of the difference in tribe and language. He told the gathering that as an author, he believes in immortalisation of knowledge and that without writers there is no world, claiming that God was the first author.

One of the most fascinating sessions was Writer-Critique Summit where some works of award winners were reviewed to justify their awards. The most pronounced at the session was the Kaine Agary's Yellow Yellow that won this year's Nigeria Prize For Literature. One of the critics, Ahmed Maiwada from Abuja condemned the result of the NLNG award.

"I am worried about the relevance of the judges' assessments to modern day literature in this award." He was of the opinion that the yardstick for their recommendation was archaic "of the stuff of 16th century." He therefore lamented and warned that future assessment of literature, which lacks the merit of setting, plot, characterisation and other literary condiments would rather kill the literary standard of the country, stressing that Agary's book is "too episodic."

Tough reactions arouse following Maiwada's comments, as many writers declared that he was too confrontational. A Northern writer identified as 'Alhaji' declared that Maiwada's resume was inadequate and substandard as he was not able to balance his argument. "It is not the business of the critic to be judgmental. Critics are meant to see both sides of a work and enlighten both the reader and the writer. We should wage war against those who tell us what to do when they have never done one before." Commending the good work of Agary as a talented writer who never passed through any training, he said, "Great works of arts always have great weaknesses. Those of you that are trained, where were you when the untrained were submitting their entries? Most trained experts turn out to become quacks because they will always criticise."

The award night on Saturday, November 1, had in attendance all the members of Zamfara State government, including the governor, Shinkafi.

Ten Literary Awards were presented among which, were the 2008 ANA Osigwe Literary Journalist of the year won by Yemi Adebisi of the Independent Newspapers and Evelyn Osagie of the Nations newspapers. The cover price of this award, N50,000, was observed to be the least. ANA Lagos chapter chairman, Chike Ofili, among other things, recommended the upward review of this award and others to appreciate excellence.

Delegates from Mali and Niger republics were also represented in the convention.

The convention was successful and the next year's hosting right, which was bided by Katsina and Niger State was given to Niger State.

The public presentation of ANA Zamfara Anthology, Mazan-fara attracted positive responses as state chapters and Zamfara State government donated millions of naira.