Emmanuel Ssejjengo
5 July 2009
Kampala — THE book industry got a re-awakening last Friday as Justice James Ogoola launched his first and seminal poetry anthology, Songs of Paradise; A Harvest of Poetry and Verse at the Kampala Serena Hotel.
The anthology had David Waweru, the publisher and many others electrified in their seats during the readings done by readers spanning different generations. Eighty-year- old Francis Gureme read as did a little girl, Sheba Asiimwe.
The selected poems for the reading sessions reflected a variety of life's experiences, challenges and values.
Whenever Ogoola's literary muse sneezes, many catch a cold.
When he wrote the Rape of the Temple in 2006 in reaction to the Black Mamba attack of the high court, it became the focus of debate.
Ogoola has a keen ear for classical music and it was Vision Voice's Siima Kyakuhaire Sabiiti's flute playing that brought that to our attention.
The poet had words of advice too: "We do not read to live but live to read."
The book was launched by the Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi.
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