The International Society of Literary Fellows (Lsi) is the society of creative writers and scholars from African and the world with a critical interest in current developments around modern cultures of indigenous and foreign language expressions. In partnership with Progeny international, the Lsi aims to assess and promote the emergence of works of visionary creative impetus in the genres of modern African fiction, non-fiction and visual arts. 38 stories are included in this anthology.
A thought-provoking farce. He was just another unemployed youth, fed up with his failures and even contemplating suicide. But Denrele Gabriel miraculously wins the grand lottery prize and things begin to look a lot better for him. He also discovers that he has an amazing gift for winning in the lotteries, and this makes him very wealthy. The entire world, astounded by his uncanny luck, finally stands for Denrele Gabriel. But the lottery cabal are not amused, as several of them have gone broke and closed down because of the extraordinary luck of the man now popularly known as Denge. To their further frustration, their several attempts to assassinate Denrele fail. After Denrele breaks a peace agreement with them never to play the lotteries anymore, the cabal unleashes on him all the machines of war that they could find. But Denrele is once again saved by the hands of an unexpected angel of providence - a once jilted lover. However, he discovers, to his sorrow, that things are never as you dream they are.
This is a true story from deepest Africa. In 1954 a healthy baby girl is born in unusual circumstances and her mother dies, never regaining consciousness. Neither is able to make even the briefest eye contact with the other despite having been as one for nine months. The little girls father, distraught at his wifes death, cannot bear to take his daughter home and she is left in the care of the hospital authorities. She is technically an orphan, and officially becomes one, when her father dies 5 years later. During this 5 year period the father remarries and makes amends by taking the young girl home and bonding with her and, in this brief period, they grow to love each other. However, the stepmother feels no affinity towards her and a fractious relationship between the two females descends into real hate. This is exacerbated by the fact that, in Nigeria, the girl is considered to be a witch and, worse, the murderer of her mother. She must work for anyone but belongs to no-one and is fed, accommodated, and educated only on the whim of numerous relatives, aunties, uncles, and the grandfathers whom she loves the most. But when the grandfathers die she is cast into the abyss of African custom and predatory males and, while developing great beauty, builds incredible tactics and defences to enable her to survive, against the odds. Ironically, she is saved by a brutal war when, at the tender age of 13, she becomes a child soldier spy and an active service heroine to her comrades, who reward this by discharging her after wrongly accusing her of being a saboteur (turncoat) following her capture and torture by the enemy. This war, so detrimental to most of the population of Biafra, finally shapes her future and, surviving where a million have died, she goes on to struggle through many more adversities (complicated by a web of pagan beliefs, superstition, Christianity and the vestiges of colonialism) to find temporary security on many occasions, but inevitably returning to the seemingly unequal contest. Five well-balanced and variously successful children will testify that their place in the world was fashioned by the dedication, love and sense of purpose of this extraordinary woman. But it doesnt end there..
The question of nation building has enjoyed currency in the discourse about the general development of countries around the world. Its global importance could be discerned in two different areas; nation-building as applied to efforts aimed at rebuilding a country after a war as in Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so on; and nation-building with regard to efforts aimed at dealing with the sobering realities of failed or failing countries whose populations have been exploited, abused and mismanaged almost to the point of extinction. As can, and should be expected, Nigeria and Nigerians, at home and abroad, have not been exempt from these discourses especially in the past few years as the countrys nascent and fledging (?) democracy became embarrassingly threatened to the point of abortion within Nigeria and the international community of nations. In ones sober moments, the realisation that Nigeria is fast becoming another failed state procures rather scary thoughts.
A NEW AGE emerges in Yorubaland as the nineteenth century comes to an end. It is a time for new heroes—pioneers in various fields of endeavor like Herbert Macaulay, Israel Ransome-Kuti, Obafemi Awolowo, and Tai Solarin. New frontiers are blazed in art, music, and education as told in stories about Candido Da Rocha, D. O. Fagunwa, Col. Victor Banjo, Susanne Wenger—Austrian artist turned priestess of the goddess Osun—and the trail-blazing musicians, Bobby Benson, Roy Chicago, and Fela. These modern heroes of the new age, as well as the author’s grandmother and parents, devise new ways of philosophy, religion, and thought to claim their future in a new country tested by disparate forces and competing interests.
In the poignant narrative of "Woe of an African Child," we follow the gripping odyssey of Bosa, a soul weathered by the harsh winds of fate. From the heart-wrenching discovery of his sister's lifeless body in an Igbague refuse dump to witnessing his mother's battle with cancer in a society marked by systemic struggles, Bosa's journey is a poignant exploration of loss and resilience. Dreams of a better life lead Bosa to Europe, but the hands of adversity redirect his path into the clutches of human traffickers. Weeks of captivity become a crucible that reshapes his spirit, forging an undeterred resolve to defy the odds. Returning to Igbague, Bosa faces the wreckage of aspirations shattered by a prolonged ASUU strike. The dream of becoming a doctor fades, replaced by the siren call of robbery and drugs as a numbing salve for his wounded soul. In the labyrinth of city streets, he encounters the vibrant, complex lives of prostitutes, and friends like Oz, kindness, Two-fans, their stories interwoven with the very fabric of Igbague's survival. "Woe of an African Child" is a tapestry of contrasts, where the echoes of despair resonate alongside the flickers of hope. Through Bosa's eyes, readers are invited to witness the struggle against societal currents and to find resilience in the face of overwhelming odds. This novel is a testament to the enduring strength of the African spirit, a story that lingers in the heart long after the final page.
Ever since the British created Nigeria in 1914 without regard to the cultural differences and incompatibility of the people in the northern and southern protectorates, the nation has been wracked by problems. The Nigerian civil war fought from 1967 to 1970 and the agitation for restructuring of the political system are just a few examples of the violence that has crippled the nation. With the Nigerian people issuing a sustained call for change, it’s clear that they are not satisfied with the current system of government. So far, leaders have not responded to the discontent, but they’d be well served by holding a referendum to decide what kind of political system to adopt. The referendum must be conducted if Nigeria has any chance of stepping away from the precipice. With a plebiscite, the government would not only make headway on overcoming the problems but regain the trust of its people under an acceptable system of government and reposition the country with clear direction. If Nigerians don’t continue to demand change – and if leaders don’t pay attention to them – the country will continue to be plagued by discontent, ethnicism, disunity, unpatriotism and nepotism, leading to balkanization of Nigeria. This book – an updated version of Nigeria on the Precipice – highlights topics such as: • how minerals and other natural resources across Nigeria can support federalism; • why leaders continue to seek ethnic gains at the expense of national interest; • why militancy, self-determination have emerged as a sign of discontent.
The Formula For Wealth is a book about the fundamentals of wealth creation through entrepreneurship, investing and leadership. It leverages on the author's personal experiences as a guide to help entrepreneurs with a desire to create real wealth. Readers of this book are educated on fascinating concepts of the poverty trap, money illusion and the foundational principles of wealth creation. It is a must read for anyone with a desire to create real wealth even in the midst of a global pandemic or an economic recession irrespective of the person's financial status, age or geographical location.
