Shooting Adesuwa

5 Sept '08: A normal afternoon in a Lagos office block, until Victor Ehikhamenor grabbed his camera and spirited this dark beauty, Adesuwa, to the construction site next door and started to shoot. She, it turned out, was a natural. And MW was on hand to catch the behind-the-camera images, and even lent a hand as pretend stylist.

Book Moves

Whilst Wordsbody was sleeping, the world of books has rolled on, as it should. Here are just a few happenings we've been unduly silent on...

Jude Dibia went down south for the launch of the South African edition of his second novel, Unbridled, published by Jacana. The Pretoria News said of the author: “He is lively, interesting and willing to have a laugh at himself... [a] talented young Nigerian voice.” The judges and organisers of the richest literary prize in Nigeria seem to be in agreement, and Dibia is one of two shortlisted authors (alongside Kaine Agary, author of ‘Yellow Yellow’) contending for this year’s NLNG Prize, worth $50,000. Read Lauri Kubuitsile’s review of Unbridled – here. The winner of the NLNG Prize 2008 is announced at the Muson Centre, Lagos, on October 11.

Meanwhile, Uche Peter Umez, winner of this year’s BSU Creative Writing Competition, went on to participate in the Iowa International Writers’ Program.

Women Writing Zimbabwe, a new anthology edited by Irene Staunton, came out, with contributions by the some of the most vibrant females writing out of Zim today, including: Blessing Musariri and Wadzanai Mhute. In there also is Petina Gappah who has been making transatlantic publishing waves with international deals for her forthcoming books – yes, not one but two – An Elegy for Easterly (a collection of short stories) and a novel, The Book of Memory (lovely title). Read all about it on the author’s blog.

In the Women Writing Zimbabwe anthology is a writer who straddles straddles Zim and Nigeria and other places/heritages besides. Her name is Sarah Ladipo Manyika, and she’s going to be making waves of her own. Her novel, In Dependence, is published this month by the UK’s Legend Press. An Anglo-Nigerian tale by an Anglo-Nigerian writer, In Dependence will be published later in a West African edition by Cassava Republic.

We hope to stay awake as books move on...

• Sarah Ladipo Manyika's image © Robert Birnbach

Downtown Lagos

I've just exchanged office views of Victoria Street in London for that of downtown Lagos. This is the office window view as photographed by me yesterday afternoon. Forget the skyline in Dubai or Bangkok. Igbosere, Lagos, is where it's at right now!

Highlife at the Ojez

Here's the ageless Fatai Rolling Dollar (81 years old) performing at the Highlife Party (Elder's forum), held at the Ojez Club, in the Lagos Stadium on Sunday 31st August. This last edition was held to celebrate the 50th birthdays of 3 artistes: Kunle Ajibade of TheNEWS Magazine (writer and journalist), Horgan Ekong (graphic designer) and Arnold Udoka (dancer). The Highlife Party is a monthly event organized by CORA.


Caught in the act: Toyin Akinosho (right) of CORA cutting a rug. He writes the Artsville Column in the Sunday Guardian.


CNN was busy filming the proceedings.


Palmwine guitarist and Highlife veteran, Alaba Pedro, performed.

• Images by MW

Art Expo - Lagos

Nike Davies Okundaye (left) of the Nike Art Gallery at the Art Expo Nigeria 2008


Not many places you could catch these 3 in one shot: Jahman Anikulapo (Editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Lagos), Kaye Whiteman (former editor of West Africa Magazine; he's writing a much awaited book on Lagos) and artist Nike Davies Okundaye.


Kaye Whiteman, Mudiare Onobrakpeya and Nike Davies Okundaye


Mudiare Onobrakpeya being interviewed.


Artist Bola Oyetunji of Baroyet Copper Art Gallery surrounded by her works at the Art Expo.

• Images by MW - Lagos 31st August 2008

Conversation with Victor

Was at the the last day of the Art Expo Nigeria, held at the National Museum, Onikan in Lagos on Sunday. It ran from 27th August to the 31st and featured over 700 pieces from about 30 art galleries (members of the Arts Galleries Association of Nigeria - AGAN).

Getting there, I touched an artist who had come ahead of me to the Expo and left his imprint. Victor Ehikhamenor wrote on the white Scrawl Wall on one end of the expo exhibition, to say he was here. So I followed suit, and left my own scribble next to Victor's. A conversation of sorts.

• Image taken by MW at Art Expo Nigeria 2008, Lagos, 31st August 2008
• Click on image for larger view.