Crossroads

Published a tad belatedly, Crossroads (Apex Books, Lagos) is a new anthology of poetry in honour of Christopher Okigbo on the 40th anniversary of his death. Co-edited by Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor and Uduma Kalu, Crossroads is introduced by critic E.E Sule and has a foreword by Isidore Okpewho. The late poet's daughter, the artist Obiageli Ibrahimat Okigbo is one of over 120 contributors (Nigerian poets at home and in the diaspora) in the anthology; she also did the cover design. Originally intended for publication in time for last September's Okigbo Conference in Boston, the anthology will now get its public presentation at a special reading in Abuja, to be attended by Okigbo's widow, Sefinat Judith Attah.

Okigbo Conference

Images from the Christopher Okigbo International Conference held last month - 19 to 23 September. Here the poet Esiaba Irobi poses with Obiageli, an artist and Okigbo's only child.


Esiaba Irobi and four participants @ the Christopher Okigbo International Conference.


*Irobi's images courtesy of the poet.

• Online - Images and a report of the conference by Rudolf Okonkwo.
• An old issue raised its controversial head at the conference - read about it in African Writing. The magazine's editor, Afam Akeh, also discusses his love for Okigbo's poetry.

The September issue of the Sentinel Poetry Online was devoted entirely to Okigbo. The Christopher Okigbo Special Edition featured contributions by devotees including Obi Nwakanma, Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo, Uduma Kalu, Obiwu, Obododimma Oha & Jumoke Verissimo.

In London, 21st June

In Ali, I tried to capture the innocence of the African soldiers, set apart from an ideology that forced them to fight a war about which they knew nothing. But Ali is not angry; he is a boy excited by the prospect of war and a new country. Isolated by his youth and keen to impress, he allowed me to explore the humour that surrounds a group of young men and the horror that comes with being African Chindit soldiers in Burma.

The story I wanted to tell is not just the story of my father. It is the story of every African soldier who fought, of everybody who was touched, however unknowingly, by the exploits of the Chindits.

- Biyi Bandele on his new novel, Burma Boy. Read more on his Myspace page.

• Biyi Bandele will read and sign books @ the Burma Boy launch event tomorrow 21 June, starting 8pm. Venue is Lewisham Library, Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LG / Tel: 0208-314-9800
• Also in London tomorrow - the Obi Okigbo exhibition comes to a close with an evening of readings @ the Brunei Gallery, SOAS - 6.30pm to 8.30pm. That's after her free gallery talk at 1pm.

Trailing Thunder

Obi Okigbo was only 2 years old when her father, the great poet Christopher Okigbo, died in the Biafran war in 1967. Now an exhibition of her 'conversations' with her father (including poetry, paintings and installations) is on show at the Brunei Gallery @ SOAS, University of London, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG.
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Tapping into the Known displays until 23 June.

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• Obi Okigbo will give free gallery talks @ 1pm on Thursday 21 & Friday 22 June.