Four Nigerian writers Muriola Awosemo, Abdullahi Lawan Kangala, Okwudili Nebeolisa and David Ishaya Osu are the May/June 2016 recipients of the Ebedi International Writers Residency.
Ebedi International Writers Residency is a private initiative for Writers to complete their on-going works free of charge in a convenient environment. The writer is accorded space and time to do their work and in return, they are expected to mentor Secondary School students in Iseyin and environs in any area of Creative Art convenient for them. The residency is open to all writers on the African continent.
The six year old initiative has hosted more than 60 writers from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroun, South Africa and Ivory Coast. Some of those who have benefitted from this initiative are Yewande Omotoso, Doreen Baingana, Ayodele Olofintuade, Obinna Udenwe and Jumoke Verissimo.
David Ishaya Osu
David Ishaya Osu is a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning. A native of Nasarawa State, his works have appeared in: Eureka Street, Atlas Poetica: A Journal of World Tanka, Birmingham Arts Journal, Off the Coast, The Kalahari Review, Vinyl Poetry, Grey Sparrow Journal, RædLeaf Poetry: The African Diaspora Folio, A Thousand Voices Rising: An Anthology of Contemporary African Poetry, The Cadaverine, The Bombay Review, Ann Arbor Review, among other international publications. David is a board member of the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation. At the Ebedi Residency, Ishaya hopes to complete work on his debut poetry book; THE SECRETS OF UNDERWEARS as well as conduct workshops for Iseyin students on Spelling and Poetry.
Nebeolisa Okwudil
Nebeolisa Okwudili is a Nigerian writer whose works have featured in Ambit Magazine, Word Riot, Saraba magazine, Red Leaf Poetry, African Diaspora Poetry Folio, Yuan Yang Journal, Kalahari Review, and in national dailies. A Chemical Engineering graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, he won the inaugural Jalada Prize in poetry and also won 3rd place in the 2011 ASiS International Writing Competition in the poetry category. In addition, he was also shortlisted for the 2014 Raedleaf Poetry Competition in the international category. Nebeolisa who hails from Anambra State will also delight Iseyin students during his residency with a workshop on Poetry and Drama in addition to completing work on his debut Novel entitled; THE SPIRIT HOUSE.
Muriola Awosemo
Awosemo obtained the Bachelor of Arts degree in English Studies of Obafemi Awolowo University and later a Diploma in Journalism of the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja. His published works include a novel, THE KING OF BOYS, two volumes of collections of short stories; TELLING TALES and THE COLOUR OF LOVE as well children’s books; A RIDDLE FOR YOU, WHAT ABOUT AIDS, FOX JOE JUNIOR and SOMETHING HAPPENED. He also has two published memoirs titled AN EYE WITNESS and THE STORY OF MY EYE. Muriola Awosemo has served the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) as an elected official at both the State and National levels. In addition to mentoring Iseyin students in the areas of Fiction and Short Story Writing, Muriola hopes to work on his forthcoming books; ADULT TREE and VILLAGE RADIO during his stay at Ebedi Residency.
Abdullahi Lawan Kangala
Abdullahi Lawan Kangala is a Kano based writer who currently writes in Hausa and English. He is a full member of the Community Development Group at the American corner in Murtala Muhammed Library Complex, Kano. He is also the coordinator of the Hausa Forum of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Kano State branch. He has recently completed work on his yet-to-be published books: Komai ta Fanjama?, Ture ka ga Tsiya, Gwabnatin Yaudara, and Da Ruwan Ciki?. During his stay at the residency, he will be at work on his new novel, Sakamakon Fade, and will be polishing his collection of five English short stories. In addition, he will teach Iseyin Students the rudiments of Hausa Poetry, Songs and Folklore.
Leave a Reply