"Why Nigeria has not produced a writer worth reading since 1960" Do you agree?

Came across this article on The Scoop, I think its quite debatable. Kindly read through and let us know what school of thought you belong.

By Amatesiro Dore

We live in Lagos and they say I’m from a broken home—my father’s house is on the Island and my mother lives on the Mainland. At twenty-seven I shouldn’t live with either parent and believe inFather Christmas but I’m a reader in need of a library and a writer at work on some manuscripts in a city without a literary government.

Chimamanda's writes new short story to encourage childhood vaccinations

Three weeks ago, we brought you news on the Art of Saving a Life project, a new initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. See full report here.

The project has attracted more than 30 world-renowned musicians, writers, filmmakers, painters, sculptors and photographers from around the world to demonstrate how vaccines can help kids stay safe from preventable diseases. 

Alongside more than 30 other artists and writers across the world, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is using her storytelling talent to encourage childhood vaccinations. See below her short story titled 'Olikoye' which explains the importance of vaccinations in children and families everywhere.

Chimamanda tells the story of a newborn with the name Olikoye, and the powerful, compassionate man that is his namesake the man that has given babies and countless others in Nigeria new hope for a longer and healthier life. 

Story title: Olikoye
Author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Illustrations by Wesley Allsbrook

Chimamanda's Americanah hit French book stands this month

Our girl Chimamanda doing what she does best in Paris.

To promote the publication of “Americanah” in France, Chimamanda took part in a discussion about the novel, as well as the subject of identity in literature, at the Maison de la Poésie in Paris on Wednesday 21st, January 2015. 

Listed as one of the New York Time’s Ten Best Books of the Year and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, the novel has already sold 500,000 copies in the US and has been translated into 25 different languages.

Fans stood patiently in line for a signed copy of Americanah at the Maison de la Poésie in Paris.

Rekiya’s Tale – Episode 12 – The Finale

REKIYA CONTINUES

Of the many things that can drive a person crazy, pain and love create the most normal looking crazy people. When it is love that is causing the deep pain a person feels, then the craziness becomes psychopathic. The scariest part is that they appear normal to us all.

What happened next shocked me to my bones. The image is indelibly etched in my mind’s eye forever and sometimes, I wake up, cold sweat lining my brows from nightmares containing it. Akudo knelt down over Ochuko, still facing us, with her gun trained on us, crying. None of us dared to move an inch.

BBC Radio's Opening Lines welcomes submissions from writers new to radio for their annual series

Each year, the BBC radio drama readings unit welcomes submissions from writers new to radio for their annual series, Opening Lines which is broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

This year, three successful writers will have their stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and will be invited to the BBC in London to see their stories being recorded. Submissions of entries are open from 5th January – 13th February 2015.

CNN's ‘African Voices’ profiles Nigerian Beauty Entrepreneur,Tara Fela Durotoye

This week's ‘African Voices’ on CNN International explores the journey Nigerian Tara Fela Durotoye has taken creating her own brand in the cosmetics world, and how she became the founder of one of the largest make-up empires in the country.

Queens of Africa dolls becomes the new fad as it outsells regular barbie in Nigeria

The Queens of Africa dolls by Nigerian entrepreneur, Taofick Okoya is reported to have outsold regular barbie in the Nigerian market.

The dolls which are crafted after Nigeria's three largest ethnic groups of Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, highlights the growing sophistication of consumers and the need to tailor products to local tastes.

According to Reuters, Okoya sells between 6,000 and 9,000 of his "Queens of Africa" and "Naija Princesses" a month, and reckons he has 10-15 percent of a small but fast-growing market.

Ozy media's CEO, Carlos Watson urges international media to pay more attention to African Literature

CEO of Ozy media, Carlos Watson in an interview with Gwen Ifill of Pbs newsroom expressed that Nigerian authors deserve more media attention for their efforts towards improving literature in the African continent.

In December 2014, Etisalat Nigeria released a shortlist of authors in the running for the 2015 Prize for Literature competition. See report here.

Rekiya’s Tale – Episode 11

FARIDA CONTINUES

Never pray to be faced with the kind of choices that I was faced with as I entered Rekiya’s living room that night. None was easy, both would hurt and the options were limited. I had the choice of sharing what I had found out and saving my friendship with Rekiya but destroying whatever fragile trust she had left in men, or not sharing and letting her keep thinking of me as the villain.

I hadn’t thought I would meet all these people here. Rekiya’s dad, Ochuko and a lady I now recognized as his wife. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Ochuko in flesh and blood. How the hell had this guy survived that plane crash? For a couple of minutes, I lost my tongue and couldn’t say a word. And I could see that Rekiya was about to fly off at me now. I tried to recover and say something, to ask how Ochuko was here, but she spoke faster than me, and she was shouting.

Art of the Brick Museum displays Lego Bricks Art in Africa

According to Wikipedia, Art is a diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities. This definition means that Art is no longer restricted to using a brush and Canvas and can be display or portrayed through anything and any means.

One of the most unusual art exhibitions commenced in Cape Town, South Africa in December 2014. The exhibition had on display artwork made entirely out of Lego bricks. 

Art of the Brick exhibition displayed astounding art pieces such as iconic works of art, historical structures, and prehistoric animals. 

The phenomenal display is the work of acclaimed New York-based artist Nathan Sawaya. The display is set to run in Cape Town from 12 December 2014 until Saturday, 28 February 2015 with 76 colorful, large-scale figures and portraits made entirely from tiny Lego pieces.

The exhibition will be back again in Johannesburg, South Africa by May 13 – August 2, 2015.

See some of the artwork after the cut..