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Memories of
2011 at Abuja Writers’ Forum
By Jim
Pressman
Posted Thur Jan 2012
This last
day of 2011 as I recall the
days, weeks and 12 months gone
by as it were only
yesterday, a key component of my
memory – trip are the many
sessions I attended of those
literary meetings tagged the
Guest writer’s Forum, a creation
of Emman Usman Shehu from his
days in the FCT Chapter of the
Association of Nigerian Authors
(ANA) which he moved into the
Abuja Writers’ Forum (A.W.F)
three years ago. I reproduce
here a few samples of the fun
sessions for your vicarious
enjoyment, a subtle invitation
to look in there in the New Year
during which I hope your dearest
dreams come true!
Take One
…I asked
the Guest-author, a married
woman who combines work with
writing and home-keeping, all
full-time: “Where exactly do you
draw the line between close
friendship between women, which
you describe in your work and
comments here today, and
outright lesbianism? [The whole
debate and legislation on Gays
was just about to break open,
then but had not quite started!]
Secondly, what are your greatest
frustration on the one hand, and
your greatest pride on the
other, about your ‘woman-ness’
if you permit my coinage – given
that as Margaret Singana once
sang, it is so hard being a
woman…?
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I knew I was taking
a risk when set out on this … You know, many Nigerians are
guilty of an eagerness to compartmentalize. They like things to
be nicely tied up; they do not like to leave things open-ended.
Speaking of lesbianism, I think, well people have a right to
their lives you know, people cannot help and what they like and
(being) the way they are, and they have a right to their lives.
And about women, for me, The Sisters (case)
is just a celebration of women’s friendship, because you know,
many of the people who have been there for me are women, helping
me with their own life stories, telling me to hang in there. And
I look at other women and I wonder how they have survived and it
helps me to move on with my own issues. So for me, I just wanted
to explore the fact that you can be friends with a woman, just
friends, nothing sexual, you know but you can just be close, be
there for each other and enjoy each other’s company. That,
basically, for me, was what the Sisters’ story was all about.
Now, the most challenging thing about being
a woman, right? I think, for me, it would be how you have to
juggle your life. I was leaving the office one day at past seven
o’clock and I told my colleagues at work, “Oh you are so lucky,
you will get home now and will be greeted welcome back with
food, but I have to get back now and start cooking, you know?”
So, for me that is the challenge, that you live this complex
life which you have to juggle. If I tell you how my day has been
you won’t believe it, I have not eaten since all day because I
really did not have time to eat as you have to juggle your
working life, working, cleaning, cooking, taking care of your
children, you are trying to write, you have to earn a living
and, you know, it’s so hard to get good help, and you have to
take care of your husband with the hard on [Loud, general
laughter!] …
But that is true, you are so tired and
somebody is like come, come! And I am like, “Leave me alone I am
so tired, you want to kill me?” [More clapping]
Another memorable appearance in 2011 at
A.W.F Guest Writer’s Forum was the matronly Mrs. Cecilia Kato,
the Kagoro, Kaduna state born poet of the Burukutu baratatai
banza-fame for those who are familiar with her work. Listening
to her read to the audience from her collection of poems,
Desires in the July edition 2011 was great fun even as you came
away
Jim Pressman, 08091248286
Jpressman2001@yahoo.com
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