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Veteran TV broadcaster, Eugenia Abu last week Thursday presented her new book, a collection of poems, titled 'Don't Look At Me Like That', to the public at the Shehu Musa Yar'adua Centre in Abuja. With her first book, 'In The Blink of an Eye', winning the ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Women Writing in 2008, there is no doubt that Abu's book will be much talked about on Nigeria's literary scene in 2010.
The ambience
The main entrance of the Yar'Adua centre was adorned with a variety of fruit suggesting a food festival. "Is this the venue for the Eugenia Abu book launch?" some of the guests asked on arrival just to be sure they were not gate-crashing some other event. The celebrant, lively and friendly as ever, ushered her guests to the fruit stand explaining, "You are most welcome sir/madam, please help yourself to some fruit here. The idea is for us to first converge out here, get to meet one another and exchange contacts as we eat."
In the spirit of the yuletide, the author further displayed her creativity and marketing skill by packaging the books into hampers for guests to buy as gifts. People who ordinarily might have walked away were seen clutching their hampers, which were sold at N3500 each, as they left the venue.
The poetry show
It was a night of magical poetry. The night was full with entertaining and highly educative performances by some of Abuja's best performance poets, and others from Benue and Kaduna States.
Former champions of the Abuja Poetry Slam, The Storyteller and Ifueko Ogbomo, held the audience spellbound with their poetic artistry. Other performers on the night included Ayo Babatope, the ANA Abuja drummer boy, Anthony Ojo; Prince Toby; Emma Akut and his Bazobe Cultural troupe from Kaduna; Bose Tsevende from Jos, and Abu herself, who read poems from her new collection.
Another revelation on the night was the young, beautiful vocalist, Jane Powers. With a sharp, sonorous voice and her three-man band, she provided musical interludes and background music throughout the night, to the admiration of the guests. Bem Sar also treated the audience to the best of his guitar and velvety voice in a solo performance.
Abu was not just showcasing her creativity with this book presentation but providing the platform for others to be heard, seen and felt by a chunk of the cream of society, who ordinarily might not honour an invitation to a literary gathering.
The audience
It was not just a gathering of writers, literary enthusiasts and family members. I overheard someone behind me say "Waoh! This woman is well connected." Judging by the quality of personalities in attendance on that evening, it is no doubt that Abu is herself a marketable brand with enough contacts and respect to gather a quality audience as this. The Yar'adua Centre was besieged by members of her constituencies - the Nigerian Television Authority, where she is a newscaster; Abuja Literary Society; Abuja Writers Forum and the Abuja Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors.
Leading other important dignitaries at the presentation was Ajoke Murtala Mohammed, widow of the slain former Head of State, Murtala Mohammed; the National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors and former minister of State for Education, Jerry Agada, Abubakar Gimba, a former national President of ANA and Managing Director of The Guardian Newspapers, Sule Bello who represented the DG of NTA, Usman Magawatta.
The Atiku Abubakar Hall was filled and could have been mistaken for the venue of a political gathering.
The book
'Don't Look At Me Like That' is Abu's first creative output as a writer. The 114-page book published by Ibadan-based publishing house, Kraftgriots is a beauty to behold. The collection contains 48 poems dwelling on themes of love, death, privatisation, predestination, working mothers, personal experiences and pre-occupations like marriage, children, and grandchildren amongst others.
This is one book that will be well received by members of the Nigerian literati. As should be expected of a writer of Abu's standing, the quality of the book, available in both hardcover and paperback, is a collector's desire. It is predominantly white with a touch of bold blue and smaller red letterings. In terms of finishing and book packaging, it also made a bold statement to the fact that quality books can be produced by Nigerian publishers.
The book also includes an audio copy produced by Audu Maikori of Chocolate City and performed by the Author with Bem Sar, the Abuja-based artiste providing the background music.
The formal presentation of the book was then performed by Murtala Mohammed's widow.
The absence of 'launchers'
Probably happening for the first time in the history of book presentations in Nigeria, there was no Chief-Launcher, Co-Launcher or Launchers of any kind. Mr. Abu, the author's husband said, "this is not the usual kind of book presentation we are all used to. We intentionally did not indicate a 'Chief Launcher' on the programme, as we do not want people to have the feeling that, as usual, it is all about coming to drop money. This is because we don't expect you to break the bank, but if you do break the bank, we will be happy." Speaking further, he said, "Our expectation is that you are at this event because you either love the work of art that is being presented today, or you love the person behind the work."
'Not just a book presentation'
Among other poems, Abu held her guests spellbound with the poem, Rock Solid, which she did in honour of the man in her life. Bottled-up emotions left the author speechless for a few minutes with her hand over her face and tears of love welling up in her eyes. The audience would have had to wait a bit longer for Eugenia to come out of her trance but for Jerry Agada who walked up to Abu's husband and led him to the stage, where he had him stand by his wife, the author. Thunderous applause erupted, breaking the brief silence evoked by Eugenia's reading of 'Rock Solid'. After regaining her composure, Eugenia said, "Today is not just about book presentation; today is our 26th wedding anniversary." The excitement and applause grew louder in celebration of a couple that had stayed together for almost three decades.
From 234next.com
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