Badmus, Johnson and Oroko for April Guest Writer Session
As has become its tradition, the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) is serving a three course meal of creative guests to thrill book lovers in Abuja on Saturday April 29.
The three guests are a mix of youth and a veteran with novelist and film maker Dul Johnson, flanked by the youthful duo of Lagos-born singer Austin Oroko and Lagos-based poet Jide Badmus.
The trio will serve up a sampling of music, prose and poetry with Dr. Dul Johnson, author of five major works, set to read from his latest novel, Across the Gulf, which explores loyalty, resilience, nationhood, love and tradition bridging two generations and an entire nation.
Johnson, who is a professor of literature at Bingham University, Karu had worked in TV with some awardwinning drama to his credit as well as books like, Shadows and Ashes, Why Women Won’t Make it to Heaven (short stories), Ugba Uye: The Living Legend (Biography), Deeper into the Night (novel) and a play titled Melancholia.
The other writer on the guest list for the evening will be reading his debut. Jide Badmus, a football lover and electrical engineer, has had a flair for writing since he was young and has been writing poetry since 2002.
Though he has some short stories to his credit, Badmus will be reading from his spanking new poetry collection, There is a Storm in My Head, published by Words Rhymes and Rhythms (WRR) which brings together poems that capture life’s uncertainty and the disparity between dreams and reality.
The music buffet will be served by Austin Oroko, who speaks French, Italian, a little German among other languages, no thanks to his growing up in several countries as the son of a diplomat.
Oroko started writing and performing his own songs at the age of 15 with the guitar as his preferred instrument, drawing influence from the music of Tracy Chapman and Stevie Wonder as well as from classical music, though his music can be classified as indie rock with a touch of soul.
The AWF Guest Writer Session which comes up at Nanet Suites, Abuja from 4 to7 pm will also feature a raffle draw and is free to the public.