Calabar Study Group to celebrate Prof
Joe Ushie with a Conference
Joseph
Akawu Ushie, a renowned Nigerian poet of the third generation and a leading
scholar of African literature at the University of Uyo, is set to be celebrated
by the Calabar Study Group with a conference billed for the25th – 28th
April,2018 at the University of Calabar, Cross River, State. The conference
that was advertised earlier in the year is themed Joe Ushie @60:Otherness,
Marginality and Social Justice.
Joe
Ushie is one of the strong voices that have, by their consistency and creative
industry, established their identities in the canon of Nigerian poetry in
the millennium. Along with other poets in his generation, Joe Ushie has
provided the creative trough that defines contemporary Nigerian and recent
African literature at large. Characterised by a peculiar lachrymal tone,
definitive of the poetics of his generation, Joe Ushie poetry is unique for its
compelling eco-consciousness and intemperateness with the social injustice of
the present day Nigeria. That eco-concentricity is, In turn, steep in the
idiom and cultural mores of his Bendi people of South-South
Nigeria.Beyond his poetry ,Joe Ushie has committed himself to the
creative revival of his people’s folk performance and systemitazing them
for a new world.
This can be seen in his patronage and investment in
creating two different Bette-Bendi women and men performance troupes- “Litong”
and Bendi Traditional Marriage Theatre.
Joe
Ushie has been a long –standing member of the Association of Nigerian
Authors(ANA) where he had used his experience and expertise to mentor a lot of
young and upcoming writers to become compelling writers and scholars. He was
one-time chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors’ chapter in Akwa-Ibom
when the chapter hosted its 31st International Convention in 2012.
He has served the Association most diligently in several capacities and the
apogee being his co-editing two(2) land marking commemorative books on Chinua
Achebe’s works with the current President of ANA, Mallam Denja Abdullahi in
2009 and 2017 respectively. The said books are Themes Fall Apart and the
Centre Holds(2009),commemorating the celebration of the 50th
Anniversary of the publication of Things Fall Apart and Arrows or
Gods ? Essays on the Leadership Question in Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God (2017)
which also marked the 50th Anniversary of the publication of the
Achebe book in 2014.
The
Proposed conference has as confirmed Keynote Speakers and Lead paper
presenters, Prof Obododimma Oha(University of Ibadan),Prof Oyeniyi
Okunoye (Obafemi Awolowo University,Ife) and Prof. A.S Adagboyin (Ambrose Ali
University).
The
Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA) hereby identifies with this milestone
celebrative conference in honour of one of its brilliantly dedicated member and
enjoins members of the Association in the South –South axis and beyond to find
time to attend this important conference to honour one of our own.
Denja
Abdullahi
President,ANA
