The much-awaited ANA-FUNAI Conference starts today in Ebonyi
The long-awaited ANA-FUNAI
Conference starts today, Monday (18/06/2018) in Ebonyi. It would be recalled
that Mallam Denja Abdulahi, ANA National President officially unveiled Prof. Isidore
Diala as Keynote Speaker almost two weeks ago.
With the conference theme of
“Expanding Frontiers”, the conference will provide scholars the opportunity to
articulate as well as interrogate these new trends and the stylistic evolutions
of Nigerian literature in the 21st century. Specifically, the conference aims
to answer questions such as (but not limited to):
• In what ways do the thematic
preoccupations of the new literatures of the 21st century (both in the
indigenous and foreign languages) differ from the previous generations of
creative writing in Nigeria or Africa?
• In what ways do the styles and
methodologies of Nigeria’s literatures of the 21st century differ from literary
practices of the past?
• How have the new technologies and
new media affected the practices, reception and disseminations of literary
practices in Nigeria and beyond?
The twenty-first century in Nigeria
has witnessed an avalanche of creative writing in all the genres of literature
and beyond. More than ever before, this period has shown that creative writing
and critical practices offer greater possibilities for social re-engineering
and meaningful mediation in public spaces. This expansion is witnessed in the
steady growth of the list of names of Nigerians associated with national and
international acclaim. Equally expanding, are the writers’ use of neo-stylistic
techniques in the pursuit of diverse visionary goals as well as re-conceptualizations
of the ideas of the state of the Nigerian nation, nationhood, politics,
migration, governance, leadership, gender, sex, sexuality, new technologies,
the new media, internet and the environment. Also pertinent to the vision of
contemporary Nigerian writers is the re-assessment of the meaning and
construction of relationships between individuals (from the same country) when
found outside their country, as well as the different needs for interacting
with various nations around the globe. These have led to re-definition,
re-negotiations and re-construction of new identities of the self and the
nation.
With a passion for this theme, Prof.
Isidore Diala already knows some of the important takeaways he hopes to impart
on the attendees. Other lead speakers expected at the conference today are Prof
E E Sule of IBB University, Lapai and Prof Oyeniyi Okunoye of Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile -Ife. There will also be a writers-critics forum featuring Prof
Sam Ukala, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Ikeogu Oke, Prof Akachi Ezeigbo, Prof JOJ
Nwachukwu Agbada, Prof Ogaga Okuyade, Dr Ismaila Bala Garba and Dr Ezechi
Onyieronwu.The workshop component of the conference will be led by Prof Joseph
Ushie and assisted by Isaac Attah Ogezi. The management of Alex Ekwueme Federal
University Ndufu Alike Ikwo in Ebonyi State led by the VC Prof Chinedu Nwajiuba
has expressed its preparedness to host the conference/ workshop and give all
attendees a memorable outing. ANA Ebonyi State Chapter will be on hand to
organise the literary dimensions to the event.ANA National Executive Council
hereby call on ANA chapters in the South East to attend
