If only i could win

If only i could win
then my life would be
like a sword penetrating deep
within me revealing
all that they said i'd never be


if only i could breath
i'll sing from the bottom
never to succumb
like a bird that hit rock bottom
after falling free

if only i could win
i'll show them that my river
is worth more than my liver
turned to rot by the drugs
pumped into me to help me heal


29/10/09
By
Busola Elegbede

'Splatter and splash'

Splatter and splash
as i watch people rush
I just open my mouth
and start to gush

Splatter and splash
its that time of the month
the skies release
their tears just for us

Splatter and splash
i feel like i'm on top
a big gray rock
looking down for fun

Splatter and splash
I bend my knees and watch
my paper boat sails
down hill with vigour

29/10/09
Busola

'Screeching Swine blues'

Screeching violet
the skies bled
As she sunk deeper into her shy self

Swaying indigo
i want her
Had to feel her pain cause i love her

Sweet blunder
i love her
So i hugged her and coughed out

Screeching swine blues
why snatch me
When finally my life makes sense

Spying yellow
Should i have said no
knowing she would have let go


Sleeping lover
Dont bother
I shudder when i go assunder

Sweet lover
we'll go further
Wont miss the world as we bow out

Written by Busola Elegbede
29/10/09

To rise again

To stand outside a ring and watch a boxer stagger as he tries to rise again, after a humiliating knockout is the most emotional moment i've ever witnessed. Filled with a blend of frustration, excrutiating pain, anxiousness, and blurry vision he tries to get back on his feet.

You physically want to get into the ring and put him back on his feet but the game will not be the same so you watch, powerless and cheer him on. Screaming and shouting, hoping he remembers he can rise again.

Life is not this simple and even though we are on a stage and have been knocked down several times, there arent always people shouting and screaming on the top of their lungs, encouraging us to rise again. But we must remember we got into the ring and want something, the end goal should motivate us and remind us that truly we want to rise again.

Busola

My Royal Court experience

My Royal Court experience

Over two years ago, on 22nd February, 2007 at the book launch of my play ‘The War in The Sky’, I received a phone call from The British Council Lagos Nigeria. An invitation to be one of the twelve playwrights selected from all over Nigeria for THE NEW WRITING PROJECT, sponsored by The British Council Nigeria and The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, UK. I could not contain my excitement and still cant.
During this time I developed a play ‘Where her loyalty lies’ working with the creative team from The Royal Court Theatre: Playwright Leo Butler, Directors’ Elyse Dodgson, Hettie Mcdonald, Clare Lizzimore and |Associate Director Ramin Gray.
As the project came to a halt after a little more than two fruitful years of intense play development; twelve fantastic new plays from all twelve writers were finished.
All twelve playwrights were encouraged by The Royal Court Theatre to come up with fresh new plays that would be staged in the UK.
I submitted my new play titled ‘The Worms Under His Feet’ and was fortunate to be one of the five playwrights selected. Interactive play development commenced until the first draft of all five plays was finished. Schedules were arranged, and excerpts from all five plays were to be staged.
A week long workshop packaged by The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, UK with creative interactions, discussions and exchange was scheduled with British-Nigerian playwrights and Directors in the United Kingdom.
On the 25th of October 2009, we arrived at Heathrow airport and were whisked to the Sloane Square UK. The first grand news we got was that our tickets had sold out as London was dying to see what we Nigerian writers had to offer.
At the workshop, I worked with my personal director Sacha Wares who was very open minded and interested in the mind set of Nigerians. She was dedicated to delivering our true form, mannerism and identity to the audience; her years of experience and input shed light and showed me the synergy the director and writer forms when working together. Throughout the week, we had interactive sessions with Literary Directors, Artistic Directors, Literary Manager, the Royal Court team who shared with us how for over 100 years they have evolved into a strong creative force in theatre.
We watched ‘ENRON’, at The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, Jerwood Theatre downstairs, a mind blowing play written by Lucy Prebble, a creative piece that merged the crash of the company Enron with life and capitalism. Also at The Tricycle Kilburn, London, we watched ‘Category B’ written by Roy Williams, a deep play, addressing loyalty within the confines of a cell and family. These plays addressed life through different platforms and captivated the audience with attributes which every writer strives to weave into their writing.
Our plays were rehearsed by the best actors in the business from stage and television, interestingly; there were a lot of Nigerians, Ghanaians, Gambians, a blend of African, West Indies, British and American performers making the event the biggest to merge Africans in Diaspora in the UK in a long time.
On Saturday, 31 October, by 4pm at The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, Jerwood Theatre upstairs the theatre quickly filled up and all five of us playwrights were introduced to the audience.
Presentations of excerpts from the five plays were show cased; the first play staged was mine ‘The Worms Under His Feet’; I was thrilled to hear the audience laugh at the jokes and gasp at the shocking revelations I had weaved into the play. My director Sacha Wares and the actors Nikki Amuka-Bird, Osi Okereafor, Richard Pebble, Mo Sesay and Ellen Thomas were brilliant and applauds’ from the audience filled me up with great satisfaction and reminded me that I was truly getting across the desired message to an appreciative audience.
Immediately after the excerpts, an interactive panel discussion on the state of new writing in Nigeria and the impact of emerging wave of third generation British Nigerian theatre artists commenced.
There were many issues raised concerning the state of stage plays in Nigeria and the challenges we as playwrights faced. Interestingly, the challenges were similar to the challenges facing Nigeria. This is the need to put in place structures and systems that would outlive the current governing body. And a need to have in-place a steady working maintenance culture designed to produce profit and customer satisfaction.
When all was said and done the audience gave each of us a mantle, a creed; reminding us that we are ambassadors of our great country Nigeria a window into our great continent Africa.
As a young Nigerian writer, I wrote first for the Nigerian audience; what The Royal Court Theatre has been able to do for me is give me a rich educative experience and creative exposure which has reflected in my writing. My work now has more international appeal whilst still maintaining the true African nature that takes the readers into our unique African world.
The experience is one I could have paid top dollar for, but this opportunity was given to me because I wrote a play titled ‘The War In The Sky’. Whatever you write I hope you are encouraged to get it out there and give back to the world at large.
I would also like to thank The British Council Nigeria and The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, UK for giving me this wonderful opportunity and would like to use this medium to encourage Nigerians, Africans, to support literary works because history outlives generations and to support literature is to support and keep alive the African voice.
The world is dying to hear our story.
Thank you.

Adebusola Elegbede

Where is the African Voice?

Where is the African Voice?

One question on my mind is this, where is the African voice?
As a writer, I am constantly searching for knowledge and the true meaning of been an African. Is it in our heritage, our rich and diverse language and culture, literature or our constant struggle for freedom and justice? I strongly believe it is in a mixture of all these; ‘it is our psychological make up translated into our actions and perceived by the world at large as our voice ’ AUE
Back from staging an excerpt of my play ‘The worms under his feet’ on 31st October 2009, at The Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, Uk. I have the task as an African to represent Africa in my literary works and even though I had just one day back home in Nigeria, I had to continue on this journey, this search for answers I have embarked on.
At the just concluded Ghana International Book fair this took place at the National Theatre in Accra from the 3-7 November 2009. I was able to get some answers; the theme of the book fair ‘Books as cultural tools for development; reminding us that a reading nation is a winning nation’ shed some light on this.
For the first time in the history of Ghana International Book fair, the country of focus was Nigeria. A lecture was held by stakeholders at the fair with a representative from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana.
It started in the true African tradition with a prayer and then the national anthems of Ghana and Nigeria. An excerpt from Ola Rotimi’s play was performed, followed by a traditional Ghanaian folk dance performed by Amamere Folk music and dance group.
The lecture afterward highlighted the challenges publishers faced in Africa. Noting that though African publishers; concentrated and thrived in educative publications because of profit. They recognized that there was need to invest in literary works which was largely ignored by African publishers for they feared there was little or no profit to be made. The key lectures reminded African publishers and stakeholders that investing more in literary publications would in turn significantly increase the reading culture in Africa.
Back at the fair, every issue touched reflected on the book stands as foreign publishers dominated the fictional publications, while African publications dominated the educational publications.
There was a buzz in the air as everyone waited anxiously for Prof. Wole Soyinka to show up for his book launch. As I waited I heard people whisper he will show up after his lecture at ‘power’. Unfortunately, he could not attend his book launch and had to leave the country due to circumstances beyond his control and sent his apologies.
Further investigations proved that the word freely used was not ‘power’ but ‘PAWA’ Pan African Writers’ Association.
Curiosity led me to Alicia hotel, ridge road Accra, to the doorsteps of PAWA, The 17th International African Writers’ day 2009, whose interesting theme was ‘Language, literature and society in a fractured world’ Renowned lecturers and speakers were in attendance and gave high intellectual insight into African literature, society and our creed as Africans. Why I had never heard of this wonderful and educative association baffled me; especially when I was informed that ANA (Association of Nigerian Authors) were under PAWA.
My shock didn’t last long because I realized that the greatest problem is lack of assess to key information, by default or because every body assumes this information is readily available. I believe as one of the many tiny voices springing up from our great continent Africa; it is my duty to share this information and urge writers and those seeking knowledge on the plight of Africans to visit PAWA website and share any helpful information willingly.
After my first lecture, I went back home thinking and tasking my brain.
The next day at the lecture, I was surrounded by legends in African literature Gabriel Okara, J.P Clark, Eze Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike and a host of other African dignitaries as PAWA whisked us all to the mausoleum: Osagyefo, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Park.
It was a breath taking experience. I have never seen an African besides Nelson Mandela celebrated and honored like Nkrumah, history was captured in the park and it is highly recommended that if you are ever in Ghana you see for yourself what I cannot possibly put on paper. Your view on Africans will never be the same.
Subsequently, mind blowing lectures were given by the best in their various fields Dr. Esi Sutherland- Addy, Dr. Mohammed Salmawy, Prof. Abiola Irele, Nana Ayebia Clarke, Dr. Kumi Ansah Koi, Dr. Babriel Nesser Adam, Prof. Aamidou Dia and a host of others.
Great Africans that remind you that your destiny is in your hands and knowledge is hidden in great literature and can only be passed on as good well researched oral and written literature.
A combination of experience from the Ghana International Book fair and the PAWA program have given me some of the answers to the question I have asked. The African voice is within us, it is in our actions, in our words and in our struggle, it is the challenge the world has given us, the challenge and proof that one day we will use our rich tribes and culture to unite us and become the giant the world expects us to be.
So I have done what I must, shared with you all this information and hope like me you will pass it on. Feel free to share your wonderful experiences and feed your eyes with the lovely pictures from Ghana.
My journey continues….

Adebusola Elegbede