Arts & Review

The upsurge in the number of book clubs in the country is a good development which is reviving Nigerians’ interest in literature once again. Adewale Oshodi writes.

The relevance of Homer’s works to Africa was the focus at the Fourth Biennial Constantine Leventis Memorial Lecture, which was organised by the Classical Association of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, last week. Adewale Oshodi reports on the lecture, which highlighted similarities between the ancient Greek and Roman cultures and that of Africa. 

Is the study of Classics still relevant today? This is the question that made the Classical Association of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan, to bring in Professor Michael Lambert of the University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, to speak during the Fourth Biennial Constantine Leventis Memorial Lecture at the Conference Centre, UI, last week.

The fact that the premier university is the only institution still offering Classics as a course tells a lot – either that the course is no longer relevant to modern day living, or Nigerians can’t simply apply it to their advantage.

However, a prominent business executive and graduate of Classics, Dr Gamaliel Onosode (OFR), believes the foundation of education itself has its roots in the study of Classics.

Dr Onosode, who was the chairman on the occasion, said Classics had made great contributions to the development of the country through its graduates. Citing people like the late Chief Bola Ige, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Ambassador JTF Iyalla, among others, Dr Onosode said the study of Classics definitely had a great impact on these lives, while calling on government to reappraise its stand on the study of Classics.

“If today, we can only find a Classics department at the University of Ibadan, then there must be something not right, or something seriously wrong with the nation in absorbing Classics in its education system”, Dr Onosode said, while admitting he had no regret he studied Classics.

In his submission, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Remi Raji-Oyelade, believes the study of Classics is relevant today as it was in the past. Professor Raji-Oyelade, who was represented by the Head, Department of Communication and Language Arts, Dr Ayo Ojebode, said at this period of global economic upheavals, it was important we went back to learn from the ancients, especially on how they also survived turbulent periods similar to the one the world is experiencing at the moment.

In the lecture entitled, Why Read Homer in Africa?, Professor Lambert highlighted the similarities in the ancient Greek and Roman cultures with that of the African culture.

“Through Homer, we can actually discover ourselves; since there are similarities of cultural values between Africans and the Greeks and Romans, then Homer’s works can solve some of the problems we are facing on the continent.

“Homer’s works deal with relationships, sexuality, compassion, rule of law, xenophobia, interaction, among others, and these are issues we are facing in Africa”, Professor Lambert said.

While also highlighting the similarity between the Greek and African culture, a former HOD of Classics, Professor Folake Onayemi, cited the work of Homer, Iliad 22. Ibid, 353, which reads: “Hektor, my child, respond to this and have pity on me, if ever I gave the breast to soothe your trouble...”, saying the passage reveals a common act among African women who use their breasts to appeal to their children on certain issues.     

Therefore, from the submissions of the various speakers, it is clear that the study of Classics is still relevant in today’s world, and this is what the secondary school students who attended the lecture took away with them.

Earlier, the longest serving HOD of Classics, Professor James Ilevbare, had commended the support the Leventis Foundation had rendered the department in the past, and are still rendering.

“The Leventis Foundation has, in no small measure, been supporting the Classics department through the donation of books, award of undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships, as well as in the area of academic support for teaching staff.

“For more than 25 years, we have enjoyed all these from the Leventis Foundation, and we hope this will continue”,  Professor Ilevbare said.

In her remarks, the current HOD, Dr Olakunbi Olasope, thanked the Leventis Foundation for its continued support for the department, saying it was definitely going a long way in sustaining the quality and standard of the department.

The lecture was attended by academics, students and officials of the Leventis Foundation in Nigeria.

A review of Atilola Moronfolu’s Antonyms of A Mirage: What Does Reality Mean To You? by Femi Morgan

Antonyms of a Mirage, a 122-paged literary work published by NeighbourVille Limited, is an experimental book consisting of prose, drama and poetry. The avant-garde collection can be described as a blog book, as it resists the assumption that genres of literature and discourse should be separated.

The book is, however, categorised by moods and expressions of multi-personality disorder. The author, Atilola Moronfolu, is an intelligent writer who exposes the ills and hypocrisy of society using soliloquy, metaphor and satire as valid tools of literature. The author expresses her thoughts through her characters. With simple and accessible language, she tells fictional but personal stories of her characters. 

The collection is categorised into The Sagacious One, The Bitter One, The Character Thief, The Melancholic One, The Opinionated One, and The Comic One. The reader will become engrossed with the author’s clarity, originality and cartooning right from the book cover.  

In The Sagacious One, Moronfolu reveals insights on the overpowering presence of corruption in the country. When a journalist encounters Mr Corruption and interviews him in “Corruption Noni”. In “The Same Cane”, she advises that women should be weary of men adore them but are not at home with their wives. 

The Bitter One creates vivid pictures of religious violence borne out of Myopia. In this category, she opens up a can of worms filled with self deceit and pretentions. In The Bitter One, Moronfolu uses her stories, poems and drama pieces to plunge Nigerians into reality check.

The Character Thief is another picturesque episode of the book. Here she employs more satire in her prose and waxes lyrical in her poems. 

In The Melancholic One; another set of well crafted pieces of literature. Here, Moronfolu engages her readers in such a way that they will be able to look within and weigh their value systems.   Moronfolu, like many other great writers, muses about the loss of human innocence. She alludes to the biblical Adam and Eve in some of her stories. She also tinkers with a great multi personality story in “My Own Worst Enemy”. 

“My Own Worst Enemy” seeks to explain why humans should battle with their other selves, should come out of their comfort zones, in order to achieve greatness. Antonyms of A Mirage enjoin readers to tame laziness and pleasure seeking bouts for a greater future. 

The segment, The Opinionated One, takes a hard line, thought provoking dimension without meandering into much fiction.   

Moronfolu’s Antonyms of a Mirage comes short of many philosophical possibilities because her works are grounded in Christian didactic understanding. The book would have been excellent if attempts were made to research on other existential perspectives. Nevertheless, the book borders on universal themes that readers can learn from irrespective of their cultural, religious or social standing.  

At a time when various voices, both home and abroad, are asking questions on the unity and existence of Nigeria as a country, Olusola Akinyemi, like a lone voice in the wilderness has affirmed Nigeria's unity, assuring continuos existence of the country in his new publication, The Rebirth: A vision for Nigeria.

In the eight-chapter book, the author traces the unification of Nigeria even in its diversity. While speaking on the book recently, Akinyemi said it is an advancement of the vision 2025, with the conviction of really moving the nation forward. He echoed absence of visionary leaders which has deprived Nigeria purposeful leadership.

In his attempt to reach out to all good-willed Nigerians, the lawyer said at "this point in time, Nigeria needs a leader with great influence who can pilot the affairs of this country through the stormy waters. Citing Indian example in Mahatma Ghandhi who bravely liberated 'the untouchables' in the country, the author said Nigeria needs such visionary who will chart a new course in the country's developmental goals.

He said Nigeria's ‘independence remains incomplete unless and until it comprises of political, social and economic independence’ because Nigeria's wealth remains only theoretical.

To Akinyemi, Nigeria needs to rediscover the value that made nations great. He said "Nigeria had made a fortune from agriculture but with the discovery of crude oil, the agricultural sector suffered neglect. The economic prosperity of our nation could only be achieved under critical subjects. These are: agriculture, industrial development, trade and educational research." And with the strong calls for diversification of Nigeria's economy, Akinyemi's clarion call is not directed at the current leaders only, but today's youths, who are on the path to the nation's leadership positions.

The message of the book “is geared towards instilling the spirit and values necessary for the development of our nation in every Nigerian. Every Nigerian in this context extends to all persons in public offices, politics, private sector, civil service, adults and youths, urban and rural dwellers. Everyone; irrespective of position, situation or location."

Demonstrating the trueness in his message to Nigerians, Akinyemi who stated that he carefully opted to show the iconic message of his vision, said he chose the colour of the book-green, Nigeria's colour. He then asked that big question, "Who will take the lead on our path to development? Is it the people in government, citizens, social groups, the civil servants, the private sector, policy makers or the activists? "

In his answer, Akinyemi who is also a lawyer and who also operates a non-governmental organisation, The Joseph Initiative, said the vision to salvage the Nigerian nation is not for a particular group of people but every Nigerian, while assuring that he is ready to lead a generation that will turn around the experience of a country that is divided across religious and ethnic lines.