The Success called The Excision

Right now, words fail me to describe how I feel. It has been six months of pain, sacrifice, extreme sacrifice, sweat, doubts and fear, hard work, running from sponsors to sponsors, Friday night prayers, and so much more than I can begin to mention. In the end, God came through for us.

The Excision was a success!!!

It was all God.

At a point, we went down, things were not going as fast as we wanted, but we forged through in the midst of darkness, while putting on brave faces, and God came through in the end. I had the best team in the world. Mehn, those guys were great. The quality of the artists was great.

Will you believe even when you do not see? Will you have faith? Be encouraged. If it is from God, He will see you through it.

We did a live stream of the event, and you can watch the event by clicking here. The whole event was about three hours 30 minutes, so it is safe to scroll forward.

See some pictures below

Ezekiel singing Nigerian worship

Or.Raw.Day doing 'That Girl'

Janette...Ikz live

Preston Perry and Jackie Hill Perry in 'The Fall'

Ezekie and Janette..Ikz in 'Ready or Not'

Me and Plumbline performing 'St Jones Gospel'

Plumbline performing Bloody Kingdom

Gaise Baba thrilling the crowd. I love this guy

Jackie Hill Perry doing 'My life as a Stud'

Me and Plumbline

The crowd: Can you see me on stage? Lol

Cross section

Preston Perry doing 'Jesus is God'

Cross Section

Ezekiel performing 'Letter from Satan'

IBK Spaceship Boi performing 'Sticks and Stones'

The hall... before it started getting filled up

DJ Mordu. DJ with a good heart

At the press conference a day before the event

A reporter asking questions

 

Answering questions from the reporters

For more pictures and information on how the event went down, you can follow us on Instagram here, Facebook here, and twitter here.

Life is a Woman Breaking Eggs

Hi people. Great things are happening on Blogsville o. I'm sure y'all know we have another publisher in our midst. Like play like play, we are birthing so many celebs. What did you guys expect, is it easy to blog consistently for years, if one wasn't intelligent?

It is none other than our own Adura Ojo of Naijalines. First, I must say a big congrats to her. She recently published her book, Life is a Woman Breaking Eggs. I got the opportunity to interview her, and it was quite interesting, albeit, short. Read on.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was at a point in my life’s journey where I wanted ‘useful luggage’ I could take forward. I work in mental health where you meet people at their lowest ebb. It puts life into perspective and as a result, one is thankful.

Summarize your book in a sentence

The life journal of a middle aged woman

Why do you think that this book will appeal to readers?

I wrote this collection for poetry lovers as well as non-poetry lovers. The simplicity of language should appeal to people who do not normally enjoy reading poetry. Poetry lovers would enjoy the depth of imagery and thematic structure.

What makes your book different from other books like it?

What is unique about this collection is its flexibility. Some poems are in narrative form. Some are theatrical – Poems like “The Broom”, “Nagging Area”, “This Land,“ Owu Rubutu”, “Sisi” and “African Queen” can be dramatized on stage or performed as spoken poetry. The poems are also fine in their own skin as just poems. They will work across a variety of forms. I would like to see the collection performed as a stage production. Many poets are increasingly doing this, particularly across Europe and the US. It’s a great way of the getting the reading public engaged in poetry again.

Is there a particular poem from your book you’d like share with readers?

I think your readers would enjoy this one, Atilola.

Owu Rubutu

Time to dance, Owu Rubutu
dance the dance of spirits old
grab your shoes, let’s dance
the dance of bata
hips so swell, beads to the beat
gladly hit feet bouncing in heat
dance in the light of darkness
like the deaf lady and her best kept script
rhythm of beads heard, unseen
black beads, red beads
feet and hips the way beads sway
dance for me, Owu Rubutu

What tips would you give other writers thinking of putting together a poetry collection?
• Try to write a poem a day. Let your poems ‘breathe.’
• Edit but don’t over-edit.
• Join a poetry group (online or community)
• Take part in poetry writing challenges to hone your craft
• Decide whether you want a publisher or want to self-publish. Research the pros and cons and make             your choice.
• Publish when you’re ready. Make sure you’re confident enough with your material to put your work
        out there.

What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a novel about an older woman and a younger man. I’m also working on my second poetry collection.

Where can readers find your book?
My book is available on Amazon. I’m working on getting it to other platforms including Nigerian platforms.

Thanks for the interview Adura.
It’s been a pleasure. Thanks for having me, Atilola.

Read a little bit about Adura below.

Adura Ojo is a British-Nigerian author, poet, blogger and a mother of two. She is the author of Life is a Woman Breaking Eggs, her debut poetry collection. She graduated in English Studies at the University of Ibadan. She later bagged degrees in Law and Social Work in the UK. She has professional experience in varied employment roles as lecturer, trainer and mental health practitioner. Her poems have been published in Sentinel Champions, Sentinel Nigeria, The Poetic Pinup Revue, and a number of websites. She lives in the UK where she is currently working on her debut novel and a second poetry collection.

Follow Adura Ojo:

‘Like’ her author page: https://www.facebook.com/aduraojoauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aduraojo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AduraOjo
Blogger: http://adura-ojo.blogspot.co.uk/

My journey to Geneva, as a Spoken Word Artist

So I had the rare opportunity of sitting in the same room with the united nation delegates all over the world in Geneva. Small girl like me, lol. No be God? Not only did I sit in the same room with these power changers, they actually sat to listen to me. When I got the memo that I had been selected to perform in front of these people, I was in shock for one whole week. I didn't tell anyone, lest the opportunity got jinxed.

By the time I started the preparations for my trip, I was too bugged done with stress to remain in awe. By the time I got there, some people kept introducing me to different top officials as the person who would open the conference on the last day. Let's just say, by the time my day came, the momentum had already built up, and everyone was eagerly anticipating what I would do, but I refused to allow this pressure to overwhelm me.

It did not help matters that I was sort of an experiment. I was brought in to do something that had never ever been done before. So they kept telling me they were really counting on me to change the whole dynamics of the meeting. Still, I didn't let the pressure get me.

I met different people all over the world including, HIV positive people, openly gay people, the high and mighty, people that actually change and influence world policies, AKA the United Nations Delegates.

It was a 3-day conference. On the first two days, the UN delegates took the front seat, while my generation sat behind them. On the last day, the older delegates were seated at the back, while we took the forefront. Everyone expected the last day to be more interesting, and I was the person to do this.

Here are points that were constantly drummed into my ears

1. Try not be too fast. Slow down for them. You have to be cautious of your speed, so everyone would hear you.
2. We are counting on you to shock the audience, by doing something different
3. We are counting you to wake the sleeping audience.

So what happened on the D-Day? I will share that story next week. In the mean time, enjoy some of the pictures. I took loads, but I could just share few.

That place is a freaking freezer. Froze my smile

Did I mention that that place is a freaking freezer?
See how the fog descended

In front of the WHO Head Office in Geneva

A cross section of the conference room we used.
It is actually bigger than this, but I can only capture
one side at a time

My iPad did not do justice to the beautiful
view from the ceiling

Another view

We were prepping for our D-Day

I was being prepped for the dry run of my presentation
the night before

Dry run. As dressed as I am, I was the most scantily dressed.

The Name by Atilola Moronfolu

Hi people. Remember the last video, when I said something was wrong with it?

Some people hit the nail on the head. I was too fast. And it was my fault, I didn't listen to my recorded self during rehearsals.

Now watch this one. Although there were a few parts I was unserious, but for a piece that was supposed to be serious, I liked it. It is actually the first video of mine I am watching without cringing all the way. Please, watch it till the end. you will be glad you did.

You can achieve that thing - My life as an example.

Before you read on, I would really appreciate if you read this interview of mine on the Women who write series on femme lounge, and drop comments.

Constant improvement is the really cool. I look at how far I have come in this Spoken Word thing. You guys all remember the first time I went to read my work, how bland and plain it was, even though I was reading from the screen. You can check it out here.

My first appearance was really dull, and I have been looking for the picture, but it seems to be missing.

Then we started adding life to it.

But we were still reading from either a screen or a book, and not performing

And then, we knew if we didn't take this serious, we would get left behind. So we decided to go into professional spoken word... So we dropped the paper, dropped the reading, and moved on to greater things - Performing.

And then we started getting inviting us to major and big events.

My first professional appearance. No more reading

 Plus our names started appearing on posters, flyers and DVDs with the veterans

And then, we started going for TV Productions for Spoken Word.

Performing at Unchained Voices

And then, we started doing Solo Spoken Word presentations at prestigious events like the International Day of the Girl. 

Performing at IDOG

Doing a combo of Spoken Word and Soul Music

What am I trying to say? When it comes to spoken word in Lagos today, my name gets mentioned, along with many other great people. Earlier this year, I knew absolutely nothing about spoken word. It is really God's grace.

If you put your mind to do anything, believe me, you will achieve it. I did not achieve my professionalism in Spoken Word on time, due to faults of mine... called laziness. At the end of the day, I lost nothing when I decided to be more serious.

Believe me, if you want to improve yourself in anything, you can. If you doubt that, scroll back up again, and look how I was when I started, and compare it to what it is now. The pictures themselves testify. For booking and reservations, please call 07061141501. Thanks

Its harder to get videos of professional performances of mine, than it is to get the crappy ones, which were loaded on youtube, but I got this one from the last Word Up.

It is titled The Wrestle. I featured my cousin, Oyinkansola (watch her video featuring brymo here). 

The video below does not start from the beginning of the performance, so the intro and round one of the fight, which is about two minutes long, is missing from the video. I hope you get the message behind the performance though. When I get the full one, and of better quality, I will upload it.

Blessing Gbeborun - Reading by Atilola Moronfolu

Hello people, if you live in the UK and have not entered for the UK giveaway of my book, Antonyms of a Mirage, well, times-a-runnin'. Click here to enter for the giveaway after reading the instructions.

So who listened to my interview on Wazobia FM ooo? It was so much fun. I spoke pidgin all through, as its the prerequisite to being on that station. I had a lovely time. Lolo1 of Wazobia FM is just too on point, and has a sweet sweet spirit. I ended up reading the Pidgin Poem I had in the book, as it was the most appropriate content for the station. I got a standing ovation from the Radio crew when I was done, and my head wanted to burst.

Blessing Gbeborun is my first and only pidgin poem yet. I remember that when I was doing the entry game, a lot of people voted for me to put this poem on the blog, but it lost with just one vote. Apart from the Wazobia, I have since performed it at two shows.

Before you watch the performance, permit me to quickly insert one gbeborun political story. I have followed the whole Edo state election story. I was particularly pissed with the people of Edo state when I heard that PDP was buying off their voters card, for as high as N40,000.00 sometimes. And as you know, once you sell your card, you sell your POWER to make a difference in this country. Since I am not really into violence, I feel the only collective power we have is our vote. I was so so so so so pissed, so pissed that I even wrote a stinker poem for the people selling the voters card. If you read this post I did one time, you will understand why I had such a high degree of 'pissedness'.

Come the D-Day, everyone came out and voted en-masse for Oshiomole. Okay now, where did lots of people get voter's card to vote if they sold it to PDP? JAMB Question. It was later found out that people were doing coloured photocopy and lamination of their voter's card and selling to PDP so they still had their original card and went ahead to vote for their preferred candidate. I laughed so hard when I heard this. Oh my gosh! See mass scamming. Them say 'Cunny man die, cunny man bury am.' Edo people, did I initially say I was pissed? No no no, I love you guys. This is exactly what an 'un-bornagain Atilola' would have done.

P.S: I don't support any party oo, as I am not interested in politics. I support candidates, not parties. I was just doing a political gbeborun on what I heard on political programs.

So, back to my Blessing Gbeborun poetry reading. /The setting of the story is the Typical face-me-I-face-you one. Sorry about the picture quality but see the picture below to get how I really looked in the video

Blessing Gbeborun by Atilola Moronfolu

On fire + Akanni Street - Spoken Word by Atilola Moronfolu

I thank you guys that rose to the occasion of helping me in the previous post. I have complied the suggestion and came up with just thirteen topics. This means I still have a long way to go so please and please, I still need your ideas oo. Click here to read and help if you don't know what I am talking about.

Yesterday was not a good day for me at all but I thank God that I am alive and kicking sha. Part of my car caught fire and burnt. I was so weak. Good Samaritans came to help me put the fire out. For the first time ever, I realised I did not have a fire extinguisher. A trailer on the other side of the express parked and passed his extinguisher to my side. I was too shocked to do anything reasonable. People helped me put the fire out and pushed my car to one side of the express. There are still good people in Lagos o, don't listen to everything you hear.

This incident has affected my schedule a great deal. I am supposed to have a reading at the US Embassy this afternoon, but I will be absent. Yes, I know its somehow , but if it were worse nko? From there, I am supposed to be at another reading event at Maryland in the evening. I can't even imagine going to the island in a cab at this period when third mainland bridge is being renovated. I can't be doing my normal up and down in this Lagos without a car as I spend 90% of my working hours on the road.

I decided to just sit at home and sulk a bit, then take time to thank God that my life was spared cos I believe my brain actually disconnected for some seconds as I did not seem to know how to unlock my door and get out. I was just praying for God not to allow the car explode. I am taking today to replace the burnt parts cos it must be ready today. Yes it will cost me some money, but meehhhnnn, I just have to close my eyes and do it, even if I might have to drink garri for a while. Another good news is that the car engine was spared.

Away from the bad news, lemme cheer myself up a bit. The video below was supposed to be a normal poetry reading, but it turned out to be something else, Maybe it was because of the topic or because of the way I read it. I think I read it as if the issue pains me, because sometimes it does. In fact, this particular poetry and video is what some people saw before I was invited to the US consulate to read some of my works, and they asked me to do this again there.

Some of you might remember when I posted the poetry version on this blog last year, as it attracted loads of comments.

Watch what happens in the middle of the reading. Even though the stuff wasn’t funny to me, I ended up being infected as I had to start all over again.

Hard Copy Giveaway + Blogger meetup

Wow, finally my book is now available in Nigeria. I am so so happy about that. After all the stress, what I saw in my mind’s eye is now a reality. I have started the bookshop distribution. That is stress on a whole different level. For now, the book can be purchased at


Nigeria

1. Terra Kulture - Plot 1376, Tiamiyu Savage street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

2. Debonairs Bookstore - 294, Herbert Macaulay road, Sabo Yaba, Lagos

3. The Hub Media Store - Beside Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki

4. Ebeano Bookstores - Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki Lagos.

5. Orange Academy - 3b, Adesoye street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos

6. Quintessence - Falomo shopping complex, Ikoyi Lagos

7. Ebeano Bookstores - Ebeano Supermarket, Ikota shopping complex, Ajah, Lagos.

8. Silverbird Lifestyle Media Store- Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu Bello way, V.I, Lagos

9. Debonairs Online Bookstore - Click here to purchase

Click here for more purchase options.


Guess who is saw last weekend? Drumroll… the one and only cherrywine. I was supposed to deliver her copies to her, and then hit some bookshops o. That’s how I carried my two left legs to her house. I was confronted with such a cute teddy-bear face and sweet spirit. Instantly, we clicked on so many levels. We gisted and gisted and gisted and... She was nothing like her mean, straight-to-the-point posts. She was so so sweet. After a while, it dawned on me that I wasn’t gonna make it to any other place and finally decided to pack my load and go home. Only for her to see me off to my car and then we started another round of gists. We also found out that we had few common friends. Small world indeed. If I were to name bloggers I would have clicked with, cherrywine wouldn’t have come to my mind. This just goes to show that you cannot know people simply by their blog posts.


I was invited to do a reading at the US Consulate on the 7th of June. I did a poetry reading on Akanni street, and a drama presentation of Corruption Noni. I acted like six characters, solo performance. Guess the blogger I met there. Bola Essien-Nelson of Diary of a Desperate Naija Woman. When she introduced herself, I was like wooow. This woman sure looks far far younger than her age (she states her age on her posts). And she has what I call Charisma! I was so happy to meet her but sad that we didn't get the time to talk and gist. I look forward to seeing her soon.

Dramatic face, right? Yeah,
thats the book

Poetry reading.

Guess who else I was introduced to this weekend. The great Odia Ofeimun. If you are a writer and don't know Odia Ofeimun, well... No comments. Those are the people that gave African writing and poetry a voice in Nigeria and outside it. The Wole Soyinkas, Chinua Achebes, Odia Ofeimuns, etc. In fact, just google him. So when my printer of a friend told me he wanted to introduce me to Odia, I was like me? Small me? Na wa oo. People, I spent the whole of saturday with the great Odia, and let's just say... I was awed. He kept gisting me about his experiences as a poet within and outside Nigeria. He is currently 62 and does not intend to retire from poetry and dance drama production anytime soon.

I will be doing another set of giveaway. I will be giving away two hard copies of my book, not the ebook version. From what people have said, it looks better in real life. So, here is the criteria for qualification.

1. You must be residing in Lagos, Nigeria.

2. You must be a follower of this blog. Click on the follow button, on the follower gadget, on the right hand side of this blog, if you are not yet following this blog

3. Follow me on twitter. The handle is @hattylolla

4. Drop a comment below.

Simple and straightforward right. This is gonna be opened for two weeks.

I will be having another set of giveaway for UK residents very very soon, so stay tuned to this blog.

For those hearing about the book for the first time, read the synopsis and watch the trailer below. You are sure to love it. Even if you have heard about the book, still read the synopsis because I know you haven’t read it before, lol.

Synopsis

A character suffering from multiple personality disorder decides to express herself. With six different personalities in her head vying for the spotlight, a constant battle occurs as the book progresses.

The sagacious one starts with her wise stories, in her usual mature style. As the bitter one, the melancholic one and others take over, more heart wrenching issues are exposed, and the reality of the world we live in comes to play. Each character invites you to her world, to experience what they are experiencing in their own unique way.

The article starts with one about corruption in Corruption Noni, where the writer had the opportunity to interview corruption and then progresses to really deep stories that touch prostitution, religious hypocrisy, marital pressures, and other societal ills. Each article portrays a reality that you can relate with.

At the end, the comic one ends up defeats all and is victorious with her funny stories, proving that no matter how twisted our reality is, there is always a reason to laugh in the end.