AWF guest writer session spotlights Udenwe, Bako and Oroko

By Ibrahim Ramalan

The Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) has turned its spotlight on three diverse artistes to be featured at its flagship monthly Guest Writer Session that is coming up on the 30th of this month at Nanet Suit, Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the forum’s Secretary, Ladi Opaluwa, this month’s reading promises to be eventful as Obinna Udenwe (novelist), Ishaya Bako (film-maker) and Austin Oroko (guitaris), are going to be on the hot seats.

The Guest Writwer Session, which is one of the long running literary reading in the country will also feature a raffle-draw for books, and is open to the public.
The statement reads: w“A prolific short story writer, Mr Udenwe was born in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, to a politically active family and he took that route at an early age by leading the Ebonyi State Children’s Parliament, and subsequently creating the Ugreen Foundation recognized by the government for its services amongst the youth.

“Udenwe has a penchant for exploring controversial issues in his stories as evidenced by the “Holy Sex” series in 2015, which garnered wide readership and criticism. His stories have appeared in Fiction365, Ehanom Review, Brittle Paper, Tribe, Kalahari Review, Alariwo, African Writer, Outside In Magazine, Books Live, etc., and anthologised in African Roar, Dreams at Dawn, ANA Review, and the Short Story is Dead Long Live the Short Story.
“He is the co-founder of the ‘Crossover Mexico-Nigeria’ writing project. ObinnaUdenwe won the 2009 National Top12 Award and the 2012 African International Achievers Award. In 2014 he was honoured with the award of the ‘State Literary Icon’ by the Governor of Ebonyi State.

“His latest novel, Satans and Shaitans , is against the backdrop of the ongoing insurgency in Nigeria’s, tells the story of two powerful men, Chief Donald Amechi and world acclaimed televangelist, Chris Chuba, both members of an internationally renowned occult, the Sacred Order of the Universal Forces. Members of the occult from Southern Nigeria, desperate to gain control of their country, deceive an Islamic terrorist organisation into carrying out attacks in order to undermine and overrule the Nigerian President,” the statement said.
The second guest is the Abuja based film-maker, Ishaya Bako. “Before studying filmmaking at the London Film School, Bako obtained a Bachelors degree in management information systems. As a child growing up in Kaduna, he was inspired to direct and produce films after watching movies like Jurassic Park and The Silence of the Lambs.
“He began getting public awareness with the short-film, Braids On A Bald Head, which he scripted and directed  and it earned him his first major award . His Fuelling Poverty, a documentary on poverty and fuel subsidy which was narrated by Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka created a buzz when it was banned.

“Bako is an emerging voice of his generation and a member of a select few Global Shapers, a collection of enterprising youths initiated by the World Economic Forum.
“His current production, Road To Yesterday, is a collaboration with Genevieve Nnaji and stars British actor Oris Erhuero, Majid Michel, Ebele Okaro and comedian Chi Gurl. Bako describes it as both a road film and a modern day love story about a couple in distress.”
The last, but not the least of the guests is Austin Oroko. Okoro hails from Utonkon, Benue State and is a graduate of the department of languages and Linguistics Nassararwa State University, Keffi. He speaks French and Italian as well as a little German.

“Born in Lagos, he likes to describe himself as growing up all over the world with his six siblings as they accompanied their father, a former diplomat, on his official postings.
“At the age of fifteen he started writing and singing his own songs with a dream to become a star that will influence the world through his music. Although he owned a keyboard when he was younger, it was his love for the guitar that caught his fancy and has become his mainstay as a performer.
“Oroko has been on several notable platforms including AM Express, AIT,NTA Entertainment among others. He spent a lot of time listening and studying classical musicians and the likes of Tracy Chapman and Stevie Wonder who have had a deep influence on him. His music can be classified as Indie rock with a touch of soul and is currently working on a collection of songs.”