The #CORALiterarySeason 2.0, held on July 13, 2025, delivered an intellectually rich and culturally immersive exploration of African literature through the works of iconic Kenyan writer and decolonial thinker, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. According to a report by Fadairo Olakunle, organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA) via its CORA Creative Youths Club (CYCC), the event blended literary critique, performance, and ideological discourse to foster critical consciousness among emerging African thinkers.
Anchored on two seminal texts — The River Between and I Will Marry When I Want — the session featured evocative readings by Nathan Olawoyin and Kelani Mercy. These readings laid the foundation for a vibrant panel discussion moderated by Sodiq Adesokan, who guided attendees through themes such as postcolonial identity, language as resistance, and religious-cultural conflict.
Four panelists — Grace Oni, Folorunsho Kehinde, Taiwo Ayeni, and Chiejine Onyebuchi — offered diverse insights on gender, class, orature, and symbolism in Ngũgĩ’s work. Their perspectives illuminated the deep ideological undercurrents of Ngũgĩ’s storytelling, particularly his turn to writing in Gikuyu as a decolonial act.
Interspersed with spoken word performances by Israel Idara, Uwadiae Ranmwen, Im Osewa Eniola, and Ololade Eniola, the session also showcased orature as a form of poetic resistance. These emotionally resonant pieces drew from Ngũgĩ’s themes and underscored the enduring relevance of oral tradition in African literary expression.
A final roundtable — Critiques: Life and Literature — brought together Ayeni Kehinde Silas, Yinka Adetu, and Temilola Olukunle for a reflective conversation on Ngũgĩ’s political evolution and global influence. The session closed on a consensus: Ngũgĩ is not just a writer but an institution, a symbol of cultural defiance and intellectual liberation.
With over 38 students in physical attendance from LASU, UNILAG, and FUOYE, and broader virtual participation, the hybrid format ensured wide engagement. CORA reaffirmed its position as a key incubator of Africa’s literary future and critical youth activism.