Many critics across the globe scoff at contemporary poetry. In an April 2, 2000 London Sunday Times review of Jonathan Bate’s The Song of the Earth, critic Bryan Appleyard wrote: “Nobody cares about poetry anymore. It is marginalised, trivial, the…
Christians must unite in this strange Easter – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
This is a very strange Easter season of lockdown and social distancing. It is thus incumbent on me to preach unity in the greater need of averting disaster. In the absence of unity among the members, Christians are speaking in…
Call Corona a Coup – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
The lockdown enforced by the coronavirus pandemic reminds me of the many coups that happened in Nigeria. It’s like this: whenever the army takes over, every Nigerian is forced to sit at home. Military coups and Nigeria used to be…
April Fools’ Day has been postponed by Corona – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Today is April 1, alias “All Fools’ Day” or “April Fools’ Day”, but there is no joke all over the world. The day belongs to Coronavirus, alias Covid-19, the unchallengeable king that has sentenced all the peoples of the world…
Dangerous love: Growing up Lesbian in Nigeria – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Embracing My Shadow: Growing up Lesbian in Nigeria by Unoma Azuah; Beaten Track Publishing; 2020; 218pp It takes tremendous courage for a Nigerian woman to engage in an open love affair with another woman. The act of damning all consequences…
Nollywood as handshake across the Niger – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Nigerian politicians always talk of the need for a handshake across the Niger. The politicos have from the First Republic been talking of forging an alliance between East and West toward the greater growth of Nigeria. Thus far it has…
How not to steal from the Chimamanda brand – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
At the drop of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s name a very unfortunate writer can get quite far in recognition. Many literary wannabes want her blurb on their books. She has helped quite a number of aspiring writers to get literary agents…
Odia Ofeimun at 70: Let’s toast to the health of the master poet – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
There is no better way of introducing Odia Ofeimun than pointedly stressing that “Odia Ofeimun is Odia Ofeimun!” Enough said. Poet, publisher, editor, activist, polemicist, mentor, politician, columnist, factory worker, writer, dance-drama exponent, public intellectual, critic, etc, Odia Ofeimun has…
Calm down, Coronavirus will soon be “Technically Defeated” like Boko Haram – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Coronavirus is the new rage in town. All over Lagos people are covering their faces like masquerades in fear of the projected pandemic. Me, I have no fear whatsoever for this menace called Coronavirus. After all, before the advent of…
Jumpology as canonisation of political prostitution – Uzor Maxim Uzoatu
Back in those days, students of Physical and Health Education (PHE) were said to be studying “Jumpology”. Today Jumpology applies to politicians who jump from one party to party anyhow. The word is a combination of “jump” – as…