It was a sober reflection as guests watched the written words
come alive through various performances of resonated the lines of
Chinyere Darline Ezeigwe’s poems.
Poetry came came alive as Chinyere unveiled her book,Parable of
Deeds, last Saturday. The thought-provoking collection advocates against
societal vices, violence, politics, religion sex, incest and quandary
of choices.
A critic said the collection tends towards “sad thoughts”. Chinyere
said his words aptly describe the mood the poems evoke, adding: “It was
written during a critical time in my life when the mishaps around me
seemed to scream at their loudest and they flowed through my pen.”
The book reviewer, the sensual poet, Ayeola Mabiaku, said the
collection, which is reflexive, is an improvement on the previous one
entitled: Beads of Essence. The language used in this collection, she
observed, is “simple, understandable and clear”.
Reading the poem Drug to illustrate her review, she said: “There is
an evolution process every poet must go through, a time to hone ones
skill, I can see this development in this work. And I see that Chinyere
is maturing like vintage win in this collection. Although sometimes the
very essence of a poem is lost when needless words are used, this is one
area the author should look into for her future works. The imagery
created is of a dramatic monologue as one visualises the speaker with
the result that the particularity of the situation is evident.”
On his part, the former the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA),
Lagos chapter chair, Chike Ofili, reiterated Mabiaku’s words, saying
that the author has reinvented herself.
The performers including Iquo Eke, this reporter and AJ House of
Poetry, took the genre beyond the intellectual confines, giving life to
the words on stage. The AJ House of Poetry performances was especially
electrifying accompanied with equally touching songs. They touched the
creative essence of the audience, particularly that of veteran
journalist and fashion exponent Edozie Onaka, with their dramatic
interpretations of Priestly Confession, Not Me and Across the road. Eke
captured the attention of guests with her rendition of One Piece and The
Place to be.
Touched by the lines and the dramatic interpretations, Onaka said:
“This is a revolution. It is taking poetry from the intellectual
confines and connecting it to everyday experiences. I am quite impressed
by the wisdom imbibed in her words. Politicians think of the next
election but leaders think of the next generations. Chinyere is a
leader.” Mrs Ikem Okoro, a marriage counselor and author of Enriching
Marital Sex, said the atmosphere triggered in her poetic essence. But
for the author, it was meant to provoke the thoughts. But Chinyere has
refused to dwell only at the level of intellectual rigor alone. She also
formally unveiled her charity project called of Our Generation Africa
Foundation.
“I didn’t mean to sadden you. I meant that stimulate thoughts as you
go through it about the mishaps happening around us, the menace and the
rise of societal vices, its causes, how we see ourselves in the nearest
future. Think: “if these are what confront us what are we, individually,
going to do about them. This has given birth to Our Generation Africa
Foundation, inspired by the poem, Across the road.
“Our vision is to see more young people discovering themselves,
developing their talents or skills to the point where it provides them
with a source of livelihood. This, we believe would reduce the
unemployment rate as well as the number of nuisance around us. When we
are robbed, raped or move through the red light districts, their actions
affect us and pathetic still is that they grow up from streets thugs to
becoming political thugs and that is why politics is said to be a dirty
game. I have mixed with these kids and feel their pain and that is why
aside unveiling the book, the foundation is equally important,” she said
As its maiden project, the foundation will be reaching out to youths
at Ikota, come December. She called for volunteers as friends,
counselors and mentors, urging that the move would spell a revolution in
the lives of many who were born or living in various conditions of
hopelessness that ignites vices in the youths. She praised the
mentorship efforts of current chairman of ANA Lagos, Dagga Tolar in
breeding young creative minds such the ones featuring in the AJ House of
Poetry. “When I was going to watch them practice their performance, I
saw some of the people we are talking about. And I thought what would
have happened to them if Dagga Tolar had not engaged them where would
they have channeled their energies. Thank you for giving them these
opportunities.”
And as a parting note, she urged guests, saying: “Remember, there are
some people somewhere wishing to be better but do not how to go about
it. As you walk down the road, there is someone walking past you
thinking of suicide or where or whom to bomb.”
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/arts/life-midweek-magazine/touching-lives-through-poetry/
