It is wonderful to have you visit our forum on cyberspace.
First things first, I would love to give you a low down on who we are.
Literary Society of Ghana is an off-shoot of the Abuja Literary Society. It was first convened on the 6th of December, 2005 by Valentine Favour Onwuka at the prestigious M Plaza Hotel, Accra as the Accra Literary Society. This first meeting was marked with an event tagged, "NITE OF POEMS FOR MALARIA". Subsequently in 2006, precisely on the 17th of January, the British Council, Accra hosted the same event to mark the second meeting.
After these introductory meetings, the Society started on a long journey to where we are today. The processing of legal documents to officially register the society started alongside looking for credible and dedicated board members. This efforts paid off as we now have the Society fully registered with the Registrar General's office and a board membership of four.
The Society has its focus on increasing the level of literacy in Ghana, while encouraging and fostering a better reading and writing culture. It also seeks to uphold cultural endowments by promoting activities that will sustain cultural growth and knowledge. These are some of the things the Society is set to achieve through its activities and programmes.
We would like to thank our various supporters up untill now and wish to ask them not to relent in their efforts to uphold the literary mantle in Ghana.
We also wish to ask you to join us as we chart a new course for our literary future.
In this edition, I would like to post the Malaria Poem for your critique.
BITES, A PEOPLE & A SYSTEM
THE VENOM IS ABOUT TO BE UNLEASHED
THE TENDOM IS ABOUT TO BE UNLACED
THEIR TROMBOSIS STINGS
THEIR DIAGNOSIS STINKS
IS THIS RECOURSE FOR THE VILE SYPHONAGE OF OUR BLOOD?
JUST TO SAY THAT A FEW SLENDER ONES HAVE MADE THE LARGER HOMO-SAPIEN SUFFER…
IS IT NOT THE SAME THINGS THAT ARE BEEN SAID AGAIN? OFCOURSE!
THEY THINK WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM
WE THINK WE DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM
BUT WHAT IS THIS TREND OF THOUGHT THAT WE TOW?
WE? ...
I? ...
MY HEAD ACHES FROM FEVER
MY BODY ARCHES FROM A SHIVER
MALARIA IS THE BEST FORM OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT!
IS THIS NOT MADNESS?
SOMETIMES MY KIND THINK THAT CHLOROQUINE WOULD BE THE BEST
SOMETIMES THEIR KIND THINK THAT RESISTANCE IS THE BEST
THAT LEAVES US WITH A MIDDLE ARTESUNATE
BUT WHICH OF THE TWO IS BEST?
MY PEOPLE IN THE HEART OF THE MATTER HAVE WEAK HEARTS
DIE PEOPLE MUST!
CRY PEOPLE MUST!
RUN PEOPLE MUST!
DO WE NOT DO THESE THINGS NOW?
DO WE NOT FEAR & DREAD NOW?
THEY HAVE FAILED US IS THE JUDGEMENT…NO, THE SENTENCE.
I WEEP FOR THOSE THAT WILL BE BITTEN; BUT WITHOUT TEARS.
THE TEARS CAN’T FLOW ANYMORE.
THE FEARS CAN FLOW ANYHOW
THINK! THINK! THINK!
THE DISCOURSE CONTINUES SHORTLY AFTER THIS BITE-OUT…
Just Me,
Valentine Favour Onwuka
The President, Abuja Literary Society, Mr Victor Anoliefo
Prof. Mark Odu, one of the Patrons of ALS
Prof. Ogazumah of the University of Abuja
Shifi of Style Plus in his early days before their Olufunmi hit
Shifi of Style Plus and a flutist join forces to entertain members
A guest at the reading
Members listening to a recitation
Mr Fatilewa, President of Theatre Arts Practitioners in Abuja commends a poem, while prof looks on.
Cross section of members
Members at a reading
A member reading his piece
Cross section of members
Debrah Ghebrab, Americam Embassy Staff
Director General, Radio Nigeria at a reading
Applause for a recitation
