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By Yinka Fabowale
So long as Nigerian writers stay aloof from participating in politics and governance, so long are their vital role, interests and the impact of their works likely to run into sands.
The Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, Otileta VII, gave this warning at the opening of the conference of South West Authors’ Forum (SWAF) in Abeokuta, on Saturday.
The monarch, who chaired the opening session of the 3-day event with the theme, “Fostering National Unity Through Creativity,” spoke against the backdrop of complaints of official marginalisation of indigenous writers’ books among recommended school texts, which has resulted in use of sub-standard books in schools, poor and dysfunctional policies impeding the growth of education and the creative industry, among other issues.
The Olowu’s remark was in reaction to the keynote address given by the Director, Internal Quality Assurance, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Dr. P. E. Ezenandu, on the confab’s theme as well as delegates responses to the seminal speech.
The royal father, a renowned cultural and literary arts supporter, regretted the revelations, which he noted could undermine the goal of rescuing Nigeria from the crisis of cultural identity, sagging educational standard and promoting sustainable national development.
However, Oba Matemilola said the recipe to salvage the situation was for authors in the country to join politics in order to influence government policies and their implementation.
“We can’t keep on wringing our hands. You (writers) must get involved to influence policies that will help the industry and prevent those that work against the development of the industry. Only few of the politicians who get into public office do the right thing. Many of these politicians only run a ring around the technocrats and dictate what they must do, apart from filling their own pockets. O o si nibe, o ni bawo ni won se pin? A i si nibe la i ba won da si! (You cannot justifiably query an unjust or unfair decision against your interest if you choose to exclude yourself from the meeting where it was taken).
“How can we talk about the membership of library board, or those who determine and select literature texts for our schools or who fashion policies for our educational and cultural development without writers and artists themselves being there?” Oba Matemilola said.
He bemoaned alleged preference for and recommendation of foreign books to teach literature in schools, wondering how relevant or useful they would be to the cultural and educational needs of the pupils and the country.
Asked the Olowu: “What do they (pupils) need (Williams) Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and the rest at their stage for? How can a teacher, who doesn’t even know how snow looks like teach about snow?,” as he advocated greater emphasis on teaching indigenous literature, works of Prof Wole Soyinka, Cyprian Ekwensi, D. O. Fagunwa, J. F. Odunjo and others.
According to him, it is time writers get interested and begin to participate in politics and governance to be able to influence things.
“If it means building additional muscles and joining forces with us, we are ready to help,” Oba Matemilola said, as he pledged support for the campaign.
Highlights of the event attended by delegates from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States included conferment of merit awards conferred on the Olowu and five past leaders of the group for their contributions to the founding and activities of the regional literary body. The recipients included late Dr. Solomon Iguanre, who received a post humous award as the prime moving spirit of SWAF; Prince Abiodun Oloyede, Registrar, Osun State Polytechnic and former Chairman, Osun Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Dr. Sola Balogun, past Chairman, ANA Ekiti; Ebika Anthony, ANA Oyo; and Tony Agbuagba, past Chairman, Ogun ANA.