Book O’Clock Marks 3rd Anniversary in Style: A Recap
By: Hussein Nuhu Isa
April 23rd 2023 was World Book Day and Book O’Clock’s third anniversary. The joint-feat was marked with a packed lineup. From a Twitter space conversation, to a special feature article, to an in-person hangout, and to a writing prize.
Here is a breakdown.
#BookOclockAtThree: World Book Day Twitter Space with Readers
On the 23rd of April, Book O’Clock — a literary organisation that seeks to promote literacy in Africa, as well as use arts & literature as tools for social advocacy, hosted league of readers and notable online book influencers to a twitter space in a bid to celebrate world book day and its third anniversary.
The space which was tagged "Putting The Cool in Book: Of Bookstagramers and Influencers" began with the moderator, Chinonso Nze, who recently become the winner of the Isele Prize for Nonfiction, telling everyone about how he fell in love with books. In his words, "when I was like fifteen, I read Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda and that was like my awakening, and since then I think, I fell in love with African literature.”
In the course of the conversation with the panelists, which included Ezioma Kalu, Abena Maryann, Uchenna Nnabugwu and Amyn (Lipglossmaffia), all of whom are notable readers and book influencers, they shared with the moderator to the listening ears of other virtual audience how they began their journey into reading, the first books they read, their favourite fictional tropes, their views on book influencing now and in the future, what books they’re reading currently and read excerpts from them.
The engaging space came to an end with the moderator asking both the panelists as well as the audience on the weirdest things they have done as a bibliophile. The insightful and hilarious responses and the conversation sparked by these questions are better listened to using the link to the recorded space than reading from a novice reporter like myself. Here.
In-Person Anniversary Hangout in Sokoto
Shortly after the Twitter space, lovers and supporters of Book O’Clock gathered in person in Sokoto at the VIP section of Adiya Chicken & Shawarma.
The celebration featured the cutting of a cake, a toast and light banters especially from day-onefollowers of Book O’Clock who made jokes on how far the organisation has come.
Here are some photos from the event:
Check out more here.
In The Praise Of Clichés: Eight Readers Talk About Their Favorite Fictional Tropes
Still in the spirit of the anniversary and world book day, Uchenna Emelife for Book O’Clock, asked eight African readers what their favourite fictional tropes are, and curated a blog post from their responses.
From Uchenna Nnabuwu, Amyn and Ezioma who never tire from romance tropes, to Princess who doesn’t mind reading the same social issues being discussed over and over again, to Ebo Amutta who is immediately sold once the story has some historical elements albeit the repetitions, to Abena who is fascinated by African literature tropes, e.t.c.
Find their responses here.
Book O’Clock Anniversary Prize
On the 1st of May, Book O’Clock unveiled the final item on the lineup of celebrations; a literary prize tagged the Book O’Clock Anniversary Prize.
The Book O'clock Anniversary Prize is an annual literary prize organised by Book O'Clock to mark her anniversary.
Its first edition is themed "If The President Could Read Me" and is a writing prize targeted at getting secondary school students in Sokoto to write essays on what they would like to say to the incoming President of Nigeria. Publications, cash prizes and awards to be won.
Interested persons can visit here.
I hope you enjoyed reading this recap. Do give us a follow to keep tabs with our activities.
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Hussein Nuhu Isa is a poet, actor, writer and journalist who has the dream of becoming a better creative. He is a lover of nature and peace of mind, and describes self as a multimedia-enthusiast.
If Hussein is not writing or searching for his dreamed/imaginary woman_Dearie Halimah, he engages in volunteer activities.
He can be reached on huzeeal@gmail.com, Facebook via Hussein SonOfNuhu, Instagram via @zealofafrika, twitter using the handle @sonofnuhu and on WhatsApp through +2348104580490.
