Jon gets trashed by Nollywood stars at Writer’s Angst

The Lagos book fair which took place from the 11-14 of November featured a segment tagged, ‘Writers Angst’,coordinated by Onyeka Nwelue, a platform created for young writers to vent their frustrations on publishers and publishing firms.
The maiden edition of the event organized by CORA and moderated by Kachiri Nnochiri, former contestant, AMBO, had discussants such as Onyeka Nwelue (Award Winning Author of Abysimmian Boy) Ifedigbo Nze Sylva(writer) Gimba Kakanda (poet) Eromo Egbejule (writer) Wana Udobang (writer/TV and radio presenter) who was one of the absentees, Prince Adewale Oreshade (lawyer/ poet) and tosin Otitoju (poet/lecturer) who both arrived late and had the curtsey to admit it was very rude of them.
The discussion which graced the Main Exhibition Hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, focused on the absence of Publishing firms and the ineffectiveness of existing ones in the country. It also revealed how Publishers dictate what kind of stories should be told and the style of writing that should be adopted by writers in other to get published.
Jon Ogah, winner of the maiden edition of Naija Sings and one of the numerous celebrities present emerged to buttress a point on what was being discussed but disappointed his fellow celebs present and the audience by being able to mention famous American Writers but not knowing the author of the age-old world-wide award-winning book, ‘Things fall apart’
The (Nollywood) stars present such Patrick Doyle, Francis Onuoha and veteran publisher,, each trooped out to tongue-lash the singer for his poor memory. Even stage writer, Wole Oguntokun gave his own fair share of criticism. Albeit the misfortune, Jon made a very good point which, in fact, paved way for these same Celebs and others to make theirs and take a cue from.
He urged Directors and Film Producers among the crowd to adopt their predecessor’s method of producing millions of dollar movies today- by making a movie out of Nigerian Books. Patrick Doyle and Francis Onuoha went further to stress the possibility of the idea with Mr Onuoha revealing his missionary journey to take Nollywood round the world and the warm reception he gets wherever he goes. Ace photographer, Soibifa Dokubo was not left out of it as he took his turn advising the young writers to write about their environment and culture rather than tag along the foreign mode of telling stories.
But the supposed ‘Writers Angst’ became the ‘Publishers angst’ when veteran publisher,, took the mic to rant about why it isn’t the duty of a publisher to publish a writer’s manuscript. He cited an example of the Olympics Bronze medallist, Yagazie Chukwumerije and how his success today solely depends on his father’s huge expenses. In his words, ‘’if you want to get published, tell your father to pay for it. It is a two-way thing. Play your own part. Every good manuscript would eventually find a publisher.’’
He went ahead to encourage the young writers to stop waiting to be spoon fed. ‘’They should get out there and get their books self-published. That’s the only pride they’d have over it.’’