By Akeem Lasisi
The legendary rocks, waterfalls and other icons of Ekiti must be in an elated mood today as they receive friends, associates, students and mentees of their great son, Professor Niyi Osundare. It is at the 2022 edition of the Niyi Osundare Poetry Festival, holding at Fountain Hotel, Ado Ekiti.
The legends – the likes of the Orole and Olosunta hills; the Arinta and Ikogusi waterfalls – have always been there for their poet laureate son, who conspicuously stands among the best the continent has produced. Their fertile impacts are real in his uncanny productivity and craftmanship, bequeathing to the world acclaimed works that include Songs of the Market Place, Village Voices, Eyes of the Earth, Songs of the Season, Moonsongs, Waiting Laughters, Tender Moments, City without People and the two latest offerings, including GREEN: Sighs of Our Ailing Planet.
Because the legends are deeply connected to his muse, he too is never tired of celebrating them, acknowledging as ‘The rocks rise to meet me…’ But, today, the rocks, the hills and the falls are doing more than that. They are receiving the guests of the multiple award-winning scholar and writer, and in turn will be blessed with vibes from different readers and performers. Put differently, the literary acolytes now rise to meet the rocks.
The festival had held in different locations, especially Ibadan. Now, it returns home since east and west, home is the best. It is also great that the Dr Kayode Fayemi Government is body and soul with the feast, as the organisers noting that the governor is not just gracing it but is also the Guest of Honour. For the scholar whose wife, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, is also a prolific writer, Monday, June 27th is thus a day of great reunion with the literary community, which must have missed him since politics lured him away.
One of the organisers, Mr Dele Morakinyo, says all is set to have a glorious festival. According to him, while Prof. Mrs Toyin Jegede will be Chairman, other personalities and groups playing various roles include Prof. Saleh Abdu Kwami, Prof. Jeleel Ojuade, Professor Tunde Laniyan (the Festival Director), Dr Nike Olaleru, Mrs Nike Owoola, and the celebrator, Prof. Osundare, himself.
Others are Prof. Mrs Lara Owoeye, Prof. Adetayo Alabi, Dr Rotimi Adebusuyi, Dr Ayo Shittu as well as publishers such as Mr Bankole Olayebi, Mr Steve Shaba, Mrs Folakemi Bademosi and Mr Servo Gbadamosi.
Performers will include the Ekiti Cultural Troupe, Soji Gbekele (Alagbede Oro), the Ekiti AAN choir and Master Oni.
The festival will close with a stage play titled The Man Who Walked Away, written by the poet laureate, and directed by Dare Isijola.
