Ile-Ife Reads in Honour of Soyinka

 

Bisi Anyadike

ILÉ-IFE READS, an organization that believes that a lasting culture of literacy begins with connecting children with books that enrich, educate, and entertain and our aim is to promote a love of reading and provide primary and secondary school teachers with tools to help children boost their reading skills, while fostering a love and appreciation for literature and reading for pleasure.

 

‘Reading has been a big part of my life since I was five. Books

 intrigue me, fascinate me, and by the age of six, I was into the

 heavy reading of everything around me. So my advice to you 

would be – grab books, enjoy them!

 

The quote above was made by the Nobel Laureate himself while he addressed young school children in Europe. Listening to the full address of Wole Soyinka’s with these European children who had just completed reading Death and the King’s Horseman got us thinking. Here are European children benefitting more from what is rightfully ours! It instantly became a challenge to get as many Nigerian children ‘intrigued and fascinated’ by books and it easily steered this year’s programme towards the celebration of the 90th birthday of our literary icon and Nobel Laureate.

ILE-IFE READS: CELEBRATING WOLE SOYINKA@90 was kicked off by the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, Professor Akanni Ibukun Akinyemi (Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Innovation, and Development) and Professor O.M.A. Daramola (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Admin.). The Vice Chancellor commended the project, acknowledging the importance of books in the lives of young children. He encouraged them to embrace reading for pleasure and praised them for being part of such an epic event, stressing how important Wole Soyinka is to Nigeria, Africa and the world. The Vice Chancellor and the Deputy Vice Chancellors were presented with copies of Aké’: The Years of Childhood (the abridged) which they promised to join us in reading.

A one day teacher’s workshop was held to familiarise teachers with Aké’: The Years of Childhood and also share strategies that will enhance the teaching of Literature in schools and equip teachers to dedicate themselves fully towards promoting children’s reading for pleasure with an emphasis on encouraging children to read and become familiar with our own celebrated literary icons. Participants were drawn from both public and private schools in Ile-Ife and included seasoned and fresh young teachers alike. They gained immensely from Professor Kehinde Ayoola, Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife who spoke on; Empowering the New Generation through Literature. A guest appearance by Prof. Chima Anyadike, retired Professor of African Literature and a session on creativity with Mr Abiodun Adesakin CEO of Royal Academy Consult were highlights of the workshop.

Over 200 schools were invited. Private schools were invited directly while public schools through their Local Government Councils. While a good number of private schools participated only Ife Central West Local Government and Hon. Abiola Awoyeye, Ife Central Representative supported their schools. A total of 90 children participated. Each child got a copy of Aké’: The Years of Childhood (the abridged), Wole Soyinka’s memoirs of his childhood and a compilation of selected poems by Wole Soyinka. After reading children responded to it through integrated competitions that involved essay writing, poetry recitals drama skits and various arts media. These activities went on throughout the month of June.

It was a joy to see the pleasures of the children from reading Aké’: The Years of Childhood. From their performances and presentations it was clear that there was deep understandings of the book and the chosen poems. It was also a delight to observe children expand their ideas, think deeply and discuss intelligently about Wole Soyinka’s childhood adventures and the major historical events of our country portrayed. Despite being an abridged version, the children didn’t miss out on Soyinka’s satire and humour; the description of characters like Canon amused them, they all loved Mrs B and were able to identify their own ‘Mrs Bs’. Wole’s going to school for the first time, his friendship with Osiki, their love for pounded yam and all of his many mischievous adventures came across strongly in conversation and later in their work. For children already exposed to history, they connected well to World War II episodes with insightful questions. The Women’s Uprising and the role Wole played in it gave rise to lively debates. One child wanted to know why women were more active in politics in the past than now. Their responses clearly demonstrated that the experience of reading Aké had enabled them to expand their ideas, think deeply and pay more attention to things around them.

The general notion that Wole Soyinka is a towering figure who can only be admired from a distance and that his works are generally considered to require a much higher than normal thought level and a very deep sense of analysis for true appreciation to derive pleasure or delight from his works didn’t appear factual and perhaps it is such beliefs that are responsible for the low grade exposure of children and the narrow scope of literature, especially at the primary level that fails to inspire and nurture minds towards an interest in great literature and reading.

Cleary if there are more abridged versions of Soyinka’s and indeed all great Nigerian writers for our children to get acquainted with at an early age, done well and with passion, as they grow older they will naturally be drawn to the original books. I believe that we could raise a new teeming generation of young Nigerian intellectuals. We appreciate Dr. Tony Marinho immensely for the gift of the abridged Aké’: The Years of Childhood, especially for keeping all the charm and excitement of the original intact.

Our ILE-IFE READS: CELEBRATING WOLE SOYINKA @90 experience however, indicates that for schools to effectively promote effective reading cultures that foster a love for literature and good books many more issue than the availability of abridged books arise;

• Non-existent/ poorly stocked school/ class libraries
• Poor quality recommended literature texts (Primary schools especially )
• Lack of appropriate curriculum and learning resources for literature teaching
• Teacher’s need for updated teaching materials, learning strategies and regular training workshops.
• Low interest in reading of children
• Undervaluing of the arts as a discipline and literature as a school subject
• Lack of parental commitment/support for literature as a subject.
• Problems that arise from most literature being in English and very little in our indigenous languages
• High cost of books

Embarking on this project was inspired by a love of literature, a passion for teaching young children, and the urge to contribute to making a positive difference in the recurring lacuna of our educational system. In addition to this and maybe a little more poignantly, was the respect for the astounding amount of literary work Wole Soyinka has contributed to Nigeria and indeed the world at large. Especially as the world over, has already begun celebrating our own Nobel Laureate, just like they celebrated the 460th birthday of William Shakespeare in April. As the popular saying goes: ‘Niaja no deh carry las’, neither does Ile-Ife!

Our celebrations will draw to a close, later this month with an ILE-IFE READS Community Day Celebration with an exhibition of portraits of the laureate from childhood through adulthood, drawings and paintings by the children, Soyinka Trivia and the Awards Ceremony for the winners of the various competitions. Primary school children will be staging Wole Soyinka’s Childe Internationale and also perform a rendition of his Etika Revo Wetin? (I love My Country).

It has been a worthwhile journey, but without the guidance and support of my husband Prof. Chima Anyadike, the collaboration and generous financial support of Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, Emeritus Professor, Harvard, It probably would not have been. We also enjoyed the support of friends of Prof. Jeyifo, in the person of Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, and Dr. Segun Mimiko. Many thanks to my brothers Chief Wole Olaoye, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu, Mr Dotun Adekanmbi and Mrs Unoaku Sheidu for contributing prizes to various category of winners. And for book prizes from Mosuro the Bookseller, Ibadan, Safari Books Ltd. Ibadan and Bookcraft Africa we are grateful. My daughters; Agbomma, Usondu, Nkolika, Sobechi and Unoaku for accompanying me on this voyage and adding wind to my sails. My sons Oton, Ernest, Ayodele, AbdulKarim and Ohireime for all their support. Sincere thanks to the schools, teachers and the children who took active interest and participated fully. Without them none of it would have been possible and of the host of people who volunteered to make it a success, chiefly; Dr. Toyin Ogundeji, Department of Dramatic Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University and her team of dramatists, Prof. Tayo Ijisakin, Department of Fine and Applied Art, and Prof. Chijioke Uwasomba, Department of English all of Obafemi Awolowo University and Dr.Adele Arowosola, Foreign Links College, Ipetumodu, Thank You!

The power of literature lies in its ability to make us see the world anew. -Wole Soyinka

 

• Dr. Bisi Anyadike is Director, Ife Reads and Proprietress of Sunshine Nursery and Primary School, Ile-Ife.