By Nehru Odeh
Michael Archer looks every inch the intellectual with a large heart. He is not just the publisher of Guernica, a magazine based in New York United States, he has, through that platform, given a voice to many writers across the globe. Yet his tall, imposing figure and intimidating credentials contrast sharply with his humility, humanity, altruism and, of course, liberalism. And as his surname connotes, he does not miss the mark or target
So, when information got to TheNEWS office in Lagos that this multi-award winning American, this writer and academic, who is a global citizen would, alongside Molara Wood, pay it a courtesy visit on Friday, June 20, the staff waited with bated breath to see the man whose height and vision touch the sky and whose literary reach and tentacles cut across the globe and enrich all, irrespective of colour, creed or political affiliation.
And indeed Archer did not disappoint. After he and Molara had been received by Mr Kunle Ajibade, Executive Editor, TheNEWS, in his office and after exchange of courtesies and a brief chat, they moved into the conference room of TheNEW$.
Waiting to receive the trio were Ademola Adegbamigbe, Editor of TheNEWS and Nehru Odeh. Archer, who had also met with some writers like Toyin Akinosho and Jahman Anikulapo felt at home, as though he had been there before, as though he had met the staff before; which indeed spoke volumes about his global citizenship.
It was a cool evening and the roads glittered with some silvery specks of rain water. It had just finished raining in some parts of Lagos, the city of excellence, known not just for its aquatic splendour but also for its cultural richness, its rich political history, its social life and as an entertainment hub where writers, artists and musicians actualize their dreams or “blow,” to use the local parlance.
It was also an evening rich with intellectual discourse and filled with camaraderie, fun and laughter. The conversation was eclectic, encompassing and engrossing, as so many issues that cut across the media, the arts, literature, politics and international relations were discussed, what with the globe just heaving a sigh of relief after Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire. There was also a passionate discussion about America.
Archer, who was palpably excited and pleased to be there said Nigeria was the only country he had ever taken a deep dive into because of the numbers of creatives and writers it has produced. According to him, after every survey, Nigeria always had the fourth to fifth highest readership of Guernica magazine.
”I knew I would have some sort of connection especially because of readership. Early on, there will be the expected US, Canada, but Nigeria was always the fourth to fifth highest readership,” Archer enthused.
Ajibade, for his part, said he checked on his own and could see a lot of interesting people and writers that have featured in Guernica. “Great people, great writers,” he said succinctly. And he also said the number of Nigerians that have featured in the magazine cuts across genres – poetry, prose, essay, photography and visual arts.
“It tells you so much about what keeps the country going. That spirit that you get in the arts is not necessarily from the politicians. It makes the country itself vibrant at all levels. You need to spend more time here, maybe come round much more for festivals and you feel hopeful for the country itself. Great writing. People are writing well, they are not getting published. You feel good sometimes when they send you this manuscript and you say there is hope!’” Ajibade maintained.
And Molara added: “People are definitely writing more than they are getting published. In some publications, in journals and magazines, especially as some of the spaces have narrowed. Maybe in the last 10 years or so, there has always actually been that sense that Guernica was always one of these places that Nigerian writers felt that they might have a chance of being published in.”
Then Archer inquired about the TheNEWS magazine and its sister publication, PMNEWS, to which Ajibade responded that the former is both a monthly and an online journal, while the latter is 100 per cent online. “PMNEWS used to be the only evening paper in Lagos until the internet took away our print edition,” Ajibade noted.
Ajibade went on to narrate how the revolutionary act of him and his colleagues at the then African Concord, their refusal to apologize to military head of State, President Ibrahim Babangida, on the promptings of Chief MKO Abiola, led to their resignation and, subsequently, the establishment of TheNEWS.
He also spoke about the guerrilla journalism they practiced during the dictatorial regime of Gen. Sanni Abacha, the clampdown on the media, the hanging of the writer and activist Ken Saro Wiwa, the frequent arrests and detention of journalists and how he and some of his colleagues were jailed for life. “It was a bad, bad time for Nigeria,” Ajibade noted.
Archer was so impressed to hear that the TheNEWS magazine is still being printed despite the challenges the media is facing across the globe. “Everywhere, no matter the country, keeping a print edition is so difficult,” he said.
Molara then used the opportunity to express her appreciation to TheNEWS for not just keeping faith but also for his consistent detailed reportage of the arts.
”I want to say in terms of culture journalism, that is, writing about the arts, over the last 10 years I have grown more despondent about the space given in publications to literature reviews, critiques, which has shrunk. But TheNEWS is still keeping the faith when it comes to an involved, rigorous, attentive, thoughtful writing about the arts.
”I am really impressed. You are really doing a mighty thing on this front. I will continue to look to TheNEWS for encouragement in this desert of thought that we are in. It’s good that TheNEWS is still standing and delivering, We shall continue to look to this publication for that kind of focus,” Molara maintained.
When Archer asked what drew us to the magazine, Nehru said it was the unique way it gives full coverage to the arts and politics, which is peculiar only to Guernica. And also the fact that it published EC Osondu’s Caine prize-winning story, “Waiting”.
Ajibade also said what attracted him to the magazine was Okey Ndibe ‘s story, which did not only win a prize for the magazine but ended up being published as one of the stories in his memoir, “Never Look An American In The Eye.”
”But it is also the polemical nature of the writing, particularly your own writing, which is just a texture of it, that you would say, ‘He is a great writer. I got to read it.’ And it seems that is the kind of energy you bring to bear on editing other essays . It just make for very interesting read,” Ajibade averred.
Still in a bid to satisfy his curiosity and to guage the temper of Nigerians, Archer asked what the climate is like here when it comes to reporting on the Middle East crisis, especially Israel’s war with Palestine and Iran.
Responding, Adegbamigbe said public opinion is mixed, depending on which side of the ethno-religious divide one belongs in. “You have the Muslims on one side and then the Christians on the other. When you read someone’s submission on social media, look at the name, then you will conclude that okay this person belongs to this side of the divide,” Adegbamigbe said.
However, Ajibade noted that it cuts across religious divide, adding that the sympathy people used to have for Israel has waned considerably, irrespective of whether they are Christians or Muslims.
The conversation went on and on, touching on a lot of issues. And Ajibade expressed his delight at realizing that Archer is friends with some Nigerian writers such as Okey Ndibe, who is also a friend of the house.
Archer, for his part, said one of the many reasons he and Okey connected was because he is the first Nigerian to be published in Guernica. Archer went on to tell an anecdote about how Okey saved him and colleagues from an embarrassing situation.
”Guernica was asked to do an event for the UN, among other organizations. And the person we were supposed to have didn’t show up. Okey was there. There were also many people from other countries sitting there and there was no one to go on stage .
”And Okey just said, ‘I got this Michael.’ He stood up and walked right in front of us. What do you gonna do? I thought to myself. ‘I am a friend of Guernica. I am from Nigeria,’ he said and started telling a story about how he first came to America.” That sparked guffaws around the conference room.”
In accordance with TheNEWS tradition, Ajibade presented the latest edition of TheNEWS, “Trials and Triumph: The Story of TheNEWS” by Wale Adebamwi and his prison memoir, “Jailed for Life” to Archer. The photo session that followed signalled the end of an unforgettable evening.
And Archer, palpably pleased with the kind of reception he received, promised to visit Nigeria again if given a reason.
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