Chuma Nwokolo launches How to Spell Naija in 100 Stories Vol 2

Today I remade the acquaintance of a writer whose work I have reviewed before on this blog, Tony Mochama. He was in conversation with Nigerian poet, novelist and lawyer Chuma Nwokolo, at the launch of Chuma's second volume of How to Spell Naija in 100 stories in Nairobi. The discussion was moderated by Khainga O'OKwemba, the radio host of The Books Cafe which airs on the English service of KBC, Kenya's national broadcaster. The launch was put together by the Rift Valley Institute at the British Institute in East Africa (BIEA).

Tony Mochama, left, Chuma Nwokolo, centre, Khainga O'Okwemba, right

Both writers read from their respective anthology of poems and short stories, each infusing their very different personalities into the works. Tony forthright and provocative, Chuma thoughtful and authentic, both challenging. They impressed with how prolific they are. Chuma has under his belt 10 books, among them Diaries of a Dead African and The Final Testament of a Minor God. Tony Mochama is a regular newspaper columnist, who writes under his pen name Smitta and the author of novella Princess Adhis and the Naija Coca Broda, reviewed below. He has published two anthologies, What If I'm a Literary Gangster and The Road to Eldoret. 

           

Chuma quipped about Kenya slowly becoming a province of Nigeria. I think he was only half joking, given the way Naija fashion, music, restaurants and now literature have slowly made themselves a fact of life in Nairobi. I'm not being flippant by referring to Nigeria as Naija, by the way. Chuma said in Nigeria, when one comes of age, it is normal for one to rename oneself with a name of one's own choosing. Nigeria has come of age and has chosen to rename itself Naija, on the streets at least, even if not on its coat of arms. 

Both commented on the social issues that inspired their work: the 2007-8 post election violence, the drug trade and sexual exploitaton of children at Kenya's Coast, the death of Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, corruption in all its forms. From the excerpts read, I intuit that for both writers, developing strong, authentic characters through whom to tell their stories is a gift they have in common.  

I am familiar with only one of each of these writers' works. I plan to read and review more of their work soon.