- Title: NIGERIA: Author, Victor Ehikhamenor launches latest book on satirical essays.
- Date: 11th December 2012
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (DECEMBER 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR WORKING IN HIS OFFICE COPY OF EHIKHAMENOR'S BOOK TITLED, "EXCUSE ME!" ON HIS DESK EHIKHAMENOR WORKING IN HIS OFFICE EHIKHAMENOR TYPING ON HIS LAPTOP COMPUTER SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR, NIGERIAN AUTHOR AND ARTIST, SAYING: "Most of the articles that are written there were during the Yar-Adua administration when Nigeria was really turbulent, when we were having heavy political instability, when we didn't know where we were going, you know, the constitution was about to be subverted, you know, so I kind of like wrote a whole lot of things based on that experience and also this current president coming to power and the whole process." EHIKHAMENOR WALKING INTO BOOK STORE SIGN READING: "THE JAZZHOLE" EHIKHAMENOR LOOKING AT VARIOUS BOOKS IN THE STORE EHIKHAMENOR SPEAKING TO SALES LADY VARIOUS OF EHIKHAMENOR BOOK "EXCUSE ME!" ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) VICTOR EHIKHAMENOR, NIGERIAN AUTHOR AND ARTIST, SAYING: "I think that if the industry is properly developed, and we begin to see books as commodities, we begin to see books again as products that should be marketed to the society, that should be re-packaged, you know, then we will go a long way. We have to figure a way to put it there." VARIOUS OF EHIKHAMENOR IN HIS ART STUDIO ACRYLIC PAINT VARIOUS OF EHIKHAMENOR DRAWING, SIGNING INITIALS ON HIS DRAWING EHIKHAMENOR PUTTING FINAL TOUCHES ON ART WORK
- Embargoed: 26th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVABZVLCWDHNG1I9903YBD1B9SEL
- Story Text: Nigeria's award winning writer, Victor Ehikhamenor is famous for his short stories and poetry that bring out both ficition and non-fictional stories.
The 42-year-old writer says he discovered his love for writing as a child, and today his work is inspired by culture and everyday life experiences.
Ehikhamenor recently launched his first book titled, "Excuse Me!" a collection of humerous essays and observations about life in Nigeria and abroad that touches on political events and the writers personal experiences.
The book took about 3 years to complete and so far about 1,000 copies have been sold in book stores across Lagos, each selling for 13 US dollars.
"Most of the articles that are written there were during the Yar-Adua administration when Nigeria was really turbulent, when we were having heavy political instability, when we didn't know where we were going, you know, the constitution was about to be subverted, you know, so I kind of like wrote a whole lot of things based on that experience and also this current president coming to power and the whole process," said Ehikhamenor.
Ehikhamenor returned to Nigeria from the US in 2008, after graduating with a Masters of fine Art degree in creative writing and teaching art for 14 years.
He says his decision to return was born out of a need to do something worthy for his country.
His new book is divided into chapters that include "love letters" among other titles.
Though Nigeria has produced many talented authors over the years, Ehikhamenor feels that books are not being bought as much as they should.
"I think that if the industry is properly developed, and we begin to see books as commodities, we begin to see books again as products that should be marketed to the society, that should be re-packaged, you know, then we will go a long way. We have to figure a way to put it there," he said.
Apart from writing, Ehikhamenor is also a visual artist and photographer, and has also designed book covers for popular authors like Chimamanda Adichie, Helom Habila and Tony Kan.
The prolific artist has held six exhibitions in Nigeria and numerous juried and solo exhibitions in the United States and Europe.
He is currently working on a painting about leadership in Africa and says he likes to produce abstract and symbolic works of art.
In 2008, Ehikhamenor won the Leon Forest Scholar Fiction Award in New York for his art, and that same year also won the Breadloaf Writer's conference scholarship in the US. He turned down the latter in order to take up a job in Nigeria as creative director in the now defunct "Next Newspapers".
Ehikhamenor says he plans to open an art school in Nigeria in future to train upcoming artists and provide employment opportunities for the youth. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None