The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) hosted an engaging and intellectually stimulating Book Party in honour of the acclaimed poet and writer, Umar Yogiza Jr., on December 13. The event was conceived as a celebration of literature, friendship, and the enduring power of poetry to bear witness to human experience.
The Book Party was initially scheduled to hold at the Yusuf Ali Library & Research Centre, Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village, Abuja. However, following the earnest appeal of the Chairman of the occasion, Lindsay Barrett, the renowned Jamaican-born, Nigeria-naturalised literary icon, the gathering was reconvened at the ANA Conference Room to ensure ease of movement and better convenience for participants.
The programme commenced with warm felicitations and the recognition of distinguished literary guests in attendance. Special acknowledgement was also given to the blood brothers of the guest author, whose presence added a personal and emotional layer to the celebration. A former President of ANA, Malam Denja Abdullahi made his presence with a former Chairman of ANA Bayelsa chapter, Dr. Akpos Adesi. Some members and EXCO of the ANA Abuja Chapter were in attendance: Qasim, Esther, etc.
The coordinator of the event, Ngozi Alutulu-Ebulum, delivered the opening remarks, warmly welcoming guests and setting the tone for an evening of rich literary exchange. This was followed by opening remarks from the host, the President of ANA, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, ably represented by John Ondoma (aka Freeman), who welcomed the guest author and attendees on behalf of the association.
The moderator, Husayn Zaguru, then introduced the theme of the Book Party, read the host’s citation, and formally ushered in the chairman of the occasion. In his opening address, Lindsay Barrett offered profound commendations on the book, describing it as a literary triumph and applauding Umar Yogiza, Jr.’s depth, courage, and poetic vision.
The event then transitioned into the book chat session, where participants delved deeply into the poetry collection. Umar Yogiza Jr., the celebrated guest author, poet, and literary icon, personally guided the audience through the creative journey of his work. Particular attention was paid to one of his outstanding poems, ‘A Testament of Faces,’ which explores “Home” as an angry eye, watching pogroms that sprout from their roots, where the journey of life depends on what one carries on a bent back across a network of roads.
Within ‘A Testament of Faces,’ Umar Yogiza Jr. extends the metaphorical architecture of ‘Testament of Stones’, a title that already evokes endurance, memory, and silent witness. If stones are history’s most patient archivists, then faces, in this poem, become their living inscriptions. The poem was recognized not merely as a personal lament, but as a collective record, etched, like stone, against forgetting.
The Q&A and contribution session followed, featuring insightful interventions by Paul Liam and Afrika, who offered critical reviews and prognoses of the poetry collection, A Taste of Stone. Several members of the audience also shared thoughtful remarks and reflections, enriching the discourse with diverse perspectives.
The Book Party concluded with closing remarks by the host, John Ondoma (Freeman), who thanked the guest author, chairman, contributors, and attendees for making the event a resounding success. The evening ended on a high note, reaffirming ANA’s commitment to celebrating Nigerian literature and amplifying voices that courageously document our shared human stories.
