Nigeria does not appreciate her writers – Emenyonu

Renowned literary critic based in the United States, Prof. Ernest Emenyonu, has decried the lack of recognition for Nigerian writers in the country.

Speaking at a recent literary event in Lagos, Emenyonu, who has been appointed chairman of the judges’ panel for the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature, noted that, in spite of their laudable achievements, Nigerian writers were hardly appreciated or celebrated enough in their own country.

“Nigeria has every reason to be proud of her writers and what this country has done is to boost that image and reputation. Unfortunately I don’t think that Nigeria has recognised, over the decades, that her best cultural ambassadors all over the world are her writers. If the country recognises this fact, it will permeate,” he said.

The critic, who is also the editor of Africa Literature Today, described Nigerian writers as pioneers of African literature and standard bearers in all the genres of world literature.

He said, “If we are talking about the Nigerian novel and we mention Chinua Achebe, we are no longer talking about a writer just within the country but a writer on the global level. If we are talking about poetry, think about people like Christopher Okigbo.

“In terms of female writing, Nigeria has also given Africa a lot – from the first black female novelist, Flora Nwapa, to one of the best children’s story writers ever on the continent, Mabel Segun. Nigeria has been a leader in virtually every aspect of African literature.”

Emenyonu, however, expressed disappointment with the standard of African literature or Nigerian literature taught in schools, universities and colleges of education, among other educational institutions, in the country.

Wondering why the efforts of the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas Company, the sponsors of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, have been largely unappreciated, he argued that through its involvement with literature the NLNG had succeeded in positioning the country again on the continental and global maps.

Calling on Nigerians to give the NLNG its deserved recognition and to see what the company had done for literature in its larger picture, he said, “We should begin to see literary activities taking place in our school system. How many primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, have courses in Nigerian literature? How many universities have the pivot of their literary studies in African literature?”

Emenyonu lamented the gradual decline of literary standards in the country. He also urged members of the literary community and other Nigerians to emphasise good standards in Nigeria’s institutions of higher learning.

He said, “When your excellence is appreciated more outside the country than within, then you are really not there. So we have to take with us the teachers, students, readers so that this sort of thing will generate in our younger generation not just the habit of compulsory reading for examinations but compulsive reading.”

Regarding this year’s 184 entries for the Nigeria Prize for Literature, he promised not to announce a winner, if the panel of judges fail to find the best among the works submitted for the prize.

Source: Punch