RSG To Institutionalise Garden City Literary Festival

Plans are underway by the Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to institutionalise, the Garden City Literary Festival.

The festival was instituted by the Governor in conjunction with Rainbow Book Club and University of Port Harcourt to revive the dying culture of reading, especially among youths in the state.

The Executive Director Rainbow Book Club, Mrs Koko Kalango told newsmen Tuesday in Port Harcourt, that the Governor of Rivers State is desirous of making sure that successive administrations in the state continue with the festival.

Mrs Kalango said that, the next edition of the festival which comes up September this year, will have as its theme: Literature And Politics, with sub themes which includes, the Niger Delta in Literature; Lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement, Gender, Politics and Literature and Literature on War in  Africa.

According to her, those expected to grace this year’s event are Chinua Achebe whose keynote address will be delivered via video at the opening ceremony, while Rev. Jesse Jackson, an African-American civil rights activist will speak on Lessons from the American civil Rights Movement.

Also to feature at the ceremony are, Femi Oke, former CNN inside Africa correspondent, Ken Wiwa author of “In the Shadow of a Saint Chimeka Garricks of “Tomorrow Died Yesterday and Ankio Briggs who will also speak on the Niger Delta.

In the same vein, A prolific Ghanaian writer Ama Atta Aidoo will moderate the session on Gender Politics and Literature.

According to her, the session which will be chaired by Professor Molara Ogundipe will also have Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, Lisa Combink, a South African poet, Prof. Sofia Ogunde of the University of Abuja and Professor Julia Okoh, while the session on Literature on War in Africa will be moderated by Tade Ipadeolu of  Pen International Nigeria Chapter.

The British Council and the University of Port Harcourt represented at the briefing by Deoma Arguba and Willian Wodi respectively pledged their support towards the success of the festival.