...Omonoba...
Our People Say:
Yoruba: Kí ní ḿbẹ nínú isà tí yó ba òkú lẹ́rù?
English: What is there in the grave to frighten a corpse? - Yoruba proverb.
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I am not a great book critic; if only Osondu Awaraka would plow the dust off his blog. Anyway, here are the books I read in 2011 in no particular order:
1. Allah is Not Obliged - Ahmadou Kourouma
2. Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Adichie (for the eighth or ninth or tenth time)
3. Open City - Teju Cole
4. Icarus Girl - Helen Oyeyemi
5. A Love Rekindled - Myne Whitman
6. Voice of America - E.C Osondu
7. Wizard of the Crow - Ngugi wa Thiong'o
8. Sophie's Heart - Lori Wick
9. The Princess - Lori Wick
10. And the Shofar Blew - Francine Rivers (for the third or fourth time)
I hope I have not left anything out. I also didn't think you would care about the academic novels and books so I have taken them off the list but they are all listed
here.
I had an eventful year. It was extremely busy and had its fair share of doooooowns but I Loved it, loved it.
I went home to the Kins (also known as the Kins-lings, the Clan the Lovers or the Family), taught Vacation Bible School at the church [Ikoyi Baptist Church] in Lagos, learned a gazillion new things about the same Nigerians that I grew up with and that I see every year.
In July, my sister from another mama, my mum and I were stuck for more than four hours at Port Harcourt airport (thank you. Aero). So, from around 10pm till midnight, we sang and sang and sang for the travelers in our own little corner of the airport. It was a lot of fun. All we were missing were a producer and a mic. Anyone know this song, 'God of Elijah, send down fire?' We turned it into 'God of Elijah, send our plane.' We sang so many songs, the travelers were so impressed. Good times.
My internship, my awards and grades at school,
this book cover, the people I met when I went back to Nigeria- Tolu Akanni (who is one hilarious soul), the fun times to / from work in Lagos with
Eknoreda (
here also),
this Kachifo event and this
E.C Osondu book reading, the great Lagos flood, my two trips to my darling Port Harcourt city, everything. This year was a roller coaster of fun and trials.
Myne Whitman, your contribution to the literary scene is much talked about and has definitely made an impact. Keep doing your thing. You are doing a great job. Kudos and God bless.
My year in one sentence:
1. [When I remember what the Lord has done, I will never go back anymore.]
My year in one song:
1. [...we can debate till the end of time who is wrong and who is right. Or I can honor your choices and you can honor mine... - Gift of Acceptance by India Arie and Idan Raichel.]
My year in one pic:
{The journey from church to car during the great flood.}
LAUGHTER!
One more thing:
ChizzyD came up to Boulder and she becomes un-anonymous here.
Yop, yop, yop, yop, yop.
It was great to have her here.
God bless you, dear 2012. I hope Nigeria does not break out in war. If we do not, and if all the cries of the citizens eventually lands on listening ears, then it is either God is partial to or extremely merciful towards Nigerians. There is little reason why he still listens to us scream and wail when in fact he may have answered us a while ago.
NakedOne.
