Edify Yakusak, who hails from Kaduna State, is a lawyer with a flair for writing. Born in Jos, Plateau State, she started writing at age 16, experimenting with screenplays and short stories. She loves reading books and considers herself an eclectic reader.
Ms Yakusak’s debut novel, After They Left is set in Jos and confidently explores the inherent evil nature of man and the madness that resides within him. It portrays man as selfish, greedy and having no limits to acts of wickedness against his fellow man. Full of suspense, the story also shows man proclivity to adapt and be resilient in the face of daunting and excruciating challenges of life. The story unfolds against the backdrop of the Middle-Belt killings that has plagued Northern Nigeria for over a decade and with no end in sight.
- ‘Ebinyo Ogbowei was born in Port Harcourt but hails from Bayelsa State. He was educated at Federal Government College, Sokoto (1969 – 1973) and Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene (1974 – 1976). Ogbowei, who graduated B. A. (Hons) English from the University of Lagos, also holds an M.Phil. in African Literature from the University of Port Harcourt.
A former Chairman of the Association of the Nigerian Authors (ANA) Bayelsa Chapter, one time Associate Editor of The Beacon Newspaper, and founding Editor of the Educational Rescuer, he is a lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State and CEO, Roselight Nigeria Limited, a publishing and Engineering company.
His literary career began while he was an undergraduate and poetry has been his forte, with several of his poems appearing in a variety of journals including Idoto, Matati, PRISM International, ARIEL, Black Literature Forum, Okike and DRUMVOICES Revue.
Ogbowei, is the author of let the honey run and other poems (2001), the town crier’s song (2003), the heedless ballot box (2006), song of a dying river (2009), and marsh boy and other poems (2013). He has been on the LNG Nigerian Literature Prize long list in 2005, 2009, and 2013.
Sidney Ogirinye Okwoche, , a guitarist, and songwriter, hails from Oju Local Government of Benue State.
A final year student of Forestry at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, he has an album to his credit with songs touching on the issues of the environment.
The Guest Writer Session which also features a raffle-draw for books runs from 4-7pm at the Nanet Suites, Central Business District and is open to the public. [myad]
