Friday, February 18, 2022

Writing and Covid-19: Books are Essential in Times of Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic is the most unprecedented story for authors across the world. If Covid was human, vaccines were plots, and lockdowns were characters, the pandemic is the most intriguing story to be ever written in books because it has not only a direct impact on the daily and private lives, health and the ways people interact – but also on the working situation of authors and writers in the literary sector. 

In Africa, particularly West Africa, many authors encountered economic fall-out, loss of fees and lack of needed exposure. While Nigeria still remains Africa's most vibrant literary hub, authors were seriously affected during the COVID-19 pandemic by working from home and faced inaccessibility to research facilities. 




Prof. Chinedum Igwe, Executive Director, International Association of African Authors and Scholars (IAAAS), Atlanta, USA 


 “From an author point of view, it is probably one of the biggest pandemics in human history,” says Prof. Chinedum Igwe, Executive Director, International Association of African Authors and Scholars (IAAAS), Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 

The African book industry will have to deal with a great shift, after more and more bookshops had been closed and some of them never even opened again, the publishing houses postponed or canceled titles. Several cultural institutions – libraries, theaters, small sized event organizers – also have to deal with losses, will close or lower the budget in general for cultural events. 

 

In countries like The Gambia with a very low literacy rate and poor readership, authors suffered great financial losses due to cancellation of events and having low sales of their books. 

There was no book launch for nearly one year and events, readings (especially in schools, libraries, cultural institutions and bookshops), award ceremonies, book fairs, workshops, lectures and residency-scholarships were canceled. The situation quickly threatened the existence of many writers and authors.  

While many authors work from home during the pandemic, many have no other choice but to publish articles in local newspapers. In The Gambia, the local newspapers, notably The Standard Newspaper, Foroyaa Newspaper, The Voice Newspaper and The Point have published dozens of articles from authors during lockdowns. Many of them believe that COVID-19 has made literary strikes to compel them into writing new books during lockdowns. 




Lamin B. Fatty, Gambian Author 


“I have not written a new book since the lockdown. A writer’s job is of course to write what makes the stories of human life, and to do so, you have to keep writing,” explains Lamin B. Fatty, a young Gambian author. 

For Ms. AZEB YOSEPH AMBACHEW, the Founder and Executive Director of ONE AFRICA PEN WARRIORS FOR DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (OAPWOD), an organization established in December 2019, Covid-19 has mostly affected women writers in Ethiopia. The organization is dealing with African history, culture, indigenous languages, democracy, unity and Identity. It strongly opposes migration. This organization has a plan to discuss the root causes of migration and how to especially save Africa’s youthful population to stop thinking about migration. 

  




Azeb Yoseph Ambachew, Executive Director, One Africa Pen Warriors Organization for Development (OAPWOD), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 


“When we are talking about the impacts of COVID -19, we should remember that it has created major economic crises on our industrial and agricultural activities. If I am not mistaken, COVID-19 hit Ethiopia on the 13th of March 2020 while the executive and regular members of my organization started working on promoting its vision and mission in a very organized way,’’ says Azeb Yoseph Ambachew.  The diversity of books and culture is in real danger because of the COVID-19 effects on the economy. 


The COVID-19 pandemic affected the African writing workforce in many ways. Many worried that stay-at-home grants would proportionately enhance the productivity and well-being of African writers, including women and early-career authors, who were expected to shoulder more on writers residencies and or grants. However, West African writers are still yet to adequately address the development and technology behind the different vaccines that have been released and that are being created. They are yet to also address the acquisition and distribution of vaccines globally, including “vaccine nationalism” and questions of equity.  Award-winning Gambian author, Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe, is trying to show how the vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccination activism, as well as misinformation and disinformation against vaccines  immunity, community masking and social distancing measures, as well as emerging variants are issues in West Africa.  

 



My special wishes to you! To schedule or book me for public lectures/ book launches/ conferences/ readings/ scriptwriting/ keynote/motivational speaking events, please email: modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com

 © All Rights Reserved! Thank you for reading and following my blog. Should you wish to use any of my articles for research, lectures, personal use, etc.,.. kindly address your message to: modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com. 

Copying any of my articles without written permission is an infringement of Copyright.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

The Gambia At 59: Independence Anniversary Poem by Modou Lamin AGE-ALMUSAF Sowe



Tribally and politically divided like the colors of my flag:
red, white, blue, white, green;
Celebrate my 59th year anniversary of independence with 59 problems.
I drive the best cars in the world but have no good roads.
I have a navigable river but cannot feed myself.
I am from a country that does not want any development at all.
Patriotically, I stop growing what I eat and do not eat what I grow;
Everywhere in the streets of Banjul, the gutters flow.
With all the dirt, the country even lacks bread and ordinary butter.
I abruptly stopped growing rice and did not pay my debts.
I have millions of electrons, but no water or electricity.
My ministry of communication is also my ministry of infrastructure.
Don't blame my poor infrastructural development.
Isn't failure too important to celebrate?
I am 59 years old this year; please celebrate me.
 
I have the best lawyers in the world and a weird justice system.
I was the former chief prosecutor of the ICC
But cannot prosecute anyone.
Stealing public funds is a palatable dish in my meal.
I eat corruption, scandals, lies, and allegations.
Because my current debt is around 1.44 billion US dollars, and I don't care.
It is me, the Smiling Coast of Africa. Smile for me.
I am from a country that does not want development.
I don't value talent and don't recognize knowledgeable people.
including Oustas Bun Jeng and Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.
My Gambia College students pay D12,000 per year,
But they don't even have chairs for lectures.
All my intellectuals have gone abroad, and the rest are awaiting relocations.
 
I have many professors and doctors, but I am illiterate.
I want a future; please remember me.
I have hospitals without medicines.
But still, give ambulances to villages without hospitals.
All my youth have gone abroad, and the rest are told to stay
Because I promised them jobs that I don't even create.
Those who speak the truth and have visions are my enemies.
I don't even like this poem.
I only celebrate people when the world celebrates them;
Including Gina Bass.
Even at the Statehouse, I leaked public information.
Within my government, I am divided.
At my National Assembly, I do not make the laws.
My body is going through menstruation.
What have I not decided?
But don't forget, I, The Gambia, have decided!
What's On-Gambia? The students need scholarships, and the teachers don't even have salaries.
Should the doctors go on another strike?
However, I should not appreciate the stories written by my authors.
I don't have literature because my ministry doesn't have a minister.
If government officials are entertainers,
Why will my music grow?
I have the world's most blunt people,
and a future without a government.
For democracy’s sake, I vote in every election, including on Valentine's Day.
 
In my country, the press broadcasts the news.
And the news broadcast the press.
My journalism is about whom you know.
I like what I tell you. Tell me what you like.
My tribe owns the Gambia, and we are kingmakers.
We elect presidents, and you are not one,
Please celebrate me.



It is my birthday, let's cut the national cake.
I am ruled by men I can rule, but nobody rules me.
My youth has no past, present, or future.
I do not produce anything but import everything.
My rice is imported from China, my toothpaste is from Indonesia, and my palm oil is from Guinea.
My soldiers are Senegalese, my education is a foreigner, please eat my cake.
I sold all my lands to estates and have no estate.
But, of course, I am Gambian, please remember me.


My special wishes to you! To schedule or book me for public lectures/ book launches/ conferences/ readings/ scriptwriting/ keynote/motivational speaking events, please email: modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com 

 © All Rights Reserved! Thank you for reading and following my blog. Should you wish to use any of my articles for research, lectures, personal use, etc.,.. kindly address your message to: modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com.

 Copying any of my articles without written permission is an infringement of Copyright.

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

I'm COVID-19 ( Poem) by Modou Lamin AGE-ALMUSAF Sowe


       Photo: The first regional online round table on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human rights and the rule of law


Dear world,
Is me, COVID-19
Call me the Coronavirus pandemic if you wish
I'm the destroyer of lives
The enemy of your wishes
The sickest virus on and offline
I'm an alien
Take precautions
Better watch your mouth because what you say about me can endanger you.

You heard I'm from Wuhan, China
Because I'm related to Satan
I don't die I multiply and then come and divide you
So, what if you get a vaccine?
I don't give a fuck about it
I'll take every dose and every fuck about it
You better wear a face mask properly
Wash your hands regularly, and observe social distancing
Get it; I've come to stay

Don't you see that this whole world is my graveyard?
I walk around in airports
Canceled public gatherings
I'm a scientist
I invented face masks


I forcefully closed your schools, closed your churches, and mosques
I prevented writers from writing new books
I gave more patients to doctors
And declared global lockdowns
You better be careful when you spell my name!
I kill faster than light
I willingly do this with great delight
I spread dangerously in thick capital letters
I don't promise tomorrow
Because I don't even pay what I borrowed
Check my footsteps looks like there was a couple of me
I just killed a mother and her child shouted "mommy!"
I don't spare anyone as long as you're not vaccinated
I eat your life like a cheesecake
Until the world fights me, you're not all safe.




        Picture copyright: EMERGING HUMAN TRAFFICKING TRENDS IN THE FACE OF COVID-19


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My special wishes to you! To schedule or book me for public lectures/ book launches/ conferences/ readings/ scriptwriting/ keynote/motivational speaking events, please email:
 modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com 

 © All Rights Reserved! Thank you for reading and following my blog. Should you wish to use any of my articles for research, lectures, personal use, etc.,.. kindly address your message to: modoulaminsowe1@hotmail.com. Copying any of my articles without written permission is an infringement of Copyright.

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