sigmundfreud: We write for different reasons. Nigerian writers in recent times, I think, write with eye focusd on a prize!(commonwealth, NLNG, etc.) I think we have become stereotyped, almost predictable...

Mynd_44: Nigeria has been influenced by religion and culture and so it's writers, film makers, music(until recently) tend to make creative art along that lane.

I don't read Nigerian novels again cos it is filled with poo. Same old crap and no changing. This comes as a result of them wanting to pass a message with their movies and books.

I have heard of folks read a book and say they learnt nothing from that book or see a movie and start asking what the moral is.

We need to understand that not all works of creative art needs to pass a message about good winning over evil. Sometimes, we just want to be entertained and find something to keep us busy. If I want a sermon, I will go to church and not search inside the pages of a book for that.

It is the environment we live and since the market dictates what is produced, most people involved in creative art want to give the people what they want so to speak/write

we can change this though. I have met writers and film makers who are tired of the present situation but they are of the new generations but the people who buy creative art works are of the old generation.

The dinosaurs are going extinct

breathing:

yeah I agree with you that not all works of creative arts need to send a message, but I disagree when you say it is only the old generation who patronise these works of art. If you start following writers on facebook you would see an amazing number of young people who want to read, and what's even more amazing is that most of them want to read genres that no one is writing in Nigeria yet.

I think the first author who takes up genres like this, and dedicates time and effort to it, would be able to make a good living out of it.[b] These days everyone is talking about it, but no one is actually doing it.

@Bolded Well Yes! I must agree with you, When I wrote African Nerd, to be sincere, I didnt expect any likers, I thought Nigerians were just after the romantic and village setting stuff. But @ the second bolded, I av never seen anyone who wrote a story that deviated thta has deviated from village folklore and romance and stuff. I think thats why I even want to write my own stories.
In short I think that the current state of Nigerian Stories is getting too Old. We need new blood. I am waiting for a writer that will bring sci fic and mythology into writing. Not just the ones that will come and cry about government and the village life and love and normal everyday life. I thinks thats what we all want. Someone who will take that bold step and challenge the norm.

Redmosquito:
@Bolded Well Yes! I must agree with you, When I wrote African Nerd, to be sincere, I didnt expect any likers, I thought Nigerians were just after the romantic and village setting stuff. But @ the second bolded, I av never seen anyone who wrote a story that deviated thta has deviated from village folklore and romance and stuff. I think thats why I even want to write my own stories.
In short I think that the current state of Nigerian Stories is getting too Old. We need new blood. I am waiting for a writer that will bring sci fic and mythology into writing. Not just the ones that will come and cry about government and the village life and love and normal everyday life. I thinks thats what we all want. Someone who will take that bold step and challenge the norm.

Mynd_44:
Must we wait? Your book has a great setting and is great. Such stories should be encouraged and from there, a turn around can be acheived

Well! Both our stories are unsual! And they draw their crowd! We might just be the first few to break the Nigerian norm!

sigmundfreud: We write for different reasons. Nigerian writers in recent times, I think, write with eye focusd on a prize!(commonwealth, NLNG, etc.) I think we have become stereotyped, almost predictable...
But in their defence, these stories sell. The world want to read about injustice in NigerDelta; the Biafran experience; the poverty stricken land; the emerging voices of the slums of the 'third world'...
We cant feel them or like it...its what we live everyday!
Thats why the English classics, Greek mythlogy or American civilization appeals to me.

Good writers reflects their world, the Better ones use them and the Best just create a new world. We get the message all the same.

Redmosquito:
@Bolded Well Yes! I must agree with you, When I wrote African Nerd, to be sincere, I didnt expect any likers, I thought Nigerians were just after the romantic and village setting stuff. But @ the second bolded, I av never seen anyone who wrote a story that deviated thta has deviated from village folklore and romance and stuff. I think thats why I even want to write my own stories.
In short I think that the current state of Nigerian Stories is getting too Old. We need new blood. [b]I am waiting for a writer that will bring sci fic and mythology into writing. Not just the ones that will come and cry about government and the village life and love and normal everyday life. I thinks thats what we all want. Someone who will take that bold step and challenge the norm.
[/b]

breathing:

I agree with this. They write for the prizes cuz that's almost the only way to make money as a Nigerian writer. People don't really buy the books.

But as for the bolded, I'd like to say that I 'feel Nigerian literature and I like it' even though some of it is what I live everyday. So you shouldn't generalize.

I think the problem is that Nigerian pupils are not made to read enough literature. They should be made to read these things right from primary school.

Most young people who condemn Nigerian literature still think of Nigerian literature as only the thrash sold in roadside bookshops, they are not aware of people like Chika Unigwe, Jude Dibia, Eghosa Imasuen, Helon Habila and the rest of them. Atleast now most young Nigerians know and like Chimamanda cuz her 'purple hibiscus' was introduced into secondary school curriculum.

I dont know any of these people! And the only reason I know Chimamada is because her book is sold online, as in soft copy. Thats one thing new generation writers have to understand. Its not just about writing stories, its about getting the stories to the people that will read it, the new generation.
We dont buy books anymore, at least not hard copy. The world is going cyber, if u want to advertise a book to people like me, then do so on the internet, that is where we now meet!

breathing:

I agree with this. They write for the prizes cuz that's almost the only way to make money as a Nigerian writer. People don't really buy the books.

But as for the bolded, I'd like to say that I 'feel Nigerian literature and I like it' even though some of it is what I live everyday. So you shouldn't generalize.

I think the problem is that Nigerian pupils are not made to read enough literature. They should be made to read these things right from primary school.

Most young people who condemn Nigerian literature still think of Nigerian literature as only the thrash sold in roadside bookshops, they are not aware of people like Chika Unigwe, Jude Dibia, Eghosa Imasuen, Helon Habila and the rest of them. Atleast now most young Nigerians know and like Chimamanda cuz her 'purple hibiscus' was introduced into secondary school curriculum.

I dont know any of these people! And the only reason I know Chimamada is because her book is sold online, as in soft copy. Thats one thing new generation writers have to understand. Its not just about writing stories, its about getting the stories to the people that will read it, the new generation.
We dont buy books anymore, at least not hard copy. The world is going cyber, if u want to advertise a book to people like me, then do so on the internet, that is where we now meet!

superbloke:
Can't wait for that.

breathing: So how come everyone is waiting when we all can't wait.

Redmosquito:
I dont know any of these people! And the only reason I know Chimamada is because her book is sold online, as in soft copy. Thats one thing new generation writers have to understand. Its not just about writing stories, its about getting the stories to the people that will read it, the new generation.
We dont buy books anymore, at least not hard copy. The world is going cyber, if u want to advertise a book to people like me, then do so on the internet, that is where we now meet!

sigmundfreud:
Jude Dibia's Walking with Shadows was quite bold..., Helon Habila, I av known from Hints magazine. Must have read abt others somewhere.
Their books are online too...not only Adiche.

Redmosquito:

I can bet that none had as much cyber popularity as chim. But then what do I know? I go to the bookstores looking for unusual nigerian stories, and I never find them.
How then will I look for it online, when I expect it to look for me?

breathing:

yeah I agree with you that not all works of creative arts need to send a message, but I disagree when you say it is only the old generation who patronise these works of art. If you start following writers on facebook you would see an amazing number of young people who want to read, and what's even more amazing is that most of them want to read
genres that no one is writing in Nigeria yet.
Tnx very much for this post. You may nt know that it has encouraged me to go ahead wiv d publishing of my book entitled- 'Louder'. It's of d drama genre. I noticed almost every popular writer of today writes in prose nd I've always been skeptical about the success of my book. It has a gud storyline which luckily is nt the usual 'civil war' story background dat dt OP emphasized. Tnx for d post.

I think the first author who takes up genres like this, and dedicates time and effort to it, would be able to make a good living out of it. These days everyone is talking about it, but no one is actually doing it.

breathing:

yeah I agree with you that not all works of creative arts need to send a message, but I disagree when you say it is only the old generation who patronise these works of art. If you start following writers on facebook you would see an amazing number of young people who want to read, and what's even more amazing is that most of them want to read
genres that no one is writing in Nigeria yet.







Tnx very much for this post. You may nt know that it has encouraged me to go ahead wiv d publishing of my book entitled- 'Louder'. It's of d drama genre. I noticed almost every popular writer of today writes in prose nd I've always been skeptical about the success of my book. It has a gud storyline which luckily is nt the usual 'civil war' story background dat dt OP emphasized. Tnx for d post.

I think the first author who takes up genres like this, and dedicates time and effort to it, would be able to make a good living out of it. These days everyone is talking about it, but no one is actually doing it.

sigmundfreud:
Walking with Shadows is unusual.

Redmosquito:
what genre is it? Does it hold mysticsm, mythology, sci-fi? Not just sadness and cryin and government and village

nollywood20: @Poster, only a couple of Nigerian writers are engaged in what you alleged.
More of us are sanguine and producing the best literary works than pop fiction since Cyprian Ekwensi’s People of the City, which was the first Nigerian novel in standard English published in 1954 before Chinua Achebe's all time classic Things Fall Apart was published in 1958.

All humans, including writers have four temperaments responsible for their moods, lifestyles and pursuits in the world.
Sanguine (pleasure-seeking and sociable), choleric (ambitious and leader-like), melancholic (introverted and thoughtful), and phlegmatic (relaxed and quiet). And Nigerian writers have been busy expressing themselves and their environments in these four different temperaments.

Redmosquito:

I can bet that none had as much cyber popularity as chim. But then what do I know? I go to the bookstores looking for unusual nigerian stories, and I never find them.
How then will I look for it online, when I expect it to look for me?

Mynd_44:
Waiting is what got us in this mess. I refuse to.

I will just keep putting my crap out there(even when religious folks look at me sideways). Writers of unusual works are mostly criticised by society. I know cos someone questioned my "christianity" because of 'burning cold' and in the case of 'Fear' forget, if I was not so uncaring.............

These is what some writers face and hence they drop such stories. Personally, I prefer creating a separate world when writing