African Human Rights Essay Competition: IHRAF Unveils Judges

 

AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY COMPETITION: IHRAF UNVEILS JUDGES

 

The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), organizer of the African Human Rights Essay Competition has announced the selection of two judges for the ongoing Essay writing competition aimed at addressing human rights issues and promoting human rights culture and ethics in Africa.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Coordinator of IHRAF in Africa, Wole Adedoyin disclosed that they have received outstanding entries from five different countries within Africa. The countries are: Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

To evaluate and select outstanding entries for the top prizes in the competition, the organizer of the African Human Rights Essay Competition has unveiled two distinguished individuals with diverse experiences and expertise in Essay Writing.

The two selected judges are Izunna Okafor and Tom Block.

Izunna Okafor is an award-winning Nigerian Novelist, Poet, Journalist, Essayist, Editor, Translator, Publicist, Igbo Language Activist and an Administrator who hails from Ebenator in Nnewi South L.G.A of Anambra State Nigeria.

He is graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, where he studied Public Administration. He also holds O.N.D in Public Administration from the same school.

A published and best-selling author, Izunna has written globally applauded books. He is the author of: 'Ikem's Adventure' (his first book) published in Nigeria in 2012, during his secondary school; 'The Curse of A Widow' (his second book), published in 2013; 'The Faithful Children' (his third book), published in 2014, and received outstanding recognition in the Ezenwa Ohaeto Prize for Young Nigerian Novelists 2015; 'Ajo Enyi,' his debut Igbo novel and fourth book, published in 2015. 

With 'Ajo Enyi', he won the 2015/2016 Nigerian Writers Award/Indigenous Writer of the Year; the 2015 Society of Young Nigerian Writers Award/Pita Nwanna Award for Igbo Literature; and also got shortlisted for the 2015 Young Nigerian Writer of The Year, and the 2017 Nigerian Writers Award.

His other books include "African Blood" (A Short Story), "Nzúzù M Egbuo M," (Igbo novel), "Educated Illiterate," and "Teach Me Grammar."

He has been published in many magazines, anthologies, journals, etc, both nationally and internationally; has thousands of articles/essays as well as poems and short stories published online to his credit.

A diglot writer, Izunna writes perfectly in Igbo and English languages and has published widely in both languages.

He has won and been nominated for many awards which include: The Nigerian Writers Award/Indigenous Writer of the Year 2015/2016; Pita Nwana Prize for Igbo Literature 2015; Society of Young Nigerian Writers Award Nigeria; Heritage Icon Award/Young Writer of the Year Federal Republic of Nigeria 2016; Merit Award from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (2016); Award of Recognition from Students Union Government, Unizik (2017); Nigerian Writers Award/Young Writer of the Year 2015/2016; N.Y.S.C. Essay Competition 2012; SLAM Hero Youth International Award/Innovative Youth of the Year 2016; Anambra Exclusive Youth Choice Award/Youth Writer of the Year 2016; Award of Academic Excellence from The National Association of Public Administration Students (2016); Inspire Award /Outstanding Youth in Academics 2017; NAPAS Academic Icon of the Year 2017; Anambra Campus Award 2017/Campus Writer of the Year 2017; Award of Excellence from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers 2016; Anambra Exclusive Youth Choice Award/Outstanding Youth of the Year 2017; Youth Writer of the Year 2016 NAPAS Essay Competition 2017; Starlett Entertainment Award/Creative Writer of the Year 2016; Young Author Award, 2018;Creative Crew Africa/Young Talent of the Year 2018, among others; Campus Best Writer 2018/Campus Best Journalist of the Year 2018; Best Secretary General of NAPAS (2018);Young Achievers Award/Best Young Writer of the Year 2019; National Light Staff of the Year 2019; Anambra Media Excellence Award/News Reporter of the Year 2019; Recognition Award, Anambra Through A Lens, 2020; He also has numerous Certificates of Merit, Award, Recognition, the most recent of which include:; Certificate of Recognition from the ImpactField Global Initiative (2018); Certificate of Award from the Applex Art and Creative Crew Africa (2018); Certificate of Completion for the SprinNG Advancement Fellowship, 2020; Certificate of Participation, Naija Haiku Poetry Workshop, 2020, among others.

At the age of 21, Izunna was nominated for The Future Award Africa 2016/African Prize For Education, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious African youths awards.

He has been published in many literary magazines, anthologies, websites, and newspapers, and many other platforms.

Aside being a creative writer, Izunna is also an Igbo Language Activist who has played and continued to play great roles in sustaining and promoting Igbo Language and culture. He preaches and takes the 'gospel' of Igbo language and the need for its sustenance to every nook and cranny, ranging from schools to churches, radio/television stations, and to other public places, being part if his own contribution and strategic measures to ensure that the Igbo Language does not go extinct as predicted by the UNESCO in 2012.

He has also been featured in many radio and television stations across the country on this mission.

In addition to these, Izunna is also a renowned journalist and columnist currently working with Anambra Newspaper and Printing Corporation, the publishers of National Light Newspaper, Ka Ọ Dị Taa (which is the only Igbo Language Newspaper in Nigeria) and Sportslight Xtra.

He also writes for Igbo Radio which is an online Igbo Language news hub with its headquarter in Canada, and also freelance for other media/publishing houses, both the online and print media.

Izunna is the Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter, which is a literary body that hosts Chinua Achebe Literary Festival, which is an annual literary event held in memory and honour of Late Prof. Chinua Achebe, since 2016.

He is the Editor-in-Chief of Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology which is an international anthology annually published in honour of Achebe.

In April, 2020, Izunna was appointed the Project Coordinator, Writers Against COVID-19 Movement. He is the editor of the COVID-19 Poetry/Essay Anthology, titled 'Ripostes of Locked Down Voices', which is the first international anthology of poems and essays on COVID-19.

He is also an alumnus and 2020 Fellow of the SprinNG Advancement Fellowship, being championed by the SprinNG Literary Movement.

He edits and publishes an annual Special Valentine Poetry Collection, which are all available online for free download. During his undergraduate days, he was part of the editorial team of the FAMASSA Magazine.

He is Ambassador of TFA Africa in Nigeria; the ambassador of Read Across Nigeria in Anambra State.

An alumnus of Unizik, he is also a former Secretary General of the National Association of Public Administration Students (NAPAS), as well as the current National Secretary General of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers.

In 2019, Izunna met and discussed literature with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, at a literary evening that climaxed the 2019 Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop, organized by the international literary figure, Adichie.

Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others. He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has exhibited his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. www.tomblock.com

The longlist of 15 outstanding entries are expected to be announced on the 10th of April, 2021.

 

Many of the problems troubling our people are preventable and can be solved via the right education - Desmond Kofi Akwaah

 

MANY OF THE PROBLEMS TROUBLING OUR PEOPLE ARE PREVENTABLE AND CAN BE SOLVED VIA THE RIGHT EDUCATION - DESMOND KOFI AKWAAH

 

 

 

Desmond Kofi Akwaah is the founder and Executive Director of Eaglesworld Innovatives, a nongovernmental organization based in Ghana. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks about his activism, experience and efforts in promoting sexual and reproductive health education in Ghana.

 

WA: YOU ARE THE FOUNDER OF THE EAGLESWORLD INNOVATIVES, WHAT ACTUALLY LED TOTHE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INITIATIVES?

DESMOND: I grew up in a society where you find a lot of social problems confronting the people which most of them are as a result of ignorance. You find many girls drop out of school because of teenage pregnancy. Misconception about HIV and AIDS, and other social, environmental and health issues. With my passion to help solve these problems in my community, I attended workshops and seminars when I was at the university. When I completed university and after my national service, my passion in social entrepreneurship grew. I started developing innovative educational materials on HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) to educate the people, especially, the youth. I realised this vision must be formalized thereby formally registering Eaglesworld Initiatives.

 

WA: WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF THE EAGLES WORLD INNOVATIVES

DESMOND: It was a SRH education for forty (40) senior high school students in Ashanti region of Ghana. It was in partnership with DKT International Ghana. The project was dubbed, " No Yawa, We dey for you". (No Yawa means No Problem. We dey for you is the response). Twenty (20) of the schools had drama in addition to the verbal education and 20 had no drama.

 

WA:  TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN HIV/AIDS EDUCATION AND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION

DESMOND: Actually I read Agriculture at the university but my quest to help solve these health problems in our society, I learnt a lot about HIV, SRH via seminars, workshops, training programs and reading wide on the subject.

 

WA: IN WHAT WAY IS YOUR ORGANIZATION CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWTH OF HIV/AIDS EDUCATION AND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION IN GHANA

DESMOND: Apart from the fact that my organization engaged in projects directed by Ghana AIDS Commission, we have been developing practical and innovative HIV, SRH educational materials that captures the attention of the youth thereby perfectly sensitising them on the subject.

 

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES ARE YOU FACING IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK

DESMOND: The challenge has been seeking partnership with likeminded organizations and funding.

 

WA: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE AN EXPERT IN HIV/AIDS EDUCATION AND SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION

DESMOND: I know people have gained higher educational certificates in health courses related to HIV and SRH. But I also believe that anyone with the passion for it and ready to learn through books, workshops and seminars can also end up becoming expert in the subject.

 

WA: AS THE FOUNDER OF EAGLESWORLD INNOVATIVES, WHAT KINDS OF CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE?

DESMOND: My challenge as a founder has been not being able to convince organizations (funders) to support a project that I believe will have a positive impact on the lives of many disadvantaged people when executed.

 

WA: HOW AND IN WHICH AREAS DO YOU THINK EAGLES WORLD INNOVATIVES AND THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS ART FESTIVAL CAN COLLABORATE

DESMOND: At Eaglesworld Innovatives, we are good at developing innovative educational materials to educate people on a subject, therefore, IHRAF being expects in Arts, we believe we can learn a lot from your outfit and also add value (professional) to the works we develop.

 

WA: WHAT ARE THE THEMATIC AREAS OF THE EAGLESWORLD INNOVATIVES

DESMOND: Now, Sustainable Development Goals- innovative ways by which the knowledge of the SDGs will get down to the grassroots so that no one will be left behind to advance the United Nations (UN) vision of " Decade of Action".

 

WA: WHATDRIVES YOU AS THE TEAM LEAD AND VISIONER OF EAGLES WORLD INNOVATIVES

DESMOND: The fact that many of the problems troubling our people are preventable and can be solved via the right education.

 

WA: WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT SINCE THE INCEPTION OF YOUR ORGANIZATION

DESMOND: The SRH education for forty (40) senior high school students.

 

WA: WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU GIVE TO RAPE VICTIMS AND HIV/AIDS PATIENTS

DESMOND: My advice to a rape victim will be to admonish her to let the law deal with the matter if it is accessible, not to allow the pain of rape to destroy her life by being slave to it and do well to encourage other rape victims to live above the pain of rape.

WA: WHAT ARE THE KEY LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF YOUR INITIATIVE?

DESMOND: I have learnt that the things the enlightened ones see as simple are not that simple for the illiterate folks. Also, I have learnt that to be a good social entrepreneur and to be able to help solve some of these societal problems, you must continue to learn everything including the cultural behavior of the people you want to help, and avail yourself for new ideas that emerge on daily basis.

 

WA: WHATIN YOUR LIFE HAS BROUGHT OR GIVEN YOU THE GREATEST SATISFACTION OR FULFILLMENT?

DESMOND: Before I registered my organization, I realized the need for the youth to be educated on HIV and AIDS. Since I did not have any job to raise money to fund my passion, I would seek a job as a labourer in construction, raise funds, print some of the HIV educational materials to do the education. One of such passionate works happened at sports stadium when there was inter schools athletes’ competition. I will go to the stadium, distribute the educational materials and verbally educate them. I was always happy when I saw how they were eager to listen and learn. I felt satisfied doing this.

 

WA: LOOKING BACK, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY? WHATWOULD YOU DO AGAIN?

DESMOND: I would have searched for the right network of organizations that are also in line with our purpose. Seek for every capacity building that came my way. Now is about continuing to learn and to be creative and innovative as much as I can.

IHRAF motivated me to put more effort into my Writing - Grace Suge

 

IHRAF MOTIVATED ME TO PUT MORE EFFORT INTO MY WRITING - GRACE SUGE

 

 

 

Grace Suge, a Kenyan writer currently based in Eldoret Town. She is the author of ‘Maasai in red’. In this chat with Wole Adedoyin, she shares details about her writing career and her latest book.

 

WA: PLEASE KINDLY INTRODUCE YOURSELF

SUGE: My name is Grace Suge, a Kenyan writer currently based in Eldoret Town.

 

WA: HOW AND WHERE DID YOU HEAR ABOUT IHRAF AND IHRAF PUBLISHES?

SUGE: I had written several short story pieces and was exploring ways to get them out there. So I subscribed to submittable and that was where I got to know about IHRAF.

 

WA: WHAT IS THE TITLE OF YOUR WORK THAT GOT PUBLISHED ON IHRAF PUBLISHES?

SUGE: Two of my pieces have gone on to be published on IHRAF; i. Tessellated woman; ii. Laibon’s prophesy

 

WA: DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN IHRAF’S LAST YEAR END SARS COMPETITION

SUGE: No

 

WA: DOES WRITING ENERGIZE OR EXHAUST YOU?

SUGE: Writing energizes me and it is my greatest stress reliever.

 

WA:  WHAT ARE COMMON TRAPS FOR ASPIRING WRITERS?

SUGE: Expecting that their works would get accepted for publication the few times they submit. In reality, one would get a lot more declines before their works would get a home. Also expecting considerable financial returns at the beginning of their careers which is not always the case.

 

WA: HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN READER’S BLOCK?

SUGE: Yes, especially when I was a full-time banker and a young mother. Getting myself to concentrate on reading a book proved futile.

 

WA: DID YOU EVER CONSIDER WRITING UNDER A PSEUDONYM?

SUGE: No. I express my individuality in my writing so I don’t find it necessary to hide my true identity.

 

WA: DO YOU TRY MORE TO BE ORIGINAL OR TO DELIVER TO READERS WHAT THEY WANT?

SUGE: I try to be original and artistic in my writing. I have learned that writing what comes from within me will always find an audience out there.

 

WA: DO YOU THINK SOMEONE COULD BE A WRITER IF THEY DON’T FEEL EMOTIONS STRONGLY?

SUGE: No. We harness our emotions to come out with a great piece of writing. In other words, we have to relate with what we write for it to appear realistic, for us to create relatable characters and the readers will ultimately get to relate with the characters as well.

WA:  WHAT OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH, AND HOW DO THEY HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER WRITER?

SUGE: I am a fairly new author and I haven’t made that many physical friends in the industry. But I am literary friends with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chinua Achebe, Ngugi Wa Thiongo, and many African writers whose books I have gotten to read and enjoy. As I said earlier, a piece of work always captures the writer’s individuality. You can most certainly get to interact with a writer through her/his works and ultimately get better in yours. Currently, I am best friends with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. We are nearly of the same age and we tackle nearly the same themes in our writing. She preceded me in the industry and my having read her books partly motivated me to write my first novel ‘Maasai in red’ which I have published on kindle. More is to come.

 

WA: WHAT WAS AN EARLY EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU LEARNED THAT LANGUAGE HAD POWER?

SUGE: When I was in primary school, aged 10-12 years, my insha (Swahili word for composition) writings were always the best in my class and they would be read out in front of the pupils as a sample of what they ought to have written. I mastered my Kamusi (Dictionary) and from it mined some peculiar literary words which I would creatively use to come up with unique Insha pieces. My teachers nicknamed me ‘mhenga wa Kiswahili’ which means ‘a sage or ancestor’ of the Kiswahili language. In other words even my teachers believed I was trusted to give sound advice even though I was just but a child. I became one to fear.

 

WA: WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT MAGAZINES FOR WRITERS TO SUBSCRIBE TO?

SUGE: The New Yorker, Granta.

 

WA: HOW MANY UNPUBLISHED AND HALF-FINISHED BOOKS DO YOU HAVE?

SUGE: One

 

WA: WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

SUGE: As a fiction writer, I concoct stories that capture what is in my heart, what comes to my mind, what I read, and what I experience in my interactions with others. When these stories radiate with someone else out there, I count myself successful.

 

WA: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO MARKET YOUR BOOKS?

SUGE: Online and through organizations like IHRAF

 

WA: WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH DO YOU DO, AND HOW LONG DO YOU SPEND RESEARCHING BEFORE BEGINNING A BOOK?

SUGE: I do extensive research on a subject before I put pen on paper. Before I wrote my first novel ‘Maasai in red’, it had taken me six months to research and read numerous books about the Maasai people, about the advent of colonialists and the Christian missionaries in Kenya before I gained enough confidence to write. It also helped that I lived for some time with the Maasai in Narok town.

WA:  DO YOU VIEW WRITING AS A KIND OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE?

SUGE: Yes. When I am stressed and depressed, I write to enable me to heal.

 

WA: FINAL ADVICE FOR IHRAF PUBLISHES

SUGE: Mine is only to thank IHRAF for promoting new writers like me. ‘Tessellated woman’ was my first piece of writing after a long while and getting it published the first time I submitted it to IHRAF motivated me to put more effort into my writing. Now I have a book, one year on.