ALEJO PATAKI

Alejo Pataki (the distinguished guest)

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

It was a rather exciting time as Achal Prabhala, a notable international scholar and researcher, spent some days in Bloemfontein city, South Africa (where I am based), learning more about black writing at grassroots level. Flatteringly, he spent a considerable time with me.

Of course I was not the only one Achal met and probed on writing literature. He also met established writers like Flaxman Qoopane, Pule Lechesa, Hector Kunene, Nthabiseng “Jah Rose” Jafta, Raselebeli Khotseng etc. Affable, charming yet intellectually pugnacious (!), Achal was a busy bee during his visit.

On consecutive evenings/nights, I was privileged to be ensconced at the famed Mimosa Mall in Bloemfontein – sipping drinks and the like with Achal. There are many layers to this suave gentleman! This alumnus of Yale University, USA, is a consultant to the nigh-monolithic Wikipedia, an associate editor for Chimurenga, among so many other feathers in his cap.

He is also an avid reader; easily discussing classical and/or literary works of the likes of Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Thomas Hardy, JM Coetzee, Ngugi, Nadine Gordimer, Chinua Achebe, Tsitsi Dangarembga, Dambudzo Marechera, among many others. And as a proud Indian, he is well aware of the literary trends in his own country.

As regards Nigeria, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the gentleman (Achal), is well aware of most of the key writers, scholars, universities and even the quality publishers. He even had quite a lot to say about my Ibadan city! I was beginning to think he was something of an “anjonnu” – a wizard!

He has a fine sense of humour too with his regular quips, anecdotes and witticisms. He told me bluntly: “I have an idea I’d have to see a psychiatrist after finishing with you!” Apparently I was sending him around the bend! I assured him it was mutual, with his scholarly pontifications.

I was also staggered with Achal’s generosity. He was ready to pay princely sums to buy certain publications (books), and in incongruous fashion, I found myself in a position where I had to be convincing him not to pay so much for certain works. He assured us that he was a most assiduous reader, who could be at ease devouring the classics and at the same time appreciating what some might dub “trashy literature.”

For me, one of the highlights of his visit was when Achal visited Flaxman Qoopane’s famous “Literary Gallery”. Qoopane, author, poet and journalist, has a fascinating collection of articles, interviews, critiques and lurid photographs of hundreds of writers – especially African - across the world. Achal was busying taking photos hither and thither and putting in appropriate comments intermittently.

Hector Kunene, always something of a dynamo and a whirlwind of activity, was often in “action” too, as an enthusiastic host and “chaperon” for Achal Prabhala. He was ably “assisted” by the charming Jah Rose, as the red carpet was metaphorically laid out for the illustrious guest.

Not that Achal always appreciated being complimented. He strongly resented my calling him a superstar, for one thing. “You’ve abused that word!” he explained to me, smiling. “Don’t describe me in that way...” It was an unforgettable visit.

THE FACEBOOK PHENOMENON

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

Right) Mark Zuckerberg

It is a gargantuan phenomenon we can not get away from; inextricably part of the warp and weft of the modern world we live in. Facebook! Everybody is, or wants to be part of this gargantuan social network. “Are you on facebook?” is a standard question one is faced with now on a regular basis. It’s in your face!

Now, let me confess from the outset that I am not registered on facebook. I have nothing against it, but as an “old fogey” I do not feel compelled to join facebook, a fact which so many people want me hanged, drawn and quartered for! Every time I am invited by so many people to join facebook; and though I have not joined for years, I do look at photos etc countless people send to me via facebook.

Countless times in South Africa here, people (especially young ladies) would shake their heads with shock, angst and pity after I have confessed that I am not on facebook. “You don’t know what you are missing!” they would declaim. That’s modern technology for you.

On my own part, I do not believe I am missing anything, as I find the general internet (e.g Google, Wikipedia, specialised websites) more fruitful than social networking. I’d rather text (SMS,) phone, or email friends and acquaintances if needs be! I’m not interested in trivialities and banalities which so many facebook followers wallow in.

Don’t get me wrong – I realise facebook is a marvellous creation in its own way. Take a few statistics for example – More than half a BILLION people visit facebook every month; the company itself is worth well over 21 BILLION POUNDS! The founder, young Mark Zuckerberg (26) is personally worth over FOUR BILLION POUNDS.

And that is where my interest really lies – I mean the founder, not what he’s worth. I have always been fascinated with great inventors from the beginning of time. Tragically, many young people nowadays thoughtlessly just wallow in materialism, bask in the perks of the modern world; without even making an attempt to learn about the brilliant, selfless geniuses who, little by little over the last two centuries or so, discovered or founded the modern marvels of the technological era we now enjoy.

The most important invention in the modern era was of course electricity – the foundation of all technology now. Fantastic men like Michael Faraday experimented, discovered, worked on electricity. We take all these things for granted now. Telephone. Morse Code. Television. Radio. Aeroplanes. Computers...how did they start? In my book, Tebogo and the pantophagist (2010) I dwelled on this and more; in my own small way paying tribute to these great, great inventors.

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of facebook, has already gone down in history as one of the all time great inventors. And he is still only 26! Like the founders of Google (Larry Page and Sergey Brin), Mark Zuckerberg loves a simple, quiet life – the type of lifestyle that would make many black African communities (with their mindless worship of materialism) to regard this great inventor as “crazy”

Despite his billions, Mark lives in a small rented – yes, RENTED house. He is almost always in cheap clothes, especially jeans. He goes out himself to buy food; he often walks to his office. Oh and by the way he drives a humble Acura car – with many of his employees driving better cars than him! In other words, Mark Zuckerberg is staying true to what made him world famous – solitude, selflessness, experimentation, lack of ostentation. Although he is the youngest BILLIONAIRE in the world, he has hardly changed.

For the records, Mark launched Facebook in 2004 in his Harvard University dormitory room, initially as a way for students at different universities to communicate. Soon Microsoft was buying less than two percent in his company for 150 MILLION POUNDS. Facebook continued to grow from strength to strength, later taking even Africa by storm. Facebook now employs almost 2000 people.

Let’s raise a glass to truly great men like Mark Zuckerberg; and to facebook!

GEM OF AN ARTIST

By OMOSEYE BOLAJI

(Right) Stephen Achugwo

An impressive crowd gathered at the historic Hoffman Square in Bloemfontein city (South Africa). On my own part I wondered what was going on. A public speaker holding forth? Traditional dancers gyrating? Or was it the famed “iron bender” who intermittently entertained people?

None of the above! It was actually an impromptu exhibition of the works of an artist; a painter, that people were drooling over. I moved closer and saw that the paintings were excellent. There was one on Oprah Winfrey, the celebrated American talk show hostess. There were others delineating sundry well known figures.

But probably the piece de resistance was that of the revered Nelson Mandela, depicting him in his glory; regal, refulgent, even coruscating. It was not surprising that so many people congregated around this particular painting.

Right there and then people were already negotiating, buying some of the paintings; others, especially ladies, were requesting the painter - the cynosure of all eyes - to make such colour portraits (paintings) for them too. Yet, as I got near the painter his accent made it clear to me that he could not be a South African. Now, he grinned at me and said:

“Old boy, why you dey look at me like that?” Then he added in formal English: “Both of us are from Nigeria. Don’t say you have not heard about me, as I know you well. You are Omoseye Bolaji the journalist and writer; no be so?”

We hugged each other and a couple of journalists who knew me well, including the iconic Flaxman Qoopane, laughed. But not everybody welcomed my “intrusion” at that moment. Some of them wanted to continue negotiations with the painter, whose name is Stephen Achugwo.

Yes, Stephen Achugwo is from Nigeria. He came to South Africa in October 2002. “My philosophy in art is based on inspiration. I love creating paintings and artworks that inspire people. I believe that with inspiration, a man can achieve stupendous success in any calling,” he was to explain.

Now, Stephen Chinedu Achugwo has become quite well known in South Africa. Recently he completed a splendid painting which pays tribute to eleven celebrated international musicians.

As he explained: “I was commissioned by the owners of the Ekhayeni Pub & Grill to use oil colours on canvas to paint the following late musicians, Luciano Pavarotti, Tupac Shakur, Miles Davis, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross. Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Gerald Levert, Groover Washington, Notorius Big and Bob Marley. The painting is titled the last Super @ Ekhayeni. The size of the painting is 3m by 1 and half meter.”

His eye – catching paintings also hang on the walls of many business buildings in South Africa. He reminisced: “During the World Cup (which SA hosted in 2010) tourists bought many of my paintings. It has been my wish to sell some of my work to the tourists. I have also exhibited my paintings at several art galleries; and at the international Macufe festival”

And by the way, Aducho has done my own portrait too – it somewhat occupies pride of place in my home!