Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga, 2022
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, Titilope Sonuga, she's currently the City of Edmonton Poet Laureate. She's also a celebrated poet, playwright, and performer. And I'm if I'm not mistaken she has also dabbled in acting and Nollywood, which is the equivalent of Hollywood or Bollywood for those who are not familiar the Nigerian film industry. Titilope has performed her poetry in Africa, Europe, North America, and she is the author of three poetry collections, namely Down to Earth, Abscess, and This is How We Disappear.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: In addition, Titilope has also composed and released two spoken word albums titled Mother Tongue and Swim. And both spoken word albums are online on YouTube. You can maybe after the program just check them out. They are beautiful, visually appealing, and they of course wonderful renditions of the poems by Titilope.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Meanwhile some some inmates had been released in a corrupt manner. Because there is what we call amnesty. Once Nigeria had independence Chief George of the magistrate of the head of state grants amnesty to some some prisoners.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Now, because we're now in a space where everyone's voices can be heard everywhere in in real time, I think a lot, I'm talking about literature in particular now, that a lot of young Nigerian writers now have the freedom to write about just about anything. You know like there are new generations of of young Nigerian writers who are writing magical realism. Who are writing whatever. Like whatever the mind can touch they're creating this work.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Hello everyone and welcome! My name is Michael O'Driscoll, and I'm a professor
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Hello everyone and welcome! My name is Michael O'Driscoll, and I'm a professor of English at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and a governing board member of the SpokenWeb research network.
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Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Introduction - Michael O'Driscoll
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: of English at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada and a governing
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O'Driscoll: board member of the SpokenWeb research network. I'd like to begin
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: I'd like to begin by acknowledging the indigenous peoples of all the lands that we are on today. Given that we meet here on a virtual platform I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of the land that we each call home. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between nations and to improving our own understanding of local indigenous peoples and their cultures.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: by acknowledging the indigenous peoples of all the lands that we are on today.
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O'Driscoll: Given that we meet here on a virtual platform I would like to take a moment to acknowledge
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O'Driscoll: the importance of the land that we each call home. We do this to
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O'Driscoll: reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between
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O'Driscoll: nations and to improving our own understanding of local indigenous peoples
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O'Driscoll: and their cultures. From coast to coast to coast we
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: From coast to coast to coast we acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territory of all Inuit, Métis, and First Nations that call this home. The University of Alberta is located on Treaty 6 territory and the Métis Nation Homeland. I invite each of you to consider the traditional lands on which you might be located and take a moment to consider the responsibilities that follow from that.
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O'Driscoll: acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territory of all Inuit,
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O'Driscoll: Métis, and First Nations that call this home. The
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O'Driscoll: University of Alberta is located on Treaty 6 territory
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O'Driscoll: and the Métis Nation Homeland. I invite each of you to consider
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O'Driscoll: the traditional lands on which you might be located and take a moment to
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O'Driscoll: consider the responsibilities that follow from that. The
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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O'Driscoll: SSHRC-funded SpokenWeb partnership brings together literary scholars
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O'Driscoll: The SSHRC-funded SpokenWeb partnership brings together literary scholars and digital humanists, librarians and archivists, media historians, sound artists, oral historians, designers, programmers, poets,musicians, cultural activists, and performers to learn about, share, and study literary sound recordings.
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O'Driscoll: and digital humanists, librarians and archivists, media historians,
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O'Driscoll: sound artists, oral historians, designers, programmers, poets,
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O'Driscoll: musicians, cultural activists, and performers to learn about,
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O'Driscoll: share, and study literary sound recordings. We
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: We are committed to the development, preservation, accessibility, and study of literary audio. And to that end our researchers and students are building a national network of literary audio, recovering and digitizing thousands of literary performances from the magnetic tape era, that is reel-to-reel and cassette tape recordings that together comprise a vast and important cultural heritage.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: are committed to the development, preservation, accessibility, and study
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: of literary audio. And to that end our researchers and students are building
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: a national network of literary audio, recovering and digitizing
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: thousands of literary performances from the magnetic tape era, that
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O'Driscoll: is reel-to-reel and cassette tape recordings that together comprise a vast
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O'Driscoll: and important cultural heritage. But we're also
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: But we're also very much engaged in the current moment of creation and to that end we support and celebrate literary performances such as this, recording and preserving them for posterity. SpokenWeb's Archive of the Present, developed by our project center at Concordia University, Montreal, preserves digital sound recordings, video, and print materials that document SpokenWeb events produced across the research network. To learn more about SpokenWeb you can visit us at spokenweb.ca.
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O'Driscoll: very much engaged in the current moment of creation and to that end we support
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O'Driscoll: and celebrate literary performances such as this, recording and
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O'Driscoll: preserving them for posterity. SpokenWeb's Archive of the
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O'Driscoll: Present, developed by our project center at Concordia University,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Montreal, preserves digital sound recordings, video,
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O'Driscoll: and print materials that document SpokenWeb events produced across
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O'Driscoll: the research network. To learn more about SpokenWeb you can visit
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O'Driscoll: us at spokenweb.ca. I'd like now to introduce Dr.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: I'd like now to introduce Dr. Uche Umezurike, Provost's Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Calgary and our host for today's event. Uche is a dear friend and a cherished colleague who many of you know is both an award-winning scholar, amongst his many achievements he was awarded the 2021 Nigeria prize for literary criticism, and as a celebrated author of poetry, fiction and children's books.
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O'Driscoll: Uche Umezurike, Provost's Postdoctoral Fellow at the University
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O'Driscoll: of Calgary and our host for today's event. Uche is a dear friend
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O'Driscoll: and a cherished colleague who many of you know is both an award-winning scholar,
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O'Driscoll: amongst his many achievements he was awarded the 2021 Nigeria
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O'Driscoll: prize for literary criticism, and as a celebrated author
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O'Driscoll: of poetry, fiction and children's books. His most recent publication
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: His most recent publication is Double Wahala, Double Trouble, a collection of short stories that I can personally attest are absolutely brilliantly crafted with sparkling prose and deftly drawn characters caught up in often surprising and revealing and moving circumstances.
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O'Driscoll: is Double Wahala, Double Trouble, a collection of short stories that I
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O'Driscoll: can personally attest are absolutely brilliantly crafted with
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O'Driscoll: sparkling prose and deftly drawn characters caught up in often surprising
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O'Driscoll: and revealing and moving circumstances. But
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: But Uche is also an incredibly generous creative artist who works with commitment and grace to support those around him, conducting numerous interviews, gathering their work together, and agreeing to be our host for today. Please welcome Uche Umezurike.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Uche is also an incredibly generous creative artist who works
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O'Driscoll: with commitment and grace to support those around him, conducting numerous
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O'Driscoll: interviews, gathering their work together, and agreeing to be our host
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O'Driscoll: for today. Please welcome Uche Umezurike.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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Umezurike: Thank you very much, Mike. I really appreciates those
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Umezurike: Thank you very much, Mike. I really appreciates those wonderful, heartlifting words.
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Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Host, Dr. Uche Peter Umezurike
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Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Welcome, introduction and brief bios of the guest writers.
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Umezurike: wonderful, heartlifting words. Welcome everyone! I'm
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Welcome everyone! I'm Uche Umezurike. I will be playing host for today's events I hope you're all doing well. I'm super excited that you're able to join us today and listen to Ifeoma Chinwuba and Titilope Sonuga, two amazing Nigerian Canadian writers, to talk about your work and vision.
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Umezurike: Uche Umezurike. I will be playing host for today's events
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Umezurike: I hope you're all doing well. I'm super excited that you're able to join
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Umezurike: us today and listen to Ifeoma Chinwuba and Titilope
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Umezurike: Sonuga, two amazing Nigerian Canadian writers, to talk about your work and vision.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I'm super excited to introduce our guests writers Ifeoma
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: I'm super excited to introduce our guests writers Ifeoma Chinwuba and Titilope Sonuga. Before I turn things over to them please join me in virtually welcoming both of them. Let me briefly read their bios.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Chinwuba and Titilope Sonuga. Before I turn things over to them
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Umezurike: please join me in virtually welcoming both of them.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Let me briefly read their bios. I'll begin with Ifeoma
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: I'll begin with Ifeoma Chinwuba, who is currently the writer-in-residence in the Department of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. She's an accomplished diplomat who has travelled to more than sixty countries in the world. She's also a celebrated novelist,poet, essayist, and literary critic.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Chinwuba, who is currently the writer-in-residence in the Department of English
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Umezurike: and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. She's an accomplished
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Umezurike: diplomat who has travelled to more than
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Umezurike: sixty countries in the world. She's also a celebrated novelist,
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Umezurike: poet, essayist, and literary critic. Ifeoma is
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the author of five wonderful books including three
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma is the author of five wonderful books including three award-winning novels, namely Merchants of Flesh, which won the Association of Nigerian Authors Prose Prize in 2004,Fearless, and Waiting for Maria, which also won the Association of Nigerian Authors Prose Prize in 2008, and this same book was nominated for the Commonwealth Writers Prize in that same year.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: award-winning novels, namely Merchants of Flesh, which
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: won the Association of Nigerian Authors Prose Prize in 2004,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Fearless, and Waiting for Maria, which also won the Association
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of Nigerian Authors Prose Prize in 2008,
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Umezurike: and this same book was nominated for the Commonwealth Writers Prize in that same year.
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Umezurike: Ifeoma is also the author of African Romance,
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma is also the author of African Romance, an epic poem in dialogue, which is by turns funny and scathing. And she's also published a true verse novella titled Head Boy, and thank you very much Ifeoma for gifting me a copy of that.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: an epic poem in dialogue, which is by turns funny
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and scathing. And she's also published
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: a true verse novella titled Head Boy, and thank you very
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
much Ifeoma for gifting me a copy of that. So,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Titilope Sonuga, she's currently
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Umezurike: the City of Edmonton Poet Laureate. She's also a celebrated poet,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: playwright, and performer. And I'm if I'm not mistaken she has also dabbled
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: in acting and Nollywood, which
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Umezurike: is the equivalent of Hollywood or Bollywood for those
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Umezurike: who are not familiar the Nigerian film industry. Titilope has performed her poetry in Africa,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Europe, North America, and she is the author of
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: three poetry collections, namely Down to Earth,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Abscess, and This is How We Disappear. In addition, Titilope
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: has also composed and released two spoken word albums titled
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Mother Tongue and Swim. And Both
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: spoken word albums are online on YouTube,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: you can maybe after the program just check them out. They are beautiful,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: visually appealing, and they of course wonderful
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: renditions of the poems by Titilope.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: I should add that Titilope has published three plays, namely The Six, Naked, and a musical titled Ada The Country. Her writing has been trusted into Italian, German,and Slovak. So, again thank you for coming to today's events, Ifeoma and Titilope.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I should add that Titilope has published three plays, namely The Six,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Naked, and a musical titled Ada The Country.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Her writing has been trusted into Italian, German,
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Umezurike: and Slovak. So, again thank you for coming
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: to today's events, Ifeoma and Titilope.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: We'll now invite Titilope for a reading, just
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: We'll now invite Titilope for a reading, just for five minutes. And after Titilope finishes reading, Ifeoma will go next. And after that, we'll have some conversations around their work, their social vision, and what they currently do in Edmonton. So, thank you again, Ifeoma and Titilope. So, Titilope I invite you to please read your work.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for five minutes. And after Titilope finishes reading, Ifeoma will
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: go next. And after that, we'll have some conversations around
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: their work, their social vision, and what they currently do
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: in Edmonton. So, thank you again, Ifeoma and Titilope.
07:16 - 07:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, Titilope I invite you to please read your work.
07:21 - 07:36
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
07:21 - 07:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Thank you, and I just wanted to say that it's an honor to share
07:21 - 07:36
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Thank you, and I just wanted to say that it's an honor to share the stage with, with you. It's a rare treat to have three Nigerian writers in the same space, in another country, in another continent, and thank you to the U of A and SpokenWeb for making this possible.
07:25 - 07:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the stage with, with you. It's a rare treat to have three Nigerian writers
07:29 - 07:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in the same space, in another country, in another continent, and
07:33 - 07:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: thank you to the U of A and SpokenWeb for making this possible. So, we're doing things
07:36 - 08:00
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
07:36 - 08:00
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
07:36 - 08:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: So, we're doing things a bit differently by each starting with poems that are urgent and relevant to us in this time. So, this isn't my work but as a woman and a mother who is raising small children in a pandemic this poem y Maggie Smith called Interrogators of Orchids is one that feels very timely for me in this time. And so here it goes.
07:37 - 10:23
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga reads the poem Interrogators of Orchids by Maggie Smith
07:37 - 07:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a bit differently by each starting with poems that are urgent and
07:42 - 07:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: relevant to us in this time. So, this isn't my work but as a
07:46 - 07:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: woman and a mother who is raising small children in a pandemic this poem
07:51 - 07:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: by Maggie Smith called Interrogators of Orchids is one that feels
07:55 - 08:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: very timely for me in this time. And so here it goes.
08:00 - 08:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: What do we do we? We birth new citizens and
08:00 - 08:27
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: What do we do we? We birth new citizens and answer their bodies with our bodies we rock the new citizens to sleep. We clothe them with skin and stamp their passports with milk. We teach the new citizens to walk and speak. We show them orchids and ask, what do they look like? What would you ask an orchid if we could ask it anything?
08:04 - 08:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: answer their bodies with our bodies we rock the
08:08 - 08:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: new citizens to sleep. We clothe them with skin and
08:12 - 08:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: stamp their passports with milk. We teach the new
08:16 - 08:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: citizens to walk and speak. We show them orchids and ask,
08:21 - 08:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: what do they look like? What would you ask an orchid if we could ask
08:26 - 08:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: it anything? We show them wind and light in the trees
08:27 - 08:56
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: We show them wind and light in the trees and ask, what does it sound like? We hold their hands in our hands and rub their palms together in small circles and ask, do you hear the leaves touching each other? We teach the new citizens to question landscape. We teach them to love by questioning, and they ask where was I before this place, before your body, before before.
08:30 - 08:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and ask, what does it sound like? We hold their hands
08:34 - 08:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in our hands and rub their palms together in small circles and ask, do
08:38 - 08:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: you hear the leaves touching each other? We teach the new
08:42 - 08:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: citizens to question landscape. We teach them to love by
08:46 - 08:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: questioning, and they ask where was I before
08:51 - 08:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: this place, before your body, before
08:55 - 08:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: before. We birth the new citizens, interrogators
08:56 - 09:25
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: We birth the new citizens, interrogators of orchids, interrogators of air, and bring them as far as we can. We bring them into a kind of border signed and stamped. The world is a letter we leave them to steam open. We let them see dappled shadow under the trees and ask, how does the lights not lose its patience between the sky and the ground? Thank you.
08:59 - 09:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of orchids, interrogators of air, and bring them as far as
09:04 - 09:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: we can. We bring them into a kind of border signed
09:08 - 09:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and stamped the world is a letter we leave them to steam
09:12 - 09:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: open. We let them see dappled shadow under the trees and
09:17 - 09:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: ask, how does the lights not lose its patience between the
09:21 - 09:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: sky and the ground? Thank you.
09:25 - 09:41
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:25 - 09:41
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:25 - 09:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much Titilope for that amazing
09:25 - 09:41
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much Titilope for that amazing performance of Maggie Smith's poem. Ifeoma, I would like to invite you to read your own poem.
09:29 - 09:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: performance of Maggie Smith's poem.
09:34 - 09:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma, I would like to invite you to read your
09:38 - 09:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: own poem.
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
09:41 - 10:24
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you very much, Uche. Thank you Titi Sonuga for this collaboration together. As I usually do I like to thank the University of Alberta Department of English and Film Studies for the opportunity. Having me as your writer-in-residence, enabling me to meet the Edmonton... Let's me focus on on writing. Forget the distractions of daily living. So, I'm very grateful for the Department of English and Film Studies of the University of Alberta.
09:42 - 09:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you very much, Uche.
09:46 - 09:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you Titi Sonuga for this collaboration together.
09:50 - 09:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As I usually do I like to thank the University of
09:55 - 10:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Alberta Department of English and Film Studies for the opportunity.
10:01 - 10:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Having me as your writer-in-residence, enabling
10:05 - 10:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: me to meet the Edmonton...
10:09 - 10:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Let's me focus on on writing.
10:14 - 10:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Forget the distractions of daily living. So, I'm very grateful for the Department
10:18 - 10:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of English and Film Studies of the University of Alberta.
10:23 - 15:08
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Ifeoma Chinwuba reads the poem The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth
10:23 - 15:08
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
William WordsworthThe Solitary ReaperLines Written a Few Miles above Tintern AbbeyOde: Intimations of Immorality from Recollections of Early Childhood
10:24 - 11:02
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
10:24 - 11:02
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
10:24 - 11:02
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
10:24 - 11:02
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
10:24 - 11:02
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
10:24 - 11:02
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The poem that I'm going to read now is The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth. Uche, you said we would start this event by recalling poems, poets that have influenced us, that resonate with us, and so my choice really is without hesitation is Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth. I'm going to stand up. The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth.
10:25 - 10:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The poem that I'm going to read now is The Solitary Reaper
10:30 - 10:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: by William Wordsworth.
10:34 - 10:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Uche, you said we would start this event by
10:38 - 10:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: recalling poems, poets that have
10:43 - 10:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: influenced us, that resonate with us,
10:47 - 10:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and so my choice
10:52 - 10:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: really is without hesitation is Solitary Reaper
10:57 - 11:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: by William Wordsworth. I'm going to stand up. The Solitary Reaper by William Wordsworth.
11:02 - 11:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
11:02 - 11:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
11:02 - 11:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass!
11:02 - 11:23
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Reaping and singing by herself; Stop there, or gently pass! Alone she cuts and binds the grain, and sings a meloncholy strain;
11:08 - 11:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Reaping and singing by herself; Stop there, or
11:14 - 11:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: gently pass! Alone she cuts and
11:18 - 11:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: binds the grain, and sings a meloncholy strain;
11:23 - 11:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
11:23 - 11:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
11:23 - 11:59
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: O listen! For the Vale profound is overflowing with the sound. No Nightengale did ever chant. More welcome notes to weary bands of travellers in some shady haunt, Among Arabian sands, A voice so thrilling never was heard in spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird, Breaking the silence of the seas, [snaps] Among the farthest Hebrides.
11:23 - 11:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: O listen! For the Vale profound is
11:27 - 11:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: overflowing with the sound. No Nightengale did ever
11:33 - 11:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: chant. More welcome notes to weary bands
11:38 - 11:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of travellers in some shady haunt, Among Arabian sands,
11:46 - 11:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: A voice so thrilling never was heard in spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird, Breaking
11:52 - 11:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the silence of the seas, [snaps] Among the farthest Hebrides.
11:56 - 12:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Will no one tell me
11:59 - 12:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Will no one tell me what she sings? Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow for old, unhappy, far-off things, and battles of long ago: Or is it some more humble lay,familiar matter of to-day? Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, That has been, and may be again?
12:00 - 12:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: what she sings? Perhaps the plaintive
12:04 - 12:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: numbers flow for old, unhappy, far-off
12:08 - 12:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: things, and battles of long ago:
12:14 - 12:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Or is it some more humble lay,
12:20 - 12:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: familiar matter of to-day?
12:24 - 12:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, That has been, and may be again?
12:31 - 13:00
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
12:31 - 13:00
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
12:31 - 12:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang
12:31 - 13:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Whate'er the theme, the Maiden sang As if her song could have no ending; I saw her singing at her work, And o'er the sickle bending; I listened motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more. Thank you.
12:35 - 12:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As if her song could have no ending; I saw her
12:39 - 12:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: singing at her work, And o'er the sickle bending;
12:45 - 12:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I listened motionless and still;
12:50 - 12:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart
12:54 - 12:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I bore, Long after it was heard no more.
12:59 - 13:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you.
13:00 - 13:22
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:00 - 13:22
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh, wow. [clapping] That's affecting, Ifeoma. I'm really thrilled by how you you conjure so much mood, such passion for recollecting that Wordsworthian uh beauty.
13:05 - 13:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh, wow. [clapping] That's affecting, Ifeoma. I'm really thrilled by how you you conjure so much
13:10 - 13:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: mood, such passion for
13:14 - 13:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: recollecting that Wordsworthian uh
13:21 - 13:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: beauty, and I I feel when I started writing poetry William
13:22 - 13:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:22 - 13:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:22 - 13:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:22 - 13:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:22 - 13:49
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I I feel when I started writing poetry William Wordsworth was one of the poets I looked to. And I remember Ode on an... Ode on... Tintern Abbey, I think, and Intonations of Immortality. Those were two poems I always turn to uh while trying to imitate these great poets.
13:25 - 13:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Wordsworth was one of the poets I looked to.
13:29 - 13:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I remember
13:33 - 13:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ode on an... Ode on... Tintern Abbey, I think, and
13:37 - 13:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Intonations of Immortality, those were two poems
13:41 - 13:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I always turn to uh while
13:45 - 13:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: trying to imitate these great poets. And uh
13:49 - 14:20
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:49 - 14:20
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:49 - 14:20
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:49 - 14:20
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
13:49 - 14:20
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
And uh Titilope, thank you, also. And I I know one of your two of your literary influences are Sonia Sanchez and Maya Angelou. And uh I would want you to talk more about uh Maggie Smith, if possible, and then other poets or writers that have influenced, that have shaped your your poetic vision or even your social vision as well as a writer.
13:50 - 13:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Titilope, thank you, also. And I I know one of your two of your
13:54 - 13:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: literary influences are Sonia Sanchez
13:58 - 14:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and Maya Angelou. And uh I would
14:02 - 14:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: want you to talk more about uh Maggie Smith, if possible,
14:07 - 14:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and then other poets or writers
14:11 - 14:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: that have influenced, that have shaped your your
14:15 - 14:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: poetic vision or even your social vision as well as a writer.
14:20 - 14:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And Ifeoma I also want you to talk more about your literary influences
14:20 - 14:50
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And Ifeoma I also want you to talk more about your literary influences because I know that there's so much idyllic and pastoral quality to the the kind of poems I've heard you I've heard you read and uh this ideal that uh resonates in the kind of poetry you write in terms of landscape, uh birds, plateaus, hills, and the the the river.
14:25 - 14:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: because I know that there's so much idyllic and pastoral quality
14:29 - 14:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: to the the kind of poems I've heard you I've heard you read
14:34 - 14:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and uh this
14:38 - 14:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: ideal that uh resonates in the kind of poetry
14:42 - 14:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: you write in terms of landscape, uh birds,
14:47 - 14:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: plateaus, hills, and the the the river. So, I
14:50 - 15:09
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, I would really appreciate uh if uh both of you can share what draws you to these these poets, these writers, and what you find fascinating or even illuminating about their their work.
14:51 - 14:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: would really appreciate uh if uh both of you can share
14:56 - 15:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: what draws you to these
15:00 - 15:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: these poets, these writers, and what you find fascinating or
15:05 - 15:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: even illuminating about their their work.
15:08 - 17:58
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga on literary influences
15:08 - 17:58
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Maggie SmithMabel SegunBuche EmechetaToni MorrisonSonia SanchezMaya Angelou
15:09 - 15:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I'm deeply fascinated by people who are able to take
15:09 - 15:37
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I'm deeply fascinated by people who are able to take sort of the quiet intimacies of everyday life and turn that into something that feels big and beautiful. Those kind of writers as reminds me that like just what is happening in your life in this moment can be a large statements. That poems don't always have to be epics to be epic, you understand what I mean.
15:13 - 15:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: sort of the quiet intimacies of everyday life and turn
15:17 - 15:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that into something that feels big and beautiful. Those
15:21 - 15:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: kind of writers as reminds me that like
15:25 - 15:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: just what is happening in your life in this moment can
15:30 - 15:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: be a large statements. That poems don't always
15:34 - 15:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: have to be epics to be epic, you understand what I mean. And I think that
15:37 - 16:02
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And I think that it's particularly significant for me now in a time where so much of our writing is more insular than it used to be. We're not out in the world in the ways that we used to be so a lot of us writers are called to kind of to think about what within these four walls that we're confined to is still worthy of being elevated and honored and celebrated.
15:38 - 15:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: it's particularly significant for me now in a time where so much of our writing
15:43 - 15:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is more insular than it used to be. We're not
15:47 - 15:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: out in the world in the ways that we used to be so a lot of us writers are called to kind
15:51 - 15:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of to think about what within these four walls that we're confined to
15:56 - 16:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is still worthy of being elevated
16:00 - 16:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and honored and celebrated. And that's particularly why
16:02 - 16:21
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
16:02 - 16:21
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And that's particularly why Maggie Smith's work speaks to me. She so beautifully writes small moments very very well. She writes small moments to be a thing of beauty, and it's a skill that I I am etching away at.
16:04 - 16:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Maggie Smith's work speaks to me. She so beautifully
16:09 - 16:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: writes small moments very very well. She writes small moments
16:13 - 16:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to be a thing of beauty, and it's a skill that I
16:18 - 16:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I am etching away at. But
16:21 - 16:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
16:21 - 16:49
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
16:21 - 16:49
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: But I love all all artists. And I would say that my my work isn't only influenced by poets. But um I understand that I come in the tradition of Mabel Segun and even Buche Emecheta and writers who who in their time were creating work that that was beautiful in its simplicity and was a massive political statement of the time.
16:22 - 16:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I love all all artists. And I would say that my
16:26 - 16:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: my work isn't only influenced by poets. But um I understand
16:30 - 16:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that I come in the tradition of Mabel Segun and even
16:34 - 16:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Buche Emecheta and writers who who in
16:38 - 16:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: their time were creating work that that was
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: beautiful in its simplicity and was a massive political statement
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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Sonuga: of the time. To be telling these stories in that time in those ways
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: To be telling these stories in that time in those ways um by by women writers who aren't necessarily celebrated as part of the canon. Um, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, as you mentioned. Again for this idea...
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Sonuga: um by by women writers who aren't necessarily celebrated as part
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of the canon. Um, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, as you
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: mentioned. Again for this idea. Toni Morrison was a writer who always
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Toni Morrison was a writer who always emphasized the idea that she was writing for a specific audience. And the gaze that she was writing towards was theirs. And so they were a lot of things in her work that were left unsaid. That is something I find really beautiful, as well.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: emphasized the idea that she was writing for a specific audience.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And the gaze that she was writing towards was theirs. And so they were a
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: lot of things in her work that were left unsaid. That is something I find really beautiful,
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Sonuga: as well. And I mean I love music just as much as I love poetry. I listen to the poetry
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And I mean I love music just as much as I love poetry. I listen to the poetry in music. I love Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. And so, when I'm sitting down to write, I'm not just drawing from influences of poets and writers, I'm drawing from the world that I live in. And and the the poetry that I hear in those things that aren't necessarily poetry on the surface. So that's that's the work that moves me.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in music. I love Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. And so, when I'm sitting
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: down to write, I'm not just drawing from influences of poets and writers, I'm drawing
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: from the world that I live in. And and the the poetry that I hear in
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: those things that aren't necessarily poetry on the surface. So that's
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that's the work that moves me.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much for sharing. I also, I'm a fan of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill. And I I hope you also enjoy Asa.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much for sharing. I also, I'm a fan of Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill. And I I hope you also enjoy Asa.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I love Asa. Oh! I love Asa.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I love Asa. Oh! I love Asa.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh great! Uh, Ifeoma, over to you.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh great! Uh, Ifeoma, over to you.
17:58 - 25:49
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Ifeoma Chinwuba on literary influences
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Chinwuba: Right, thank you.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Right, thank you. The Solitary Reaper, William Wordsworth, is the very first poem I came across in my life. The very first. Um. As I said as I've said before, I was a young refugee in in Ireland. We had just had just fled from Nigeria, Biafra then, to Libreville, Gavon. And from Libreville, after three months, I'd been in Poland. A family, a foster family took me and my, some of my siblings into their home in Ireland, in County Donegal.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The Solitary Reaper, William Wordsworth, is the very first
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: poem I came across in my life. The very first. Um.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As I said as I've said before, I was a young refugee
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in in Ireland. We had just had just fled
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: from Nigeria, Biafra then, to
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Libreville, Gavon. And from Libreville, after three months, I'd been in Poland. A family, a foster family
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: took me and my, some of my siblings into their
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: home in Ireland, in County Donegal. And so we
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so we went to school. Back in Biafra then. Back in Nigeria. We are still, you know, English is not our first language. Igbo is. We are all communicating in Igbo. And trying to learn English. You know is, was, make a sentence. This is a goat. This is a car.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: went to school. Back in Biafra then. Back in Nigeria. We are
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: still, you know, English is not our first language. Igbo is. We are all
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: communicating in Igbo. And trying to learn English.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know is, was, make a sentence. This is a goat. This is a car. And then
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And then I'm transported into Ireland. And I think they put me in primary four, or so, in five. And then, the teacher there is teaching us poems. I'd never come across any poems. So, this was one of the poems I came across in my life.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I'm transported into Ireland. And I think they put me
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in primary four, or so, in five. And then, the teacher there
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: is teaching us poems. I'd never come across any poems. So, this was one of the
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: poems I came across in my life. And the thing
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And the thing struck me. There's a woman in the field working and singing. And it reminded me of my own mother back in Africa. Every time she was working, doing chores, she was always humming her folklore, music from her village. Because she she didn't come from simply just my father. She was always working and singing.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: struck me. There's a woman in the field working
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and singing. And it reminded me of my own mother
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: back in Africa. Every time she was working, doing chores,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: she was always humming her folklore, music from her village. Because she
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: she didn't come from simply just my father. She was always working and singing.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: She reminded me of my mother. And it
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: She reminded me of my mother. And it unleashed anguish. Because there were no photos, no telephones, nothing. Like we just imagined her, you know. And then the poem speaks of battles of long ago, you know. Matters of sorrow, of pain, so it resonated with me, and it stuck. Held me hostage.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: unleashed anguish. Because there were no photos, no telephones,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: nothing. Like we just imagined her, you know. And
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: then the poem speaks of battles of long ago, you know. Matters of
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: sorrow, of pain, so it resonated with me, and
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: it stuck. Held me hostage.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And um in order to recapture that ambience of my mother, you know. We learned this poem as a poem, but I used to sing it as a folklore.I converted it into folklore. Because in the family where I was was my. I was there with my younger sister, Agnes. Two of us with one family. My brother was elsewhere. My elder sister was elsewhere.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And um in order to recapture that ambience of my mother, you know. We learned this poem as a
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: poem, but I used to sing it as a folklore.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I converted it into folklore. Because in the family where
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I was was my. I was there with my younger sister, Agnes. Two of us with one family. My
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: brother was elsewhere. My elder sister was elsewhere. So, I
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, I converted this poem to a folklore. I used to sing Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Ah! Reaping and singing by herself. Stop there, or gently pass! Stop there, or gently pass! Trying to convert it into a folklore. Like my mother used to do.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: converted this poem to a folklore. I used to sing
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Ah! Reaping and singing by herself,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Stop there, or gently pass! Stop there, or
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: gently pass! Trying to convert it into a folklore. Like
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: my mother used to do. So, this is the fact. This is what
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, this is the fact. This is what this poem means to me. Um because my writings later I I invoke this bucolic, this pastoral atmosphere. And um I also eulogize. Eulogize a woman. Eulogize a woman working, singing, lively. Giving pleasure music to passers by.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: this poem means to me. Um because
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: my writings later I I invoke
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: this bucolic, this pastoral atmosphere. And um
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I also eulogize.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Eulogize a woman. Eulogize a woman working, singing, lively.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Giving pleasure music to passers by.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, it uh introduced
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, it uh introduced me to to the panegyric, you know? Singing the praise of women in my writings. They are there. But the writing has evolved, you know. As we will see later when we read the other other things we have done. This is the only um aspect of this event where we invoke other people's writing. Subsequently, we are going to go back to our work.
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Chinwuba: me to to the panegyric, you know? Singing the praise of
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: women in my writings. They are there. But the
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: writing has evolved, you know. As we will see later when we read the other
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: other things we have done. This is the only um aspect of this event where
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: we invoke other people's writing. Subsequently, we are going to go back
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to our work.
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Chinwuba: So, that is the that is the place this poem of William Wordsworth has in my literary cosmos. Thank you.
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Chinwuba: So, that is the that is the place this poem of William Wordsworth
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Chinwuba: has in my literary cosmos. Thank you.
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Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma for sharing that bit about
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma for sharing that bit about your development as a poet and a writer. Oh, just a quick one. I was wondering are there other writers aside from Wordsworth that shaped you as a poet and writer? Because I want to assume, I want to take the liberty to assume, that maybe someone like Chinua Achebe or Zulu Sofola or like Titilope mentioned Buchi Emecheta or maybe Esehagu. If possibly...
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Umezurike: your development as a poet and a writer. Oh,
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Which, as I said, I studied the classics in university. English and French. And so, that gives you the whole literature of the English language and all the the French language. So, they all had impacted me, you know... French, English, Honoré de Balzac. All of them impacted me.
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Umezurike: just a quick one. I was wondering are there other writers
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: aside from Wordsworth that
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: shaped you as a poet and writer?
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Because I want to assume, I want to take the liberty to assume, that maybe
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: someone like Chinua Achebe or Zulu Sofola or
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: like Titilope mentioned Buchi Emecheta or maybe Esehagu.
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Umezurike: If possibly...
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Oh yeah, there are so many. Where do you start from? Because one thing a writer must do is to read, widely. Every writer must read. And so we have read so widely and, you know, meet them along the way.
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Chinwuba: Oh yeah, there are so many. Where do you start from? Because one thing a writer must do is to read, widely.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Every writer must read. And so we have read so widely and,
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you know, meet them along the way. Um John Donne, you know.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Um John Donne, you know. I also like John Donne, in a way, you know. Some of his poems. Death Be Not Proud. That kind of thing, you know? Will Shakespeare's sonnets. So many sonnets. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Such like.
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Chinwuba: I also like John Donne, in a way, you know.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Some of his poems. Death Be Not Proud. That kind of thing, you know?
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Will Shakespeare's sonnets. So many sonnets. Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Such like.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Which, as I said, I studied the classics in university.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: English and French. And so, that gives you the whole literature of
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the English language and all the the French language. So, they all had
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: impacted me, you know...
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: French, English, Honoré de Balzac. All of them impacted me.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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Chinwuba: And, um, also Nigerian poets. Like J. P. Clark.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And, um, also Nigerian poets. Like J. P. Clark. You know? Who also talked about normal, day African experiences. Like the spirit child we met last week. The child that dies and comes again. Never to spoke about a night rain. You know, simple things that uh...
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know? Who also talked about normal, day
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: African experiences.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Like the spirit child we met last week.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The child that dies and comes again. Never to spoke about a night rain. You know, simple things that uh.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And in very simple language, you know? I was
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And in very simple language, you know? I was discussing with my sister the other day. She lives in Paris, which was... We were discussing one one article. I said, you see how simple the language is? You don't have to invent, you know... sounding verse.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: discussing with my sister the other day. She lives in Paris, which was... We were
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: discussing one one article. I said, you see how simple the language is?
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You don't have to invent, you know... sounding verse.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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Chinwuba: So, the poetry of J. P. Clark. Very interesting.
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, the poetry of J. P. Clark. Very interesting... You know? He's a Nigerian writer. There's also, you know. And then the writings of um. There's a lady, Senegalese woman, who wrote Une Si Longue Lettre, So Long a Letter. You know, that's about... African romance.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: ...You know? He's a
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Nigerian writer. There's also, you know. And then the writings
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of um. There's a lady, Senegalese woman, who wrote
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Une Si Longue Lettre, So Long a Letter.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know, that's about... African romance.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Mariama Bâ
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Mariama Bâ
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So many influences, you know, on me. Because
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So many influences, you know, on me. Because as a writer you're encouraged to read wide. And so all of these things you know, consciously, you pick here, you pick there, you pick here, you pick there, and then you have a melange, so many.
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: as a writer you're encouraged to read wide. And so all of these things
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you know, consciously, you pick here, you pick there, you pick here, you pick there, and
24:43 - 24:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: then you have a melange, so many.
24:46 - 25:12
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
24:46 - 25:12
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
24:46 - 25:12
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Yeah, thank you very much for the fan-fantastic response, Ifeoma. If I could, I'll come back to this question of polygamy, which is something you you touched on in African Romance and a a your own ake on... and Mariama Ba who wrote So Long a Letter, yeah.
24:47 - 24:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Yeah, thank you very much for the fan-fantastic response, Ifeoma.
24:51 - 24:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: If I could, I'll come back to this question
24:55 - 25:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of polygamy, which is something you you touched on in
25:00 - 25:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: African Romance and a a your own
25:04 - 25:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: take on... and Mariama Ba who wrote
25:09 - 25:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: So Long a Letter, yeah. And so uh
25:12 - 25:40
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
25:12 - 25:40
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And so uh be-before we go to the next conversation, I want you to read a an excerpt from your work. And then after you are finished reading it, Titilope will go next. And after that I'll ask another set of questions. And then before we go for the final reading, I'll allow the audience to ask you both questions. Because I know they are. They are brimming with questions for both of you.
25:14 - 25:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: be-before we go to the next conversation, I want you to read
25:18 - 25:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: a an excerpt from your work. And then after you are finished
25:22 - 25:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: reading it, Titilope will go next. And after that I'll ask
25:26 - 25:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: another set of questions. And then before
25:30 - 25:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: we go for the final reading, I'll allow the audience to ask
25:34 - 25:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: you both questions. Because I know they are. They are brimming with questions
25:39 - 25:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for both of you. So, Ifeoma I invite you to
25:40 - 25:50
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
25:40 - 25:50
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
25:40 - 25:50
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, Ifeoma I invite you to read just a short excerpt from your work. And then after that Titilope.
25:44 - 25:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: read just a short excerpt from your work. And then after that Titilope.
25:49 - 30:30
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Ifeoma Chinwuba reads an excerpt from African Romance
25:49 - 25:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Right, thank you, Uche. I'm going to read from
25:50 - 26:11
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
25:50 - 26:11
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Right, thank you, Uche. I'm going to read from this book African Romance. African Romance. It's a... It's situated in a polygamous home where the the woman is complaining because her husband doesn't have time for her.
25:53 - 26:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: this book African Romance. African Romance. It's a...
26:00 - 26:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It's situated in a polygamous home where the the
26:05 - 26:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: woman is complaining because her husband doesn't
26:09 - 26:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: have time for her. And there there's a back and forth.
26:11 - 26:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And there there's a back and forth. She abuses the husband. The husband abuses her back. They both chime in and say, oh, you know. When two people are fighting in, you know, African society people gather. And then some are hating this one. Some are calling... That kind of thing.
26:14 - 26:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: She abuses the husband. The husband abuses her back. They both chime in and
26:19 - 26:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: say, oh, you know. When two people are fighting in, you know,
26:23 - 26:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: African society people gather. And then some are hating this one. Some are
26:24 - 27:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
26:24 - 27:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
26:24 - 27:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
26:24 - 27:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
26:24 - 27:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
26:24 - 27:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, you Ronke and Bisi, Ifunanya. And Chichi, Amina and co. You shady throng. Anonymous arsonists. Miss Nobodies. You have broken into my home and made away with my walking stick. You stay outside in your part of town and wreck havoc on the inside of my foyer. Remote control in hand you have quenched the light in my dwelling. You control my husband, his going, his coming, his travells out of town.
26:28 - 26:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: calling... That kind of thing. So, but
26:31 - 26:48
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, but after awhile the woman realizes that. Hey, who are the people causing this trouble in my my household? It's the women outside. You know, the mistresses the... And so she addresses them at some point. So, that is the point I'm going to read now.
26:32 - 26:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: after awhile the woman realizes that. Hey, who are the people causing this
26:37 - 26:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: trouble in my my household? It's the women outside.
26:41 - 26:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know, the mistresses the... And so she addresses them at some point.
26:46 - 26:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, that is the point I'm going to read now. Because awhile
26:48 - 26:24
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because awhile ago I spoke about the... like you know like eulogies. But the woman is is human. She's not an angel. She has her warts and all. And so this is why I chose this passage. To show that, okay, we praise women and all. But women are also the cause of our problems. They could be accused of misogyny! Because they are the cause of the woman a woman's problem. So, let me read the passage and then later we can talk more about it. [clears throat]
26:50 - 26:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: ago I spoke about the... like
26:54 - 26:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you know like eulogies. But the woman is is human.
26:58 - 27:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: She's not an angel. She has her warts and all.
27:03 - 27:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so this is why I chose this passage. To show that,
27:07 - 27:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: okay, we praise women and all. But women are also the cause of our problems. They could be accused of misogyny!
27:16 - 27:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because they are the cause of the woman a woman's problem. So, let me read the passage and then later
27:21 - 27:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: we can talk more about it. [clears throat]
27:25 - 27:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, you Ronke and Bisi, Ifunanya. And Chichi, Amina and co.
27:29 - 27:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You shady throng. Anonymous arsonists.
27:34 - 27:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Miss Nobodies. You have broken into my home. And made
27:39 - 27:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: away with my walking stick. You stay outside in your
27:43 - 27:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: part of town and wreck havoc on the inside of my foyer.
27:47 - 27:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Remote control in hand you have quenched the light in my dwelling.
27:52 - 27:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You control my husband, his going, his coming,
27:57 - 28:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: his travells out of town. In town. You
27:58 - 28:13
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: In town. You flash like lightening, and he hurries into the smallest room to dial your number and speak in low tones amid flushing waters. You 419er reaping where you did not sow.
28:01 - 28:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: flash like lightening, and he hurries into the smallest room to dial your number
28:06 - 28:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and speak in low tones amid flushing waters. You 419er
28:11 - 28:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: reaping where you did not sow. You weave Ponzi into
28:13 - 28:34
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
28:13 - 28:34
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You weave Ponzi into your head, braids winding like a footpath into the abyss. You dress in flimsy rags in the name of fashion. Your neck long like the ostrich, bare like a vulture's, is naked to the eye down to your navel.
28:15 - 28:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: your head, braids winding like a footpath
28:19 - 28:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: into the abyss. You dress in flimsy rags
28:23 - 28:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in the name of fashion. Your neck long like the ostrich,
28:28 - 28:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: bare like a vulture's, is naked to the eye down to
28:32 - 28:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: your navel. Your tight corsets outline your
28:34 - 28:47
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Your tight corsets outline your excesses, matching left and right, up and down, from one joint to the other, from one spot to the other. Zombies in search of monied men.
28:36 - 28:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: excesses, matching left and right, up and down, from
28:40 - 28:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: one joint to the other, from one spot to the other. Zombies
28:45 - 28:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in search of monied men. You have swooped
28:47 - 29:18
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
28:47 - 29:18
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You have swooped on my home like a pitiless hawk. Broken into my pantry and stolen my meat. Now, my soup pot is bare like your shoulders. My meager meals lie like me cold and untouched. Of what use is a wife when her Maigida is homeless? What is a wife to do when her soup goes stale before her waiting eyes?
28:49 - 28:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: on my home like a pitiless hawk.
28:54 - 28:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Broken into my pantry and stolen my meat. Now,
28:58 - 29:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: my soup pot is bare like your shoulders. My meager
29:02 - 29:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: meals lie like me cold and untouched.
29:07 - 29:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Of what use is a wife when her Maigida is homeless?
29:12 - 29:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: What is a wife to do when her soup goes stale before
29:16 - 29:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: her waiting eyes? You have pocketed my man
29:18 - 29:39
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You have pocketed my man like change. Made me a temp widow. Made away with my provider. Our carpet is scattered. Our roof leaks a-plenty. The curtains are faded. The chair torn in places. I live in squalor because of you.
29:20 - 29:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: like change. Made me a temp widow.
29:24 - 29:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Made away with my provider. Our carpet is scattered.
29:29 - 29:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Our roof leaks a-plenty. The curtains have faded.
29:33 - 29:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The chair torn in places. I live in squalor
29:38 - 29:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: because of you. You have turned my husband's head away from home.
29:39 - 30:02
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You have turned my husband's head away from home. When I talk to him, he snaps at me. But when you flash like thunder he dashes away and talks in whispers. [laughs] His voice becomes flirty. You! You! A woman like me, you are my tormentor. Thank you!
29:43 - 29:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: When I talk to him he snaps at me. But when you flash like thunder
29:48 - 29:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: he dashes away and talks in whispers. [laughs]
29:52 - 29:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: His voice becomes flirty. You! You! A woman like
29:58 - 30:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: me, you are my tormentor. Thank you!
30:02 - 30:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
30:02 - 30:29
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Wow! Thank you very much for that dramatic performance of the... monologue. And uh there's a spot that we'll come to the to the question where you talked about women are their worst enemies. And for me I I found that a bit provocative. But we'll talk about that soon enough. So, Titilope, could you go next?
30:03 - 30:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Wow! Thank you very much for that dramatic
30:07 - 30:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: performance of the... monologue. And uh
30:11 - 30:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: there's a spot that we'll come to the to the question
30:15 - 30:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: where you talked about women are their worst enemies. And for me I
30:21 - 30:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I found that a bit provocative. But we'll talk about that soon enough.
30:25 - 30:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, Titilope, could you go next?
30:29 - 31:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
30:29 - 31:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
30:29 - 30:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yes, um, this poem is called Missing, and it's
30:29 - 31:01
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yes, um, this poem is called Missing, and it's from my collection This is How We Disappear. And it tries to draw parallels between the missing the kidnapped Chibok girls, the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada and across the world. And just migration patterns of women across the globe. How we disappear in physical and psychological ways. Um so I'll just get into the poem. Missing.
30:30 - 38:59
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga reads the poem Missing
30:30 - 38:59
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga reads the poem Missing from the collection This Is How We Disappear
30:34 - 30:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: from my collection This is How We Disappear. And it tries to draw
30:38 - 30:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: parallels between the missing the kidnapped
30:42 - 30:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Chibok girls, the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada
30:46 - 30:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and across the world. And just migration patterns of women
30:51 - 30:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: across the globe. How we disappear in physical and
30:55 - 31:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: psychological ways. Um so I'll just get into the poem. Missing.
31:01 - 31:21
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:01 - 31:21
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:01 - 31:21
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:01 - 31:21
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:01 - 31:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: As much as I wish to, the president said, I cannot promise that we can find them.
31:01 - 31:21
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: As much as I wish to, the president said, I cannot promise that we can find them. They converted to Islam, married off to the fighters, Abubakar Shekau said. They were taken across the border into Cameroon, witnesses said. A negotiator told us, at least three died in the early days, from snake bites, malaria, dysentery.
31:06 - 31:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: They converted to Islam, married off to the fighters, Abubakar Shekau said.
31:10 - 31:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: They were taken across the border into Cameroon, witnesses said.
31:15 - 31:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: A negotiator told us, at least three died in the early days, from snake bites,
31:19 - 31:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: malaria, dysentery. I'm outraged and heartbroken,
31:21 - 31:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:21 - 31:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:21 - 31:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
31:21 - 31:35
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I'm outraged and heartbroken, Michelle Obama posted a picture of herself holding a sign. Please know this, Malala Yousafzai wrote, we will never forget you. Years passed without a whisper from the girls.
31:23 - 31:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Michelle Obama posted a picture of herself holding a sign. Please
31:28 - 31:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: know this, Malala Yousafzai wrote, we will never forget you.
31:32 - 31:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Years passed without a whisper from the girls. My father's
31:35 - 31:54
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: My father's gun in the upstairs closet will shoot its first and only shot when I am ten and the armed robbers come rattling our gate like rabid dogs. My three sisters and I huddled in our night gowns on his bedroom floor. We have to leave this country, he whispers to my mother, his finger trembling on the trigger.
31:36 - 31:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: gun in the upstairs closet will shoot its first and only shot when I am
31:40 - 31:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: ten and the armed robbers come rattling our gate like rabid
31:44 - 31:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: dogs. My three sisters and I huddled in our night gowns on his bedroom floor.
31:49 - 31:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: We have to leave this country, he whispers to my mother, his finger trembling
31:53 - 31:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: on the trigger. That night my father will almost kill a man
31:54 - 32:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: That night my father will almost kill a man to protect our childhood. He will never see the words I love you but in the chamber of his heart is one loaded bullet.
31:57 - 32:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to protect our childhood. He will never see the words I love you but in
32:01 - 32:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the chamber of his heart is one loaded bullet.
32:06 - 32:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:06 - 32:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Midnight at the water's edge. Blessing and three thousand refugees
32:06 - 32:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Midnight at the water's edge. Blessing and three thousand refugees wade in, silent and barefoot. They fall into the sea. Soon, most will wash back ashore with no names to call but the numbers scribbled on their clothes. For weeks, the smuggler's telephones on the other side, silent. No one to answer for the girls, with skin like rich palm oil bloodying the water.
32:10 - 32:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: wade in, silent and barefoot. They fall into the sea.
32:14 - 32:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Soon, most will wash back ashore with no names to call but the numbers
32:19 - 32:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: scribbled on their clothes. For weeks, the smuggler's telephones on the other side,
32:23 - 33:43
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Everything here is borrowed or stolen: the language, the land. My own body, far flung. I lose my old English, my tongue twice colonized. All the women I know are running toward, or away, and everything I know of disappearance begins with water.
32:24 - 32:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: silent. No one to answer for the girls, with skin like rich palm oil
32:28 - 32:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: bloodying the water. They build fences in Morocco,
32:31 - 32:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:31 - 32:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:31 - 32:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:31 - 32:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:31 - 32:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:31 - 32:55
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: They build fences in Morocco, paid the nation's on the coastline to keep the teeming bodies back. Tomorrow, Europe may no longer be European, said Qaddafi. We will use human beings as weapons, cram the black bodies into fishing trawlers, launch them from Libya into the sea. The ungovernable, the slaves, the concubines and prostitutes, burn it to the ground.
32:33 - 32:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: paid the nation's on the coastline to keep the teeming bodies back. Tomorrow,
32:38 - 32:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Europe may no longer be European, said Qaddafi. We will use human beings
32:42 - 32:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: as weapons, cram the black bodies into fishing trawlers, launch
32:46 - 32:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: them from Libya into the sea. The ungovernable, the slaves,
32:50 - 32:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the concubines and prostitutes, burn it to the ground.
32:55 - 32:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:55 - 32:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:55 - 32:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:55 - 32:23
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
32:55 - 32:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Swift flowing river snakes its way through the heart of Edmonton to
32:55 - 32:23
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Swift flowing river snakes its way through the heart of Edmonton to lay still in the winter of our arrival. Our hands turn white, the air like shards of glass to our faces. That night our family shares a pizza in our basement apartment. We fall asleep, three on the bed, three on the floor, our bellies bloated with hope. We tread water for twenty winters between our yesterdays and the tomorrow we were promised.
32:59 - 33:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: lay still in the winter of our arrival. Our hands turn white,
33:04 - 33:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the air like shards of glass to our faces. That night our family shares
33:09 - 33:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a pizza in our basement apartment. We fall asleep, three on
33:13 - 33:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the bed, three on the floor, our bellies bloated with hope.
33:17 - 33:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: We tread water for twenty winters between our yesterdays and the tomorrow
33:21 - 33:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: we were promised. Everything here is borrowed
33:25 - 33:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: or stolen: the language, the land. My
33:29 - 33:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: own body, far flung. I lose my old English, my tongue
33:33 - 33:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: twice colonized. All the women I know are running
33:38 - 33:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: toward, or away, and everything I know of disappearance begins
33:43 - 34:08
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
33:43 - 34:08
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: The women, the girls, their thirsty mouths open skyward, rainwater muddying the forest floor. The six month ocean crossing that pulls the salt from our skin. The dam breaking inside my mother. The first blood sacrifice that pulled me from one world into the next began inside a woman, sliced down the middle, so another woman could emerge whole.
33:43 - 33:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: with water. The women, the girls, their thirsty mouths open skyward,
33:47 - 33:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: rainwater muddying the forest floor. The six
33:51 - 33:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: month ocean crossing that pulls the salt from our skin. The dam
33:56 - 34:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: breaking inside my mother. The first blood sacrifice that pulled me from
34:00 - 34:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: one world into the next began inside a woman, sliced
34:04 - 34:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: down the middle, so another woman could emerge whole. All
34:08 - 34:23
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: All I know of magic making and survival I learnt at birth. And I want to defend my country. Which one? I mythologize my grandmother, I write stories about warrior women with thunder between their thighs.
34:08 - 34:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I know of magic making and survival I learnt at birth.
34:13 - 34:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And I want to defend my country. Which one?
34:17 - 34:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I mythologize my grandmother, I write stories about warrior women with thunder
34:22 - 34:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: between their thighs. Then the girls disappear, and no one goes looking. I
34:23 - 34:46
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
34:23 - 34:46
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Then the girls disappear, and no one goes looking. I ask my mother the Yoruba word for shame. Do you know they only drank water when it rained? What kind of country does nothing when two hundred girls disappear? A thousand indigenous women stop in their tracks, crane their necks back in unison. Tears flood the highway till even the rivers overflow.
34:26 - 34:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: ask my mother the Yoruba word for shame. Do you know
34:30 - 34:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: they only drank water when it rained? What kind of country does nothing when
34:34 - 34:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: two hundred girls disappear? A thousand indigenous women stop
34:38 - 34:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in their tracks, crane their necks back in unison. Tears flood the highway
34:43 - 34:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: till even the rivers overflow. The girls had disappeared
34:46 - 34:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
34:46 - 34:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
34:46 - 34:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: The girls had disappeared for three weeks before we knew their names. Then we spoke them. Two hundred and seventy-six in Chibok, but thousands more, missing and murdered across the country, answered.
34:47 - 34:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: for three weeks before we knew their names. Then we spoke them. Two
34:51 - 34:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: hundred and seventy-six in Chibok, but thousands more, missing and
34:55 - 35:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: murdered across the country, answered. It is customary
34:58 - 35:22
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
34:58 - 35:22
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
34:58 - 35:22
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: It is customary to wait seven days to name a child. Touch her lips with water and palm oil, honey and salt, kola, give her a taste of the bitter and the sweet, the joy and the pain. Pray for her a spirit with the resilience of water. All of this just say: stay. Thank you.
35:00 - 35:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to wait seven days to name a child. Touch her lips with water
35:05 - 35:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and palm oil, honey and salt, kola, give her
35:09 - 35:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a taste of the bitter and the sweet, the joy and the pain.
35:13 - 35:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Pray for her a spirit with the resilience of water.
35:17 - 35:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: All of this just say: stay.
35:21 - 35:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Thank you.
35:22 - 36:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
35:22 - 36:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Wow. I I'm just speechless, Titilope. Anytime I just listing to your poetry, I'm always left stunned by its sheer beauty, by the evocative strength of the lines. I remember listening to This Woman is Not Your Mother where you talked about the this woman is not a the right of passage. This woman is not a project. And this woman is not a sin.
35:27 - 35:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Wow. I I'm just speechless, Titilope. Anytime I just
35:33 - 35:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: listing to your poetry, I'm always left stunned
35:41 - 35:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: by its sheer beauty, by the evocative
35:45 - 35:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: strength of the lines. I remember
35:50 - 35:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: listening to This Woman is
35:55 - 35:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Not Your Mother where you talked about the
35:59 - 36:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: this woman is not a the right of passage.
36:03 - 36:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: This woman is not a project. And this woman is not a sin. This brings
36:06 - 37:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
36:06 - 37:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
36:06 - 37:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
36:06 - 37:01
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
36:06 - 37:01
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: This brings me to my second question about the the connection in your work and Ifeoma's work particularly Merchants of Flesh. And I I notice that both of your works deal with the silencing of women in society, of female invisibility, commodification, and trafficking and objectification of women. And uh how that can call attention to the tragic plight off the the girl tried, women caught up in global sex trade, as we see in Merchants of Flesh. Or even women caught up in an affair of the legal or justice system as Ifeoma depicts in Waiting for Maria.
36:07 - 36:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: me to my second question about the the connection in your work
36:12 - 36:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and Ifeoma's work particularly Merchants
36:16 - 36:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of Flesh. And I I notice that
36:21 - 36:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: both of your works deal with the silencing of
36:25 - 36:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: women in society, of female invisibility, commodification,
36:30 - 36:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and trafficking and objectification of women. And uh
36:34 - 36:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: How that can call attention
36:38 - 36:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: to the tragic plight off the
36:42 - 36:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the girl tried, women caught up in
36:47 - 36:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: global sex trade, as we see in Merchants of Flesh.
36:51 - 36:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Or even women caught up in an affair of
36:56 - 37:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the legal or justice system as Ifeoma depicts in
37:00 - 37:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Waiting for Maria. And I really like that novel because
37:01 - 37:57
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:01 - 37:57
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:01 - 37:57
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:01 - 37:57
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I really like that novel because I I like the way Ifeoma used the broken down, dysfunctional vehicle known as Black Maria, which is used to transport inmates or the accused to the prison. And it's so striking that's the the vehicle is grounded. It's it doesn't work. And it makes me think sadly about our country, Nigeria, as a stationary, grounded vehicle that doesn't move. And eventually decides to move. When it was repaired in the novel somehow it got filled with smoke and the inmates in the vehicle were choked to death by the fumes.
37:04 - 37:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I I like the way Ifeoma used the broken
37:08 - 37:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: down, dysfunctional vehicle
37:13 - 37:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: known as black Maria, which is used to transport inmates
37:17 - 37:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: or the accused to the prison. And it's so striking that's the the
37:21 - 37:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: vehicle is grounded. It's it doesn't work.
37:27 - 37:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And it makes me think sadly about our country, Nigeria,
37:32 - 37:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: as a stationary, grounded vehicle
37:36 - 37:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: that doesn't move. And eventually decides to move
37:41 - 37:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: When it was repaired in the novel
37:45 - 37:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: somehow it got filled with smoke and the
37:49 - 37:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: inmates in the vehicle were
37:53 - 37:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: choked to death by the fumes.
37:57 - 38:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:57 - 38:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:57 - 38:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:57 - 38:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:57 - 38:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
37:57 - 38:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And uh we we know that the the Chibok tragedy
37:57 - 38:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And uh we we know that the the Chibok tragedy in 2014 reflects the sort of dysfunction in the body politic of Nigeria. So, my question would be uh the condition of women within Nigeria and generally in Africa is still bleak. How can we get literature to incite more conversations and awareness about the commodification of women.
38:02 - 38:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: in 2014 reflects the sort
38:06 - 38:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of dysfunction in the body politic of Nigeria. So, my
38:10 - 38:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: question would be uh the condition of
38:14 - 38:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: women within Nigeria and generally in Africa is still bleak.
38:19 - 38:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: How can we get literature to
38:23 - 38:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: incite more conversations and awareness about
38:28 - 38:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the commodification of women. So I'll I'd
38:31 - 38:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
38:31 - 38:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
38:31 - 38:59
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So I'll I'd like Titilope to respond first, and then after that Ifeoma you can take a shot at that question. How what can literature do to further stimulate conversations around female objectification, sex trafficking, human trafficking, and all the structures that demean and degrade female personhood.
38:32 - 38:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: like Titilope to respond first, and then after that
38:36 - 38:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma you can take a shot at that question.
38:41 - 38:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: How what can literature do to further stimulate conversations
38:46 - 38:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: around female objectification, sex trafficking,
38:50 - 38:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: human trafficking, and all the structures that
38:55 - 38:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: demean and degrade female personhood.
38:59 - 41:40
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga on how literature can incite conversation
38:59 - 41:40
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Question from the Host: How can we get literature to incite more conversation and awareness about the commodification of women?
38:59 - 39:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I guess I'll start by saying that I think
38:59 - 39:29
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I guess I'll start by saying that I think the condition of women across the world um is worthy of conversation. I don't think that it is uniquely a Nigerian or African problem. But there are gaps as you said. There are a... There is progress made in in some ways and and not enough in in many ways. And I think we see that the world over.
39:04 - 39:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the condition of women across the world um
39:08 - 39:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is worthy of conversation. I don't think
39:12 - 39:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that it is uniquely a Nigerian or African problem. But there are gaps
39:17 - 39:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: as you said. There are a...
39:21 - 39:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: There is progress made in in some ways and and
39:25 - 39:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: not enough in in many ways. And I think we see that the world over.
39:29 - 39:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, I think that the role of art in general
39:29 - 39:46
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, I think that the role of art in general is to reflect the times. To reflect our humanity. And then leave that to the world. To take that in and reflect upon its in in whatever ways they will.
39:34 - 39:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is to reflect the times. To reflect our humanity. And then leave
39:38 - 39:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that to the world. To take that in and
39:42 - 39:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: reflect upon its in in whatever ways they will.
39:46 - 39:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: For me I think it is a radical thing to not
39:46 - 40:10
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: For me I think it is a radical thing to not only write about trage-tragedy and suffering but also to writes about joy. I think it is a radical thing to hold those two things the side by side, which is why if you if I go back to the poem I read first, this this beautiful um, a, depiction of motherhood and bringing new citizens into the world.
39:50 - 39:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: only write about trage-tragedy and suffering but
39:54 - 39:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: also to writes about joy. I think it is a radical thing to hold those two things
39:58 - 40:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the side by side, which is why if you if I go back to the poem I
40:02 - 40:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: read first, this this beautiful um, a,
40:07 - 40:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: depiction of motherhood and bringing new citizens into the world. It is why
40:10 - 40:30
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
40:10 - 40:30
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: It is why it even in a collection like This is How We Dissapear, where I'm talking predominantly about the disappearance of the Chibok girls, I'm also swinging that that pendulum back to the idea of the power and magical nature of womanhood. And the ways we reinvent ourselves to survive, to move beyond.
40:11 - 40:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: it even in a collection like This is How We Dissapear, where I'm talking predominantly about
40:15 - 40:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the disappearance of the Chibok girls, I'm also swinging that that pendulum back
40:20 - 40:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to the idea of the power and magical nature of womanhood.
40:24 - 40:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And the ways we reinvent ourselves to survive,
40:29 - 40:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to move beyond. I think the ways that we change
40:30 - 40:48
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I think the ways that we change the world is just by telling through true and authentic stories. By telling diverse stories. By choosing, by making a radical choice to center joy in our work.
40:33 - 40:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the world is just by telling through true and authentic stories.
40:37 - 40:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: By telling diverse stories. By
40:42 - 40:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: choosing, by making a radical choice
40:46 - 40:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to center joy in our work. To say this is who I am as a fully
40:48 - 41:03
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: To say this is who I am as a fully formed human being. These are my dreams and aspirations. These are my hopes and concerns. And to believe truly that that has a place in in the larger conversation about humanity.
40:50 - 40:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: formed human being. These are my dreams and aspirations. These are my hopes and
40:54 - 40:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: concerns. And to believe truly that that has a place
40:59 - 41:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in in the larger conversation about humanity.
41:03 - 41:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I guess I I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that it is our duty
41:03 - 41:21
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I guess I I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't believe that it is our duty as artists to um to be town criers of all the injustices you know of the world. It really is our duty to just reflect the times.
41:07 - 41:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: as artists to um
41:12 - 41:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to be town criers of all the injustices
41:17 - 41:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: you know of the world. It really is our duty to just reflect the times.
41:21 - 41:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And the times are complicated and muddy and strange and
41:21 - 41:34
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And the times are complicated and muddy and strange and beautiful and broken. Our job is to is to reflect all of that and let that stand in the world. I hope that answers your question.
41:25 - 41:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: beautiful and broken. Our job is to is to reflect all of
41:29 - 41:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that and let that stand in the world. I hope that answers your question.
41:33 - 41:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: That's an excellent response, Titilope.
41:34 - 41:39
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
41:34 - 41:39
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
41:34 - 41:39
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: That's an excellent response, Titilope. So, over to you Ifeoma.
41:38 - 41:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, over to you Ifeoma.
41:39 - 42:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
41:39 - 42:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
41:39 - 41:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Well, I agree with Titi.
41:39 - 42:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Well, I agree with Titi. That the writer has to capture the zeitgeist of the times. The chronicler, yes, to tell us what is happening in this society. So that years later other generations coming, reading your work, can have an idea how people dressed, how people ate. What happened in the society.
41:40 - 48:10
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Ifeoma Chinwuba on how literature can incite conversation
41:40 - 48:10
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Question from the Host: How can we get literature to incite more conversation and awareness about the commodification of women?
41:42 - 41:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That the writer has to capture the zeitgeist
41:46 - 41:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of the times. The chronicler, yes, to tell us
41:51 - 41:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: what is happening in this society. So that years later
41:56 - 42:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: other generations coming, reading your work, can have an idea how
42:00 - 42:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: people dressed, how people ate. What happened in the society.
42:06 - 42:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But I don't think it's just to write it and keep it there.
42:06 - 42:22
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But I don't think it's just to write it and keep it there. We we are calling for action. Calling for a change. It's more than just writing, capturing it and keeping it for... no.
42:12 - 42:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: We we are calling for action. Calling for a change.
42:18 - 42:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It's more than just writing, capturing it and keeping it for... no.
42:22 - 42:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
42:22 - 42:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Many artists, many writers, many others
42:22 - 42:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Many artists, many writers, many others have been locked up. Many journalists, many have been killed because of what they write. Because of what they they... Chinua Achebe was in prison. Wole Soyinka himself. So many have been. Have lost their lives because of the pen. What they wrote. Because they are speaking to somebody and someone is listening. And so we hope our government will listen. Will read this book, these stories, and see what needs to be done. And do it. And change our society. For the better.
42:26 - 42:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: have been locked up. Many journalists, many have been killed because of what they
42:30 - 42:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: write. Because of what they they... Chinua Achebe was
42:34 - 42:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in prison. Wole Soyinka himself. So many have been.
42:39 - 42:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Have lost their lives because of the pen. What they wrote.
42:43 - 42:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because they are speaking to somebody and someone is listening. And so we hope our
42:48 - 42:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: government will listen. Will read this book, these stories,
42:52 - 42:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and see what needs to be done. And do it. And change our society.
42:56 - 43:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: For the better. About the commodification
42:58 - 43:13
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
42:58 - 43:13
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
42:58 - 43:13
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
42:58 - 43:13
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: About the commodification of women, you know, involved in human trafficking back home in Nigeria, Africa, even here, women have been dissapearing. Everywhere. Women in America disappear. But I think it's it's a...
43:00 - 43:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of women, you know, involved in human
43:05 - 43:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: trafficking back home in Nigeria, Africa, even here, women have been
43:09 - 43:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: dissapearing. Everywhere. Women in America disappear.
43:13 - 43:50
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
43:13 - 43:50
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The problem with us back home is I think absence of rule of law. Or breakdown of law and good. Because the law there to serve as a deterrent. To capture criminals. But back home we find that there is impunity. People do things. Chibok girls disappear. Nothing happened. Dapchi girls disappear. Everyday. Everyday. They are come they are going to schools. They are going to schools and kidnapping teachers and students. Everyday.
43:13 - 43:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But I think it's it's a... The problem with
43:18 - 43:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: us back home is I think absence of rule of law. Or breakdown
43:22 - 43:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of law and good. Because the law there to serve
43:26 - 43:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: as a deterrent. To capture criminals. But back
43:30 - 43:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: home we find that there is impunity. People do things.
43:34 - 43:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Chibok girls disappear. Nothing happened. Dapchi girls disappear.
43:38 - 43:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Everyday. Everyday. They are come they are going to schools.
43:44 - 43:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: They are going to schools and kidnapping teachers and students. Everyday.
43:50 - 44:15
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
43:50 - 43:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Which means they don't care. Which means the the government can't catch them. Can't do anything
43:50 - 44:15
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Which means they don't care. Which means the the government can't catch them. Can't do anything to them. So, many schools are being closed down in Nigeria now because they don't want this. They don't want kidnapping and ransom and all that. Many schools. Many people are are are what we call... street children, urchins. They are not getting educated. In the millions.
43:54 - 43:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to them. So, many schools are being closed down in Nigeria now because
43:59 - 44:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: they don't want this. They don't want kidnapping and ransom and all that. Many
44:04 - 44:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: schools. Many people are are are what we call...
44:09 - 44:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: street children, urchins. They are not getting educated. In the millions.
44:15 - 44:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, breakdown of law and order is to blame.
44:15 - 44:30
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, breakdown of law and order is to blame. The woman, ten women, hundred, two hundred will dissapear. And you are negotiating? Sometimes you see goverment negotiating with the bandits. That's one of the problems.
44:20 - 44:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The woman, ten women, hundred, two hundred will dissapear. And
44:24 - 44:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you are negotiating? Sometimes you see goverment negotiating with the bandits.
44:28 - 44:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That's one of the problems. As for commodification,
44:30 - 44:57
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As for commodification, it's not only women, no, that are being objectified. It's our consumer society... And our selfish society. We only think of ourselves. So, I can kill. I can do blood rituals for money. I can kill, take another life, to get what I want. So, I find that people, men now are also be sold into slavery.
44:32 - 44:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: it's not only women, no, that are being objectified.
44:37 - 44:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It's our consumer society... And our selfish
44:41 - 44:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: society. We only think of ourselves. So
44:45 - 44:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I can kill. I can do blood rituals for money.
44:49 - 44:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I can kill, take another life, to get what I want. So I find that
44:54 - 45:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: people, men now are also be sold into slavery. Children! Babies. Babies are being
44:57 - 45:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Children! Babies. Babies are being bought now. See they will just go to the grocery shop and they can order babies. Women are held in baby factories where they put ten, twenty women. Impregnate them. And then sell the... What of organs? People now... people will harvest their organs to give to other people, who are... to be alive. While the other one dies. So, there is a lot of uh.
45:00 - 45:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: bought now. See they will just
45:04 - 45:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: go to the grocery shop and they can order babies. Women are held in
45:08 - 45:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: baby factories where they put ten, twenty women.
45:12 - 45:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Impregnate them. And then sell the...
45:17 - 45:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: What of organs? People now...
45:21 - 45:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: people will harvest their organs to give to other people, who are... to be alive.
45:26 - 45:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: While the other one dies. So, there is a lot of uh.
45:31 - 45:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know, I think I always say. My my grandmother used to say that the world
45:31 - 46:03
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know, I think I always say. My my grandmother used to say that the world is going on a journey. We don't know where it will end up. We don't know the timelimess. It keeps moving. New things are coming in that we never saw as kids. Before as kids we used to play. The whole day you go out in the morning. You go to houses. You play. Eveningtime. They send you back home. Now you can't risk that. Because there are abductors. People can't even send a child on a message. Again. go and buy a coke for me. No.
45:35 - 45:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: is going on a journey. We don't know where it will end up. We don't know the timelimess.
45:39 - 45:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It keeps moving. New things are coming in that we never saw as kids.
45:44 - 45:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Before as kids we used to play. The whole day you go out in the morning.
45:49 - 45:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You go to houses. You play. Eveningtime. They send you back home.
45:53 - 45:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Now you can't risk that. Because there are abductors.
45:57 - 46:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: People can't even send a child on a message. Again. go and buy a coke for me.
46:02 - 46:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: No. So things have changed. Society is changing.
46:03 - 46:22
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
46:03 - 46:22
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, things have changed. Society is changing. And it's because of this consumerist and selfish attitude of of people. That everything is now is now a commodity. Everything can be sold. Anything can be sold in order to get by. So that is um. What I have to say about that.
46:06 - 46:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And it's because of this consumerist and selfish attitude of of people. That
46:11 - 46:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: everything is now is now a commodity. Everything can be sold.
46:15 - 46:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Anything can be sold in order to get by. So that is um.
46:20 - 46:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: What I have to say about that. As for the writer. Yes.
46:22 - 46:37
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As for the writer. Yes. He has to capture this. But he has too much. The powers that be. He has too much the power that be to do something about this. This dislocation in society.
46:24 - 46:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: He has to capture this. But he has too much. The powers
46:28 - 46:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: that be. He has too much the power that be to do something
46:32 - 46:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: about this. This dislocation in society.
46:37 - 47:04
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
46:37 - 46:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma, for that sobering response.
46:37 - 47:04
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma, for that sobering response. And I I think you know we are all implicated one way or another in this. The the dysfunctional system we find ourselves in. Whether it's uh to commodify and objectify women or even to sexualize men in a way that makes that makes them amenable for objectification.
46:41 - 46:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I I think you know we are all implicated one way or another
46:46 - 46:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: in this. The the dysfunctional
46:50 - 46:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: system we find ourselves in. Whether it's uh to
46:54 - 46:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: commodify and objectify women or even to sexualize
46:58 - 47:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: men in a way that makes that makes them amenable
47:02 - 47:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for objectification. And I think it's really important to
47:04 - 47:38
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I think it's really important to also question our actions and our entaglement with this sort of system that reinforces female subjugation. Male objectification. And so thank you very much for all these wonderful responses. I've been enriched by the conversations we've been having.
47:06 - 47:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: also question our actions and our
47:11 - 47:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: entaglement with
47:15 - 47:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: this sort of system that reinforces
47:22 - 47:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: female subjugation. Male
47:28 - 47:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: objectification. And so thank you very much for all these wonderful
47:32 - 47:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: responses. I've been enriched by the conversations
47:37 - 47:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: we've been having. And I think this brings me to the final reading. And immediately
47:38 - 48:10
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
47:38 - 48:10
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
47:38 - 48:10
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I think this brings me to the final reading. And immediately after this I'm going to turn it over to the audience, so they can ask questions and uh we we can talk more about some of these intersections of ideas in your responses. So, for this final reading, I would like to invite Titilope to go first and then Ifeoma will wrap it up. Yeah, okay.
47:41 - 47:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: after this I'm going to turn it over to the audience, so they can ask
47:46 - 47:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: questions and uh we we can talk more about some of these intersections
47:51 - 47:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of ideas in your responses. So, for this
47:55 - 47:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: final reading, I would like
47:59 - 48:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: to invite Titilope to go first and then
48:03 - 48:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma will wrap it up. Yeah, okay.
48:09 - 48:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Thank you so much again for all
48:10 - 50:56
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Titilope Sonuga reads an untitled poem
48:10 - 48:30
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Thank you so much again for all of it. It's been an honor really to share the space with you. For your careful questions and consideration. I'm in awe of the fact that this is my life and job and I get to talk about art and make art for a living. It is a supreme privilege.
48:13 - 48:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of it. It's been an honor really to share the space with you.
48:17 - 48:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: For your careful questions and consideration.
48:21 - 48:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I'm in awe of the fact that this is my life and job and I
48:26 - 48:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: get to talk about art and make art for a living. It is a supreme privilege.
48:30 - 48:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: In the interest of swinging the pendulum towards joy, I actually
48:30 - 48:42
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: In the interest of swinging the pendulum towards joy, I actually did a poem switch. And I'm gonna do this poem instead. It is, as yet, untitled.
48:34 - 48:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: did a poem switch. And I'm gonna do this poem instead.
48:39 - 48:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: It is, as yet, untitled. There are prayers,
48:42 - 49:03
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: There are prayers, generations in the making, that pushed through time to arrive in the moment of their awakening. That is to say, my presence, every measure of magic that exists in my life, is likely the answer to a prayer made at the altar of an ancestor, for whom I only existed as a dream.
48:44 - 48:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: generations in the making, that pushed through time to arrive in
48:48 - 48:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the moment of their awakening. That is to say, my presence,
48:53 - 48:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: every measure of magic that exists in my life, is likely the answer to
48:57 - 49:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a prayer made at the altar of an ancestor, for whom I only existed
49:01 - 49:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: as a dream. What grace. To be known and loved
49:03 - 49:19
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: What grace. To be known and loved before your birth. Isn't that the history of Blackness across the globe? Isn't that the very ingredient of our improbable acts of survival? That we have always made an offering into a future you will never see.
49:06 - 49:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: before your birth. Isn't that the history of Blackness across the
49:10 - 49:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: globe? Isn't that the very ingredient of our improbable acts of survival?
49:15 - 49:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: That we have always made an offering into a future you will never see.
49:19 - 49:38
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
49:19 - 49:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: In our stories, in our song, in our arts, is the prophetic
49:19 - 49:38
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: In our stories, in our song, in our arts, is the prophetic declaration. That in a time beyond now this gift becomes a rope, a hammer, a piece of bread, something to build a life. A lighthouse for the children who will one day walk this soil.
49:23 - 49:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: declaration. That in a time beyond now this gift becomes
49:28 - 49:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a rope, a hammer, a piece of bread, something
49:32 - 49:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to build a life. A lighthouse for the children who will
49:36 - 49:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: one day walk this soil. Black as the night sky, we offer them
49:38 - 50:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Black as the night sky, we offer them the stars to know that we were once here. And how beautiful we were. How excellent, how brave. We were once here. And beyond our magic was a right to ease, to abundance. To a life beyond strength and survival. That our rest and refuge was worthy of celebration too.
49:40 - 49:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the stars to know that we were once here. And how beautiful we were.
49:45 - 49:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: How excellent, how brave. We were once here. And beyond our
49:49 - 49:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: magic was a right to ease, to abundance. To a life
49:53 - 49:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: beyond strength and survival. That our rest and refuge
49:57 - 50:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: was worthy of celebration too. And we were black
50:00 - 50:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:00 - 50:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:00 - 50:16
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And we were Black every day. On a Monday, when the city stomped the concrete. On a Sunday, when the church choirs troubled heaven. Everyday, in the face of what threatens to undo us, we are here. A soft place in a hard world.
50:01 - 50:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: every day. On a Monday, when the city stomped the concrete.
50:06 - 50:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: On a Sunday, when the church choirs troubled heaven. Everyday,
50:10 - 50:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in the face of what threatens to undo us, we are here. A soft
50:15 - 50:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: place in a hard world. We make love and we make magic.
50:16 - 50:37
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:16 - 50:37
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: We make love and we make magic. We birth our babies and kiss our elders. We make each day a ritual of remembering. We create this time capsule and offer it to generations, who may never see us, but will know us and, thus, know themselves. Thank you.
50:19 - 50:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: We birth our babies and kiss our elders. We make each day
50:24 - 50:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a ritual of remembering. We create this time capsule
50:29 - 50:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and offer it to generations, who may never see us, but will know us
50:33 - 50:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and, thus, know themselves. Thank you.
50:37 - 50:57
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:37 - 50:57
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:37 - 50:57
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very very much Titilope for these beautiful lines in your poetry. And I I just noted down a lot of lines, so I can reflect on later on. Uh so, Ifeoma. Over to you.
50:38 - 50:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very very much Titilope for these beautiful lines in
50:43 - 50:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: your poetry. And I I just noted down
50:47 - 50:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: a lot of lines, so I can reflect on later on. Uh
50:52 - 50:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: so, Ifeoma. Over to you.
50:56 - 56:28
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Ifeoma Chinwuba reads an excerpt from Waiting for Maria
50:57 - 51:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:57 - 51:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
50:57 - 51:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you, Titilope, for that very nostalgic. You know
50:57 - 51:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you, Titilope, for that very nostalgic. You know it just takes me back in many years, yeah.
51:01 - 51:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: it just takes me back in many years, yeah.
51:06 - 51:52
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
51:06 - 51:52
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
51:06 - 51:52
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
51:06 - 51:52
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
51:06 - 51:52
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
51:06 - 51:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Okay, this. I'm going to read from Waiting for Maria.
51:06 - 51:52
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Okay, this. I'm going to read from Waiting for Maria. As Uche just said already, Maria is a Black Maria that was grounded. And no money to repair it. Couldn't take the inmates to court. Those who were condemned to death and appealed didn't know the status of their their cases. So uh, as Uche already said, NGOs, you know charitable organizations, contribute money to repair this vehicle. And it moves and then something happens, and...
51:14 - 51:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As Uche just said already, Maria is a Black Maria that was grounded. And
51:22 - 51:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: no money to repair it. Couldn't take the inmates to court.
51:27 - 51:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Those who were condemned to death and appealed
51:32 - 51:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: didn't know the status of their their cases.
51:36 - 51:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So uh, as Uche already said, NGOs,
51:41 - 51:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you know charitable organizations, contribute money to repair
51:45 - 51:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: this vehicle. And it moves and then
51:50 - 51:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: something happens. And meanwhile some some
51:56 - 52:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: inmates had been released in a corrupt manner.
52:02 - 52:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because there is what we call amnesty. Once Nigeria had independence
52:06 - 52:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Chief George of the magistrate of the head of state grants amnesty
52:11 - 52:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to some some prisoners. But the
52:14 - 52:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But the prison warders themselves, it's not free. It goes to the highest bidder. And so she comes and says, bring money and I'll put your name and you get amnesty. So one or two or three people got their freedom through that method.
52:15 - 52:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: prison warders themselves, it's not free. It goes to the highest
52:19 - 52:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: bidder. And so she comes and says, bring money and I'll
52:23 - 52:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: put your name and you get amnesty. So one or two or three people
52:28 - 52:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: got their freedom through that method. And now
52:31 - 53:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And now they know that these humans in there cannot have justice. Cannot have justice. That this is an unjust system. Completely. And that society itself brought them into the into jail to death row. The things that society did and did not do that led them to to this place to this malicious malicious place.
52:34 - 52:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: they know that these humans in there cannot have justice.
52:39 - 52:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Cannot have justice. That this is an unjust system. Completely.
52:43 - 52:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And that society itself brought them into the into jail
52:47 - 52:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to death row. The things that society did and did
52:51 - 52:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: not do that led them to to this place to this malicious
52:56 - 53:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: malicious place.
53:00 - 53:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:00 - 53:32
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so they they organize a jailbreak. And as a jailbreak, they know the topography and geography of the Freeman Fort. They know everything, they know that... That all the money voted for repairs and rennovations find their way into the pocket of the the wardens. And so they think, I'm shackled. I'm dilapidated. And easily, you know...
53:01 - 53:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so they they organize a jailbreak.
53:05 - 53:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And as a jailbreak, they know the topography and geography of the
53:09 - 53:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Freeman Fort. They know everything, they know that...
53:13 - 53:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That all the money voted for repairs and rennovations find their way into the
53:18 - 53:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: pocket of the the wardens. And so they
53:22 - 53:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: think, I'm shackled. I'm dilapidated. And
53:27 - 53:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: easily, you know...
53:32 - 53:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:32 - 53:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:32 - 53:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:32 - 53:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:32 - 53:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I'm going to read from the Daily Mirror. It's a newspaper publication.
53:32 - 53:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I'm going to read from the Daily Mirror. It's a newspaper publication. The Controller-General of prisons, Mr. Isaac Pam, has been ordered to proceed on a preretirement leave with immediate effect. Sources close to the presidency say this is not unconnected with the jailbreak, which occurred in one of the nation's prisons last week.
53:38 - 53:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The Controller-General of prisons, Mr. Isaac Pam,
53:42 - 53:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: has been ordered to proceed on a preretirement leave with immediate effect.
53:47 - 53:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Sources close to the presidency say this is not unconnected
53:52 - 53:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: with the jailbreak, which occurred in one of the nation's prisons last
53:56 - 54:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: week. It should be recalled that early last
53:58 - 54:27
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:58 - 54:27
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
53:58 - 54:27
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It should be recalled that early last week Freeman Fort was attacked by unknown persons during a period of prolonged blackouts. The aging perimeter walls were easily knocked down, enabling the inmates to escape to freedom. Three female guards sustained injuries, nonfatal. The presidency has set up a panel to investigate the incident.
54:00 - 54:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: week Freeman Fort was attacked by unknown persons
54:05 - 54:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: during a period of prolonged blackouts.
54:09 - 54:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The aging perimeter walls were easily knocked down,
54:13 - 54:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: enabling the inmates to escape to freedom. Three
54:18 - 54:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: female guards sustained injuries, nonfatal. The presidency has
54:23 - 54:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: set up a panel to investigate the incident. The break,
54:27 - 54:53
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
54:27 - 54:53
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
54:27 - 54:53
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The break, coming on the heels of the suffocation last week of inmates on their way to court showed a breakdown in the administration of the prison service, a government spokesman added. When our reporter contacted the N. B. S. spokesman over the phone, he explained that his boss had been out of the country at the time of the incidents.
54:28 - 54:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: coming on the heels of the suffocation last week of inmates
54:32 - 54:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: on their way to court showed a breakdown in the administration
54:37 - 54:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: of the prison service, a government spokesman added.
54:42 - 54:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: When our reporter contacted the N. B. S. spokesman over the phone,
54:47 - 54:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: he explained that his boss had been out of the country at the
54:51 - 54:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: time of the incidents. However,
54:53 - 55:08
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
54:53 - 55:08
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
54:53 - 55:08
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: However, in spite of the telephonic washing of the hands, Mr. Pam is expected to hand over to his Deputy, Mrs. Guyit. That is the... Thank you.
54:55 - 54:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in spite of the telephonic washing of the hands, Mr. Pam is expected
54:59 - 55:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to hand over to his Deputy, Mrs. Guyit. That is the...
55:06 - 55:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you.
55:06 - 55:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma. Like I mentioned
55:08 - 55:37
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
55:08 - 55:37
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma. Like I mentioned earlier I I like the way you touch on margin. What I call marginal narratives. And these narratives of people who female inmates whose condition certainly would be much worse than their male counterparts experience because I...
55:10 - 55:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: earlier I
55:15 - 55:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I like the way you touch on margin. What I call
55:19 - 55:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: marginal narratives. And these narratives of people who
55:24 - 55:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: female inmates whose condition
55:28 - 55:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: certainly would be much worse than
55:32 - 55:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: their male counterparts experience because I...
55:37 - 55:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: The the method of imagining someone
55:37 - 56:16
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: The the method of imagining someone in jail, particularly if the person was a male, is disturbing as it is. And so to imagine a female person living under such gruesome punishing conditions is something I can't seem to wrap my mind around. And so thank you for narrating that experience. For giving voice to these voiceless and silenced women in an unjust system.
55:41 - 55:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: in jail, particularly if the person was a male,
55:46 - 55:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: is disturbing as it is. And so to imagine a female
55:51 - 55:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: person living under such gruesome
55:57 - 56:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: punishing conditions is something I can't seem to wrap my mind around.
56:02 - 56:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And so thank you for narrating that
56:07 - 56:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: experience. For giving voice to these voiceless and
56:11 - 56:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: silenced women in an unjust system.
56:16 - 56:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And so I uh. Again I just want to appreciate both
56:16 - 56:28
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And so I uh. Again I just want to appreciate both of you for your readings, your discussions, and the insights you've shared with me and everyone who is here.
56:20 - 56:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: of you for your readings, your discussions, and the insights you've shared
56:25 - 56:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: with me and everyone who is here. And I
56:28 - 1:25:31
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Questions from event registrants
56:28 - 1:25:31
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Host, Dr. Uche Peter Umezurike, invites questions from event registrants.
56:28 - 56:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: And I I don't want to enjoy all the privilege of asking you questions. And so I'll open up the space for people to ask their questions. And please unmute your mic if you want to ask a question and please be concise. Be uh precise. Just go straight to the point. So other people can have the opportunity of asking questions also.
56:30 - 56:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I don't want to enjoy all the privilege of asking
56:34 - 56:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: you questions. And so I'll open up the space for
56:38 - 56:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: people to ask their questions. And please unmute
56:42 - 56:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: your mic if you want to ask a question and
56:47 - 56:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: please be concise. Be uh
56:52 - 56:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: precise. Just go straight to the point. So other people can have the opportunity of
56:56 - 57:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: asking questions also.
56:56 - 57:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1 : I have a question.
56:58 - 57:14
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
56:58 - 57:14
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 1 : I have a question. Hi, Ifeoma. I've read all your books, and I'm wondering what you're, what you're currently working on. And what, when to expect it because I am a huge fan of yours. I'd like to know what you are currently working on.
57:00 - 57:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1 : Hi, Ifeoma. I've read all your books, and I'm wondering
57:04 - 57:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: what you're, what you're currently working on. And what, when to
57:08 - 57:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: expect it because I am a huge fan of yours. I'd like to
57:12 - 57:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: know what you are currently working on. And I really like your smile. It
57:14 - 57:31
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
57:14 - 57:31
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 1: And I really like your smile. It just captivates me. I'm just, I'm glad they are taping this thing. Because with your smile I can always be happy. Titilope you too, you know. But I want to. I I have to read your book. But I'm referring this to this question to Ifeoma, currently.
57:16 - 57:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: just captivates me. I'm just, I'm glad they are taping this thing. Because
57:21 - 57:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: with your smile I can always be happy. Titilope you too, you know.
57:25 - 57:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 1: But I want to. I I have to read your book. But I'm referring this to this question to Ifeoma, currently.
57:31 - 57:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
57:31 - 57:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
57:31 - 57:55
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know the way writing goes. Last time I was in Toronto I I welcomed Professor Soyinka. He came to Toronto. And um I asked him the same question. I said, when are we going to expect something from you? And he said, ah! When you see it, you take it. As I writer [laughs]. I shouldn't answer that.
57:31 - 57:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You know the way writing goes.
57:35 - 57:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Last time I was in Toronto I I welcomed Professor Soyinka.
57:39 - 57:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: He came to Toronto. And um I asked him the same
57:43 - 57:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: question. I said, when are we going to expect something from you?
57:48 - 57:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And he said, ah! When you see it, you take it. As I writer [laughs]. I shouldn't answer that.
57:55 - 58:13
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
57:55 - 58:13
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
57:55 - 57:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It depends on the muse, you know. The muse can... You can have writer's
57:55 - 58:13
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It depends on the muse, you know. The muse can... You can have writer's block, you know? You have writer's block and then, it appears. That's what writing is. So he told me, when you see my next work, you take it. The work has come out. The Chronicles from the Happiest People on Earth. So, anyway.
57:59 - 58:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: block, you know? You have writer's block and then, it appears. That's what writing is.
58:04 - 58:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So he told me, when you see my next work, you take it.
58:09 - 58:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The work has come out. The Chronicles from the Happiest People on Earth. So, anyway.
58:13 - 58:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: This program, writer-in-residence program, has given
58:13 - 58:41
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: This program, writer-in-residence program, has given me the focus I need to, you know, abjure other things and focus on my work. And I actually have a novel or two in the making. That are, you know, approaching the denouement, if I can put it that way. So I'm now looking for an agent and a publisher. So, very soon you will. You will get it. Thank you.
58:18 - 58:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: me the focus I need to, you know,
58:22 - 58:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: abjure other things and focus on my work. And I actually have
58:26 - 58:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: a novel or two in the making. That are, you know, approaching the
58:31 - 58:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: denouement, if I can put it that way. So I'm
58:35 - 58:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: now looking for an agent and a publisher. So, very soon you will. You will get it. Thank you.
58:39 - 58:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much.
58:41 - 59:14
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
58:41 - 59:14
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much. I'm also looking forward to your next novel, as well as... I know Titilope is working on something. And if she also wants to share just a sneak peek into what you're working on. Is there a spoken word album? Is it another collection that is a follow up to This is How We Disappear? Or rather now you so much focused on joy, tenderness, hope, healing. Maybe that's what we should be looking forward to?
58:44 - 58:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I'm also looking forward to your next
58:48 - 58:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: novel, as well as. I know Titilope is working on something. And if
58:52 - 58:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: she also wants to share just a sneak peek into what you're
58:57 - 59:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: working on. Is there a spoken word album? Is it another
59:01 - 59:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: collection that is a follow up to This is How We Disappear?
59:05 - 59:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Or rather now you so much focused on joy, tenderness,
59:09 - 59:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: hope, healing. Maybe that's what we should be looking forward to?
59:14 - 59:48
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
59:14 - 59:48
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
59:14 - 59:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: [laughs] It's going to be a surprise to both you and I. [laughs]
59:14 - 59:48
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: [laughs] It's going to be a surprise to both you and I. [laughs] Um but I I also almost always have several things going at the same time, which isn't necessarily a great uh discipline. But definitely a new spoken word album and definitely another collection. I I'm heading off to a residency in the next month um to really streamline some of these ideas. And and I'm hopeful that brand new the work will come out of there. So, stay tuned, I guess, is the short answer to that question.
59:18 - 59:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um but I I also almost always have several things going at the same time, which
59:22 - 59:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: isn't necessarily a great uh discipline. But
59:27 - 59:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: definitely a new spoken word album and
59:31 - 59:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: definitely another collection. I I'm heading off to a residency in the next
59:35 - 59:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: month um to really streamline some of these ideas.
59:39 - 59:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And and I'm hopeful that brand new the work will come out of there. So, stay
59:44 - 59:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: tuned, I guess, is the short answer to that question.
59:48 - 59:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
59:48 - 59:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
59:48 - 59:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: [laughs] Great! So, more questions
59:48 - 59:55
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: [laughs] Great! So, more questions please for uh Titilope and Ifeoma.
59:52 - 59:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: please for uh Titilope and Ifeoma.
59:55 - 1:00:14
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Thanks so much to the three of you. This is... is and continues to be amazing. Just wonderful. Titilope, I have a I have a question for you. I was really struck by the radical joy that your poetry celebrates. And in particular in the poem you just read it seems to be intergenerational in its force.
59:56 - 1:00:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Thanks so much to the three of you. This is... is and continues to be amazing. Just wonderful.
1:00:01 - 1:00:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Titilope, I have a I have a question for you. I was really struck by
1:00:05 - 1:00:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: the radical joy that your poetry celebrates. And in particular in the poem you
1:00:09 - 1:00:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: just read it seems to be intergenerational in its force.
1:00:14 - 1:00:34
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:00:14 - 1:00:34
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:00:14 - 1:00:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: And I was thinking about that in relation to your bringing together
1:00:14 - 1:00:34
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: And I was thinking about that in relation to your bringing together of the violence against women both here in Canada and in Nigeria and the legacies of colonial intergenerational trauma that perpetuate those systems of violence that threaten to keep us stuck. Right? That word came up earlier.
1:00:18 - 1:00:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: of the violence against women both here in Canada and in Nigeria
1:00:23 - 1:00:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: and the legacies of colonial intergenerational trauma
1:00:28 - 1:00:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: that perpetuate those systems of violence that threaten to keep us stuck.
1:00:32 - 1:00:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Right? That word came up earlier. Am I following you correctly? Is that
1:00:34 - 1:00:48
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Am I following you correctly? Is that then the radical power of joy? That it pushes back across time against the constraints that hold us back from change? Is that...?
1:00:37 - 1:00:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: then the radical power of joy? That it pushes back across
1:00:41 - 1:00:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: time against the constraints that hold us back
1:00:45 - 1:00:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: from change? Is that...?
1:00:45 - 1:00:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yeah, I think um.
1:00:48 - 1:01:21
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yeah, I think um. We have generations of stories to know that the world does what the world does. In its own time. And I truly do believe that our work as human beings, as women and as people, is to push back against that by saying that I'm alive and I'm here. And even in all of this I'm still making joy. I'm still making peace. I'm still making something beautiful. And I think that's what artists do.
1:00:51 - 1:00:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: We have generations of stories to know that
1:00:55 - 1:01:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the world does what the world does. In its own time. And
1:01:00 - 1:01:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I truly do believe that our work as human beings,
1:01:04 - 1:01:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: as women and as people, is to
1:01:08 - 1:01:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: push back against that by saying that I'm alive and I'm here.
1:01:12 - 1:01:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And even in all of this I'm still making joy. I'm still making
1:01:17 - 1:01:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: peace. I'm still making something beautiful. And I think that's what artists do.
1:01:21 - 1:01:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: The fact that even with everything that's happening we continue to produce is
1:01:21 - 1:01:49
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: The fact that even with everything that's happening we continue to produce is that same kind of radical force that says, this is our our work. Just by virtue of existing in the world is a is a powerful force. And so I applaud and celebrate anyone who is able to write, paint, create with anything in this time. I think that is like an incredible show of strength.
1:01:25 - 1:01:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that same kind of radical force that says, this is our our work.
1:01:31 - 1:01:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Just by virtue of existing in the world is a is
1:01:35 - 1:01:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a powerful force. And so I applaud and celebrate anyone who is
1:01:40 - 1:01:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: able to write, paint, create with anything
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in this time. I think that is like an incredible show
1:01:48 - 1:01:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of strength. Um and so yeah I guess that's that's that's the
1:01:49 - 1:02:15
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um and so yeah I guess that's that's that's the way that I think about my work and and conversations around art. I'm I'm hopeful that in a time beyond, like when I'm no longer here, when people look over the work that I created it gives them a sense of that intergenerational passing down. A sense of that people have survived something before this and will continue to survive in the future.
1:01:52 - 1:01:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: way that I think about my work and and conversations around
1:01:57 - 1:02:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: art. I'm I'm hopeful that in a time beyond, like when I'm no longer
1:02:01 - 1:02:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: here, when people look over the work that I created it gives them a sense of
1:02:06 - 1:02:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that intergenerational passing down. A sense of that
1:02:10 - 1:02:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: people have survived something before this and will continue to survive
1:02:14 - 1:02:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in the future.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh thank you, Mike. So there is a question from Tom. Ifeoma, I wanted you to respond to that first. And then Titilope will go immediately after.
1:02:19 - 1:02:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Oh thank you, Mike. So there is a question from Tom. Ifeoma, I wanted you to respond to that first.
1:02:23 - 1:02:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And then Titilope will go immediately after.
1:02:27 - 1:02:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, the question for both of you. The climate crisis
1:02:27 - 1:02:57
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, the question for both of you. The climate crisis is having a disproportionate impact on some nations, the poorer more than the affluent. At least so far. Has this crisis had an effect on your creative work or your thinking as a writer? That's like what's the relationship between the climate crisis and your your creative practices.
1:02:32 - 1:02:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: is having a disproportionate impact on some nations, the poorer
1:02:37 - 1:02:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: more than the affluent. At least so far. Has this
1:02:41 - 1:02:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: crisis had an effect on your creative
1:02:45 - 1:02:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: work or your thinking as a writer? That's
1:02:49 - 1:02:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: like what's the relationship between the climate crisis
1:02:53 - 1:02:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: and your your creative practices.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Well, thank you for that question. Um, I think some poems, which I write on past events on Plateau. Um. And um. It was as a result of desertification back home in Nigeria. And a movement of nomadic herdsmen with their cattle in search of water, in search of grazing fields for their their their herds.
1:02:58 - 1:03:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Well, thank you for that question. Um, I think some
1:03:02 - 1:03:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: poems, which I write on past events on Plateau.
1:03:06 - 1:03:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Um. And um.
1:03:11 - 1:03:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It was as a result of desertification
1:03:16 - 1:03:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: back home in Nigeria. And a movement of nomadic
1:03:21 - 1:03:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: herdsmen with their cattle in search of water, in search of grazing
1:03:25 - 1:03:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: fields for their their their herds.
1:03:30 - 1:03:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And in so doing, because they made the pastor and the farmers,
1:03:30 - 1:03:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And in so doing, because they made the pastor and the farmers, and uh trouble broke out. Because they were going to fight over resources, over grass. If somebody is a farmer planting crops. And you you come with animals that eat crops, there's bound to be conflict. So, I've written some poems, you know to in answer to that. In answer to the desert...
1:03:34 - 1:03:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and uh trouble broke out. Because they were going to fight
1:03:39 - 1:03:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: over resources, over grass. If somebody is a farmer planting
1:03:43 - 1:03:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: crops. And you you come with animals that eat crops,
1:03:47 - 1:03:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: there's bound to be conflict. So, I've written some poems, you know to
1:03:53 - 1:03:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in answer to that. In answer to the desert...
1:03:57 - 1:04:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Back home in Africa our experience of climate change
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Back home in Africa our experience of climate change is the drying up. For instance, the heating and all. Is the drying up of the... And so cattle movement down south is. And it's war. And its very. Its uh its uh it's lots of bloodletting. It's not just stop here. Go here. They they kill. They decimate people.
1:04:02 - 1:04:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: is the drying up. For instance, the
1:04:06 - 1:04:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: heating and all. Is the drying up of the...
1:04:11 - 1:04:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so cattle movement down south is. And it's war. And its
1:04:15 - 1:04:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: very. Its uh its uh it's lots of bloodletting. It's not just stop here.
1:04:19 - 1:04:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Go here. They they kill. They decimate people.
1:04:24 - 1:04:58
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And the nature of their culture. Nature of their practices.
1:04:24 - 1:04:58
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And the nature of their culture. Nature of their practices. These people are monogomous. You are polygamous. So, if we allow you to stay, in the next generation you may come for us. So, it's a... It's a do or die affair. And so, I've captured some of these uh. These aspects of the climate change, desertification, in some of the poems I've written in the Plateau State where a lot of these... battle has errupted.
1:04:29 - 1:04:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: These people are monogomous. You are polygamous. So, if we allow you to stay,
1:04:33 - 1:04:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in the next generation you may come for us. So, it's a...
1:04:37 - 1:04:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It's a do or die affair. And so, I've captured some of these uh.
1:04:41 - 1:04:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: These aspects of the climate change, desertification, in
1:04:45 - 1:04:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: some of the poems I've written in the Plateau State where
1:04:50 - 1:04:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: a lot of these...
1:04:55 - 1:04:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: battle has errupted. And then back home
1:04:58 - 1:05:14
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And then back home too in sources of engery. How are we men still dependent on trees? Dependent on fire wood to cook, smoke, and all. So, I've captured that in some of my writings.
1:04:59 - 1:05:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: too in sources of engery. How are we men still
1:05:04 - 1:05:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: dependent on trees? Dependent on fire wood
1:05:08 - 1:05:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to cook, smoke, and all. So, I've captured that in some of my
1:05:12 - 1:05:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: writings. But um...
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But um... But most cannot dichotomize the effects of the climate change between here and there. Because it's one world. It's one globe. Whatever happens over there eventually effects us here. If I go look at Edmonton. The middle of winter. We are having nine degrees! Ten degrees! And I'm asking. What is going on here? Is this winter? Is this how my idea of winter is in Edmonton? And they say, don't be decieved. We have fluctuations.
1:05:17 - 1:05:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But most cannot dichotomize the effects of the climate change between here and there.
1:05:22 - 1:05:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because it's one world. It's one globe. Whatever happens over there
1:05:27 - 1:05:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: eventually effects us here. If I go look at Edmonton.
1:05:31 - 1:05:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The middle of winter. We are having nine degrees! Ten degrees! And I'm asking.
1:05:37 - 1:05:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: What is going on here? Is this winter? Is this how my idea of winter is in Edmonton? And they say, don't be decieved. We have fluctuations.
1:05:44 - 1:05:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, it effects everybody, climate change. Whether in Europe, in
1:05:45 - 1:06:15
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, it effects everybody, climate change. Whether in Europe, in American, or in African. And you cannot, you cannot say, it's in Africa. How is it in America? How is it? Because it's one world. What affects you here eventually affects the other person. So in our writing, in my writing, I've tried to capture it in the poems and in the the culture that I describe in my books. Thank you. I hope I've answered and given insight.
1:05:48 - 1:05:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: American, or in African. And you cannot, you
1:05:53 - 1:05:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: cannot say, it's in Africa. How is it in America? How is it? Because it's one
1:05:57 - 1:06:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: world. What affects you here eventually affects
1:06:01 - 1:06:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the other person. So in our writing, in my writing, I've tried to capture
1:06:05 - 1:06:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: it in the poems and in the the culture
1:06:09 - 1:06:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: that I describe in my books. Thank you. I hope I've answered and given insight.
1:06:13 - 1:06:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: Thank you. That was a wonderful answer.
1:06:15 - 1:06:18
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 2: Thank you. That was a wonderful answer. I I totally agree that we need to share these stories about what's happening all over the world, right? It's coming together and communicating that this way that is really going to make people realize what's going on and how urgent it is. So, thank you, yeah.
1:06:18 - 1:06:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: I I totally agree that we need to share these stories about
1:06:22 - 1:06:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: what's happening all over the world, right? It's coming together and communicating that
1:06:26 - 1:06:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: this way that is really going to make people realize
1:06:30 - 1:06:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: what's going on and how urgent it is. So, thank you, yeah.
1:06:34 - 1:06:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Um Titilope, I think you should also answer that.
1:06:34 - 1:06:39
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Um Titilope, I think you should also answer that.
1:06:39 - 1:07:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um a poet friend of mine by the name of Brandon Wint has this
1:06:39 - 1:07:16
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um a poet friend of mine by the name of Brandon Wint has this interesting take on how the climate crisis is an extension of this great colonial projects, right? And and as a result of that Blackness and Black people are very closely related to this idea of the ways in which men have always wanted to conquer the earth and conquer other people. And it is a result of that conquering that this crisis emerges, right? I think it's it's very interesting and something that I I've been ruminating over.
1:06:43 - 1:06:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: interesting take on how
1:06:47 - 1:06:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the climate crisis is an extension
1:06:51 - 1:06:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of this great colonial projects, right? And and as a result
1:06:55 - 1:07:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of that Blackness and Black people are very closely
1:07:00 - 1:07:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: related to this idea of the ways in which men have always
1:07:04 - 1:07:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: wanted to conquer the earth and conquer other people. And it is a result of
1:07:08 - 1:07:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that conquering that this crisis emerges, right? I think
1:07:12 - 1:07:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: it's it's very interesting and something that I I've been ruminating over.
1:07:16 - 1:07:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, while I don't specifically talk about the climate climate
1:07:16 - 1:07:42
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, while I don't specifically talk about the climate climate crisis in my work, I do think what is central to the work that I write is this connection to nature. You will always hear something up about the land and the trees and the water in my work. The ways... And those things are intentional because I think um we are so deeply connected to the earth that it is not removed from us.
1:07:20 - 1:07:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: crisis in my work, I do think what is central to the work that I write is
1:07:25 - 1:07:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: this connection to nature. You will always hear something up about
1:07:29 - 1:07:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the land and the trees and the water in my work, the ways. And
1:07:33 - 1:07:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: those things are intentional because I think um we
1:07:37 - 1:07:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: are so deeply connected to the earth that it is not removed from us.
1:07:42 - 1:07:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And so when I'm writing I I tried to bring a sense of honor
1:07:42 - 1:08:13
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: And so when I'm writing I I tried to bring a sense of honor to to those ideas. Um, yeah and I think it may be in the subtlety of that is an acknowledgement that there's something to be preserved and honored and cared for in that. And by caring for eachother and ourselves, it bleeds over into the ways that we care for the earth that we live on. And so if, all of those things, I guess I'm saying, are interconnected. Thank you.
1:07:46 - 1:07:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to to those ideas.
1:07:52 - 1:07:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, yeah and I think it may be in the subtlety of that is an acknowledgement that
1:07:56 - 1:08:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: there's something to be preserved and honored and cared
1:08:00 - 1:08:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: for in that. And by caring for eachother and ourselves,
1:08:05 - 1:08:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: it bleeds over into the ways that we care for the earth that we live on. And so if,
1:08:09 - 1:08:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: all of those things, I guess I'm saying, are interconnected. Thank you.
1:08:13 - 1:08:26
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 2: Thank you, yeah. I I agree. I think that's the hopeful part of it, right? Is is that connection to nature and and the realization that we we we are nothing without nature. So, yeah, thank you.
1:08:13 - 1:08:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: Thank you, yeah. I I agree. I think that's the hopeful part of it, right? Is is
1:08:18 - 1:08:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: that connection to nature and and the realization that we we we are
1:08:22 - 1:08:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 2: nothing without nature. So, yeah, thank you.
1:08:26 - 1:08:39
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: Thank you so much, Titilope and Ifeoma. Really appreciate the words that you
1:08:26 - 1:08:39
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 3: Thank you so much, Titilope and Ifeoma. Really appreciate the words that you shared today. And for taking the time out to share great literature with us so early in the year.
1:08:30 - 1:08:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: shared today. And for taking the time out to share great
1:08:34 - 1:08:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: literature with us so early in the year.
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: My question is around, um,
1:08:39 - 1:09:04
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 3: My question is around, um, actually for both of you, all three of you, kind of where you see, uh, African literature, Nigerian literature going. And to sort of frame that question, um. In this conversation there's been many sort of mention of other writers. Whether it's Chinua, Wole Soyinka, um, contemporary African writers. For me someone like Teju Cole.
1:08:43 - 1:08:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: actually for both of you, all three of you, kind of where you see, uh,
1:08:47 - 1:08:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: African literature, Nigerian literature going. And to sort of frame that
1:08:51 - 1:08:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: question, um. In this conversation there's been many sort of
1:08:56 - 1:09:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: mention of other writers. Whether it's Chinua, Wole Soyinka, um,
1:09:00 - 1:09:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: contemporary African writers. For me someone like Teju Cole. And so
1:09:04 - 1:09:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: I I feel like there is at this time. There isn't like a shortlist of
1:09:04 - 1:09:29
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 3: And so I I feel like there is at this time. There isn't like a shortlist of Nigerian writers throughout the world. You find that there are Nigerians doing great literature throughout the world and have been doing so. And for the younger generation I would also say that most recently you had just the explosion of a music, Nigerian music and afrobeats and afropop, whether its Wizkid, Burna Boy.
1:09:08 - 1:09:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: Nigerian writers throughout the world. You find that there are Nigerians doing great
1:09:13 - 1:09:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: literature throughout the world and have been doing so. And for the younger
1:09:17 - 1:09:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: generation I would also say that most recently you had
1:09:21 - 1:09:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: just the explosion of a music, Nigerian music and afrobeats
1:09:25 - 1:09:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: and afropop, whether its Wizkid, Burna Boy. So, there's, there really has
1:09:29 - 1:09:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: been in my eyes sort of this uh spotlight
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
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EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 3: So, there's, there really has been in my eyes sort of this uh spotlight on Nigerian culture and really the impact of Nigerian culture in so many different realms. Uche, you mentioned Nollywood and how Nollywood has even impacted. Not impacted. But sort of been spotlighted in things in like Netflix. So, I feel like there are so many different avenues to sort of tap into Nigerian culture.
1:09:33 - 1:09:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: on Nigerian culture and really the impact of Nigerian culture in so many different realms.
1:09:38 - 1:09:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: Uche, you mentioned Nollywood and how Nollywood
1:09:42 - 1:09:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: has even impacted. Not impacted. But sort of
1:09:46 - 1:09:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: been spotlighted in things in like
1:09:50 - 1:09:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: Netflix. So, I feel like there are so many different avenues
1:09:54 - 1:09:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: to sort of tap into Nigerian culture. And I think in the way
1:09:57 - 1:10:32
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Audience 3: And I think in the way that we are connected now there's also a very stark line of what came before, what is now, and you know what is to come. And so it's just to kind of frame it again to say there's so many different examples of new contemporary Nigerian art. And I'm I'm going to ask both of you kind of where do you see yourselves as uh. Where do you see Nigerian literature sort of heading towards. Um if you could give us maybe some some themes that you have been able to observe.
1:09:58 - 1:10:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: that we are connected now there's also a very stark line of
1:10:03 - 1:10:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: what came before, what is now, and you know what is
1:10:07 - 1:10:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: to come. And so it's just to kind of frame it again to say there's
1:10:11 - 1:10:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: so many different examples of new contemporary Nigerian
1:10:16 - 1:10:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: art. And I'm I'm going to ask both of you kind of where
1:10:20 - 1:10:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: do you see yourselves as uh. Where do you see Nigerian literature
1:10:25 - 1:10:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: sort of heading towards. Um if you could give us maybe some some themes that
1:10:29 - 1:10:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Audience 3: you have been able to observe.
1:10:32 - 1:11:12
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:10:32 - 1:11:12
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you so much for that question. Yes, you are right to observe that um Nigerian art and culture are growing in leaps and bounds. Not just Nigerian, too. Last year we had almost all the prizes won by Africans. All the major literary prizes from the Nobel to the Booker to... All won by Africans. So, it's like the world is waking up now too. It's opening the gate to let in new ideas and new um new cultures. You see?
1:10:34 - 1:10:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Thank you so much for that question. Yes, you are right
1:10:38 - 1:10:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to observe that um Nigerian art and
1:10:42 - 1:10:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: culture are growing in leaps and bounds.
1:10:47 - 1:10:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Not just Nigerian, too. Last year we had almost all the
1:10:51 - 1:10:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: prizes won by Africans. All the major literary prizes
1:10:55 - 1:11:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: from the Nobel to the Booker to... All won by
1:11:00 - 1:11:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Africans. So, it's like the world is waking up now too. It's opening
1:11:04 - 1:11:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the gate to let in new ideas and new um
1:11:10 - 1:11:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: new cultures. You see? So in Nigeria
1:11:12 - 1:11:27
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:11:12 - 1:11:27
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:11:12 - 1:11:27
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So in Nigeria this, as you also pointed out, it's not just in the in writing. In literature. It's also there in the music. There in Nollywood. It's there in dance. Everything!
1:11:14 - 1:11:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: this, as you also pointed out, it's not just in the in writing.
1:11:19 - 1:11:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: In literature. It's also there in the music.
1:11:23 - 1:11:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: There in Nollywood. It's there in dance. Everything!
1:11:27 - 1:12:08
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:11:27 - 1:12:08
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:11:27 - 1:11:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And, um, I think the reason for this is the social media. It's always
1:11:27 - 1:12:08
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And, um, I think the reason for this is the social media. It's always been very prolific in Nigeria. It's always been very very prolific, right? From my school days we have Nigerian poets. So many of them. But now with social media the world is just. At a click you can read poems from all over the world. You can see people. You can see artists. You can watch movies from Nigeria. Everywhere! So, the the creativity has always been there in my view. Now with the social media, the publicity is is following.
1:11:31 - 1:11:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: been very prolific in Nigeria.
1:11:36 - 1:11:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: It's always been very very prolific, right? From my school days we have Nigerian poets.
1:11:41 - 1:11:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So many of them. But now with social media
1:11:45 - 1:11:50
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the world is just. At a click you
1:11:50 - 1:11:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: can read poems from all over the world. You can see people.
1:11:54 - 1:11:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You can see artists. You can watch movies from Nigeria. Everywhere! So,
1:11:58 - 1:12:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the the creativity has always been there in my view.
1:12:02 - 1:12:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Now with the social media, the publicity is is following.
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:12:08 - 1:12:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And um it's a a cross-
1:12:08 - 1:12:32
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And um it's a a cross-fertilization of ideas, as well. Because Nollywood is growing. Because at their fingertips they have Hollywood. They have Bollywood. They have other experiences. And so they are able to see what is happening there. And say, why can't I do this? Why can't I replicate this? This is in Bollywood in India. We can do this as well.
1:12:13 - 1:12:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: fertilization of ideas, as well. Because Nollywood is growing. Because at their fingertips
1:12:18 - 1:12:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: they have Hollywood. They have Bollywood. They have other experiences.
1:12:22 - 1:12:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so they are able to see what is happening there. And say, why can't I do this?
1:12:27 - 1:12:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Why can't I replicate this? This is in Bollywood in India. We can do this as well.
1:12:32 - 1:12:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so people are tuning in and um
1:12:32 - 1:13:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And so people are tuning in and um hearing music. People who under normal circumstances would not have access to to, you know, to a producer. They they are producing. They are producing and pushing it out on the internet. And so you have to reckon with them. Tiktok... and they push it out. So, you are seeing them more. But they've always be there.
1:12:36 - 1:12:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: hearing music. People who under normal circumstances would not have
1:12:40 - 1:12:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: access to to you know
1:12:45 - 1:12:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to a producer. They they are producing. They are producing and pushing it out
1:12:49 - 1:12:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: on the internet. And so you have to reckon with them. Tiktok...
1:12:54 - 1:12:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and they push it out. So, you are seeing them more.
1:12:58 - 1:13:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But they've always be there. Another thing that I I
1:13:00 - 1:13:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:13:00 - 1:13:33
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Another thing that I I came across was, you know, almost illiterate children in Nigeria. Now they make a plane. And they fly it. They they tweak it, and the thing takes off and lands maybe a hundred metres away. They make a car. They make all sorts of gadgets. They make a bicycle. And they are illiterate. They have not been to school. You see? They have always been there, but now with the social media they are coming into the limelight. And they are saying, oh!
1:13:03 - 1:13:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: came across was, you know, almost illiterate children in Nigeria.
1:13:08 - 1:13:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Now they make a plane. And they fly it. They they tweak it, and the thing
1:13:14 - 1:13:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: takes off and lands maybe a hundred metres away.
1:13:20 - 1:13:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: They make a car. They make all sorts of gadgets. They make a bicycle. And they
1:13:24 - 1:13:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: are illiterate. They have not been to school. You see? They have always been there, but now
1:13:29 - 1:13:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: with the social media they are coming into the limelight. And they are saying, oh!
1:13:33 - 1:14:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:13:33 - 1:14:06
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:13:33 - 1:13:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: There's a lot of this. There is a lot of that. But it's always been there.
1:13:33 - 1:14:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: There's a lot of this. There is a lot of that. But it's always been there. As I say, we grew up with storytelling. Storytelling has been [snaps fingers] with us. And so, we pass it on from one generation to the other. And as we pass it on we add. As we say, we add salt and pepper, you know? We add things to it. But now with social media, again Tiktok, and you know Whatsapp. You create something and you push it out, and the world says, wow! There is a recrudescence of these things. But they have always been there, in my view.
1:13:37 - 1:13:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: As I say, we grew up with storytelling. Storytelling has been [snaps fingers] with us. And
1:13:42 - 1:13:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: so, we pass it on from one generation to the other. And as we pass it on
1:13:47 - 1:13:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: we add. As we say, we add salt and pepper, you know? We add
1:13:51 - 1:13:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: things to it. But now with social media, again Tiktok,
1:13:56 - 1:14:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and you know Whatsapp. You create something and you push it out,
1:14:00 - 1:14:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and the world says, wow! There is a recrudescence of these things. But they have always been there, in my view.
1:14:04 - 1:14:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: First I'll say that I think there's
1:14:06 - 1:14:26
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: First I'll say that I think there's an audacity and pride with which Nigerians enter every space that they're in. I think it is one of our greatest gifts, and I think that makes it so we enter spaces and we, you know, we dominate [laughs].
1:14:08 - 1:14:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: an audacity and pride with which Nigerians enter every space
1:14:12 - 1:14:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: that they're in. I think it is one of our greatest gifts, and I think that makes it so
1:14:17 - 1:14:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: we enter spaces and we,
1:14:22 - 1:14:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: you know, we dominate [laughs]. But
1:14:26 - 1:14:43
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:14:26 - 1:14:43
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: But I will say that I completely with what Ifeoma said about the reason. There's, there's sort of a democratization of sharing and voices, um, that's happened with social media. And just the the the more connected way that the world is.
1:14:27 - 1:14:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I will say that I completely with what Ifeoma said about the reason.
1:14:31 - 1:14:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: There's, there's sort of a democratization of sharing and voices,
1:14:36 - 1:14:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: um, that's happened with social media. And just the the the more
1:14:40 - 1:14:44
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: connected way that the world is. In I think in in in
1:14:43 - 1:15:09
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: In I think in in in past generations there was this idea that there was one, only room for one literary star. One African, one Nigerian literary star. And as such you had... it was like cycles of one person per time could really occupy the space. And and the kinds of stories that were being told had to sit within a certain kind of space to be, um, noticed and to be celebrated.
1:14:44 - 1:14:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: past generations there was this idea that there was one, only room for one
1:14:49 - 1:14:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: literary star. One African, one Nigerian
1:14:53 - 1:14:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: literary star. And as such you had... it was like cycles
1:14:57 - 1:15:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: of one person per time could really occupy the space. And and the kinds of stories that were being
1:15:01 - 1:15:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: told had to sit within a certain kind of space
1:15:06 - 1:15:10
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to be, um, noticed and to be celebrated. Now, because
1:15:10 - 1:15:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: we're now in a space where everyone's voices can be
1:15:14 - 1:15:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: heard everywhere in in real time, I
1:15:18 - 1:15:23
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: think a lot, I'm talking about literature in particular now, that a lot of young Nigerian
1:15:23 - 1:15:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: writers now have the freedom to write about just about anything.
1:15:27 - 1:15:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: You know like there are new generations of of young Nigerian writers who are writing
1:15:32 - 1:15:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: magical realism. Who are writing whatever. Like whatever
1:15:36 - 1:15:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the mind can touch they're creating this work. Because now it feels like there's space.
1:15:38 - 1:15:57
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Because now it feels like there's space. Like the sky is big enough for all the stars to exist at the same time. And and I think that's why we're seeing such diverse diversity of thoughts happening it seems at a fever pitch. Happening all at the same time. Um, where do I see Nigerian literature? All, anywhere that it chooses.
1:15:41 - 1:15:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Like the sky is big enough for all the stars to exist at the same time. And
1:15:45 - 1:15:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and I think that's why we're seeing such diverse diversity of thoughts happening it
1:15:49 - 1:15:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: seems at a fever pitch. Happening all at the same time. Um, where
1:15:53 - 1:15:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: do I see Nigerian literature? All, anywhere that it chooses.
1:15:57 - 1:16:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: You know I think I'm really excited about some forthcoming work. And
1:15:57 - 1:16:19
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: You know I think I'm really excited about some forthcoming work. And and work that is bending, turning language on its head and coming up with new ideas. And telling stories that we haven't seen before. So, I think I think it is limitless. I'm I'm excited about the idea that...
1:16:02 - 1:16:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and work that is bending, turning language on its head
1:16:06 - 1:16:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and coming up with new ideas.
1:16:11 - 1:16:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: And telling stories that we haven't seen before. So, I think I think it
1:16:15 - 1:16:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is limitless. I'm I'm excited about the idea that... I mean,
1:16:19 - 1:16:44
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: I mean, even the idea of publishing in the traditional sense is evolving. Some writers self publish, and that's not such a horrible thing anymore, you know? And you know now we have audio books and we can hear writers actually read and speak their words out loud. I think the possibilities are quite endless. And I think it's it it's an exciting time for the culture generally.
1:16:19 - 1:16:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: even the idea of publishing in the traditional sense is evolving.
1:16:24 - 1:16:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Some writers self publish, and that's not such a horrible thing
1:16:28 - 1:16:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: anymore, you know? And you know now we have audio books and we can
1:16:32 - 1:16:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: hear writers actually read and speak their words out loud. I think the possibilities
1:16:37 - 1:16:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: are quite endless. And I think it's it it's an exciting time
1:16:42 - 1:16:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: for the culture generally.
1:16:44 - 1:17:19
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:16:44 - 1:17:19
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: There are two questions. One from... How would you define your poetic style? That's for you. And then there's a question for both of you from Carlo who is asking, besides publishing what are other plans and programs you have to propogate the suggestions found in your works through some of the people who should really hear them. The people I mean here are those who are really affected by some of these issues addressed both in reference to culture and politics.
1:16:47 - 1:16:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: There are two questions. One from... How would you define your poetic style? That's
1:16:51 - 1:16:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for you. And then there's a question for both of you from Carlo
1:16:55 - 1:16:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: who is asking, besides
1:16:59 - 1:17:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: publishing what are other plans and programs you have to propogate
1:17:03 - 1:17:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the suggestions found in your works through some of the people who
1:17:07 - 1:17:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: should really hear them. The people I mean here are those who are really
1:17:12 - 1:17:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: affected by some of these issues addressed both in reference to culture and politics.
1:17:16 - 1:17:20
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: My poetic style
1:17:19 - 1:17:55
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:17:19 - 1:17:55
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: My poetic style is [laughs] whatever is in the season that I'm in in that moment. Um, I don't I don't define that style. And I don't I don't think about that very deeply. I just move in the direction of what kind of work feels urgent to me in that time, which is why I write for the page. I write for the stage. I do spoken word albums. And I think the work of a an artist or poet is expansive. And we can do all the things. So, um, I guess maybe the the short answer is, I don't know. I just create what what feels good to me in that moment.
1:17:20 - 1:17:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: is [laughs] whatever is in the season that I'm in in that moment.
1:17:25 - 1:17:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, I don't I don't define that style. And I don't
1:17:30 - 1:17:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I don't think about that very deeply. I just move in the direction of
1:17:34 - 1:17:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: what kind of work feels urgent to me in that time, which is why I
1:17:38 - 1:17:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: write for the page. I write for the stage. I do spoken word albums. And I think
1:17:42 - 1:17:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the work of a an artist or poet is expansive. And we can do all the things. So,
1:17:47 - 1:17:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: um, I guess maybe the the short answer is, I don't know. I just create
1:17:51 - 1:17:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: what what feels good to me in that moment. Um,
1:17:55 - 1:17:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and in in continuance of that to the other question
1:17:55 - 1:18:23
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Um, and in in continuance of that to the other question I think art is expansive. Like I don't I don't think just publishing for the page in enough. I agree. I think both of us um, have, like perform our work and speak our work out loud. And allow that work to exist in many different forms. And I think that's part of getting, of allowing the work to have reach, you know?
1:17:59 - 1:18:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I think art is expansive. Like I don't I don't think just publishing
1:18:04 - 1:18:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: for the page in enough. I agree. I think both of us
1:18:08 - 1:18:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: um, have, like perform our work and speak our work
1:18:12 - 1:18:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: out loud. And allow that work to exist in many different forms. And
1:18:16 - 1:18:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: I think that's part of getting, of allowing the work to have reach,
1:18:21 - 1:18:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: you know? Yeah, I do I perform on the stage
1:18:23 - 1:18:59
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yeah, I do I perform on the stage for this very reason. And I perform across the world, um, because I also believe in the power of the spoken word. Hearing the words out loud. Because um books are also a privileged thing. Not everybody can own a book. Read a book. But I think there's something in the physical experience of a performance that is that is accessible. And I guess I'm just trying to evolve my work into many different mediums such that it has as much reach and can touch as many people as possible.
1:18:25 - 1:18:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: for this very reason. And I perform across the world, um,
1:18:30 - 1:18:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: because I also believe in the power of the spoken word. Hearing the words out loud.
1:18:34 - 1:18:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Because um books are also a privileged thing.
1:18:39 - 1:18:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Not everybody can own a book. Read a book.
1:18:43 - 1:18:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: But I think there's something in the physical experience of
1:18:47 - 1:18:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: a performance that is that is accessible. And I guess I'm just trying
1:18:52 - 1:18:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: to evolve my work into many different mediums such that it has as much reach
1:18:56 - 1:19:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: and can touch as many people as possible.
1:18:59 - 1:19:07
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:18:59 - 1:19:07
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Yeah, thank you very much, Titilope. Ifeoma you can take a stab at that question.
1:19:00 - 1:19:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Yeah, thank you very much, Titilope. Ifeoma you can
1:19:04 - 1:19:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: take a stab at that question.
1:19:07 - 1:19:45
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Okay, what are we doing to nudge the the people, the culture, and the politics? Well, well, well, well, well, well. Um, whatever we write, what, write put in a book is already there in the public space. And our people say that uh no deafer person than person who does not want to hear. And so somebody who does not want to hear. Oh, he can hear. He has the ability to hear. But he does not want to hear. That's the deaf... That's deafest person you have.
1:19:08 - 1:19:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Okay, what are we doing to nudge the the people, the culture, and the
1:19:12 - 1:19:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: politics? Well, well,
1:19:16 - 1:19:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: well, well, well, well. Um, whatever we
1:19:21 - 1:19:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: write, what, write put in a book is
1:19:25 - 1:19:29
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: already there in the public space.
1:19:29 - 1:19:33
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: And our people say that uh no deafer person than person who does not want
1:19:33 - 1:19:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to hear. And so somebody who does not want to hear.
1:19:38 - 1:19:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Oh, he can hear. He has the ability to hear. But he does not want to hear. That's the deaf...
1:19:43 - 1:19:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That's deafest person you have. So all this age we are talking about in books.
1:19:45 - 1:20:29
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So all this age we are talking about in books. That we are writing in books. That we have chronicling. They are already there. Government is aware. It's already in social media, if you like. In newspapers. Most of my, most of the things I write are, for instance, I gather from newspapers. What goes on. What people are doing. For instance, you read about ritual killing. Somebody even lured his mother to a hotel room and tried to stab her to use her for a ritual killing. It's all... it's there in the papers. So, if I put it in my, in my book, for instance, it's a narrative fiction. It's to capture the zeitgeist. The times that we are living in.
1:19:47 - 1:19:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That we are writing in books. That we have chronicling. They are already there.
1:19:52 - 1:19:57
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Government is aware. It's already in social media, if you like. In newspapers.
1:19:57 - 1:20:01
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Most of my, most of the things I write are,
1:20:01 - 1:20:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: for instance, I gather from newspapers.
1:20:05 - 1:20:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: What goes on. What people are doing. For instance, you read about ritual killing.
1:20:09 - 1:20:14
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Somebody even lured his mother to a hotel room and tried to
1:20:14 - 1:20:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: stab her to use her for a ritual killing. It's all... it's there
1:20:18 - 1:20:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: in the papers. So, if I put it in my, in my book,
1:20:22 - 1:20:27
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: for instance, it's a narrative fiction. It's to capture the zeitgeist. The
1:20:27 - 1:20:32
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: times that we are living in. But government is aware.
1:20:29 - 1:20:54
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But government is aware. The police is aware. Women are aware. Even as it happens you see people reacting. What is the world coming to? Hold your children? Hold this... So the reactions are there. And government is there. And if government wants to do something, government can. And I think the solution, one of the soutions.
1:20:32 - 1:20:37
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: The police is aware. Women are aware. Even as it happens
1:20:37 - 1:20:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: you see people reacting. What is the world coming to? Hold
1:20:41 - 1:20:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: your children? Hold this... So the reactions
1:20:45 - 1:20:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: are there. And government is there. And if government wants to do something,
1:20:49 - 1:20:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: government can. And I think the solution, one of the soutions.
1:20:54 - 1:20:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: People keep saying, you must have strong institutions. You must have strong
1:20:54 - 1:21:20
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: People keep saying, you must have strong institutions. You must have strong institutions. That's what we lack. We'd rather have strong personalities. You cannot. You cannot write something critical of the president or the governor or those in power. You cannot. So, we don't have the strong institutions to to tackle these problems. These social problems.
1:20:58 - 1:21:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: institutions. That's what we lack.
1:21:03 - 1:21:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: We'd rather have strong personalities. You cannot. You cannot
1:21:08 - 1:21:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: write something critical of the president or the governor or those in power. You cannot.
1:21:15 - 1:21:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, we don't have the strong institutions to to tackle these problems.
1:21:19 - 1:21:24
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: These social problems. But they know already that the problems are there.
1:21:20 - 1:21:46
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:21:20 - 1:21:46
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But they know already that the problems are there. They cannot claim that they do not know. They know that there are urchins, street urchins. How many millions of children are out of school? They know! They see them hawking. As they are going to work, they see children nine, ten, eleven selling... on the road, selling bananas on the road. And they should be in school.
1:21:24 - 1:21:28
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: They cannot claim that they do not know. They know that there are
1:21:28 - 1:21:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: urchins, street urchins. How many millions of children are out of school? They know!
1:21:34 - 1:21:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: They see them hawking. As they are going to work, they see children nine, ten, eleven
1:21:40 - 1:21:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: selling... on the road, selling bananas on the road. And they should be in school.
1:21:46 - 1:21:53
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So? The deafest person is the person who does not want to hear.
1:21:46 - 1:22:00
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So? The deafest person is the person who does not want to hear. Government is aware of these problems. If government wants to do something it can do something.
1:21:53 - 1:21:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Government is aware of these problems. If government wants to do something
1:21:58 - 1:22:02
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: it can do something. But as
1:22:00 - 1:22:25
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But as as a writer to capture it in our stories. This is what is happening. There's... I think wrote her memoirs. I thought it stranger than fiction. Some of the things we write. Some of the things happening back home. When people here read them here they think... it's not possible, is this? But they are happening!
1:22:02 - 1:22:06
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: as a writer to capture it in our stories.
1:22:06 - 1:22:11
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: This is what is happening. There's... I think wrote her memoirs.
1:22:11 - 1:22:15
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: I thought it stranger than fiction.
1:22:15 - 1:22:19
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Some of the things we write. Some of the things happening back home.
1:22:19 - 1:22:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: When people here read them here they think... it's not possible, is this? But they are happening!
1:22:25 - 1:22:56
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:22:25 - 1:22:56
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:22:25 - 1:22:56
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:22:25 - 1:22:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You see? So the writer is to capture it and put it there. So then ten, twenty, thirty,
1:22:25 - 1:22:56
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You see? So the writer is to capture it and put it there. So then ten, twenty, thirty, fifty years. People come and say hm, this is what, this is what was happening there? Yes! And government is aware. Government is there. Bandits are coming and kidnapping girls. What have they done about Chibok? What have they done about Dapchi? No? They are there. And the bandits have their mobile phones and... you you can't even get them through your mobile phones?
1:22:31 - 1:22:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: fifty years. People come and say hm, this is what, this is what was happening there?
1:22:35 - 1:22:41
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Yes! And government is aware. Government is there. Bandits are coming
1:22:41 - 1:22:46
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: and kidnapping girls. What have they done about Chibok? What have they done about Dapchi?
1:22:46 - 1:22:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: No? They are there. And the bandits have their mobile
1:22:51 - 1:22:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: phones and... you you can't even get them through your mobile phones?
1:22:56 - 1:23:24
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:22:56 - 1:23:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, government is aware. Yesterday, they are closing schools. Ah, they say security is
1:22:56 - 1:23:24
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, government is aware. Yesterday, they are closing schools. Ah, they say security is too much. Ah, please, close your school, so that they don't come and cap-please! Close your schools. Is that what government should do? Should government close the schools? Or go after the bandits? So, you have the whole area. So many children are out of school. Because government has closed schools due to insecurity. But you are supposed to provide security!
1:23:00 - 1:23:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: too much. Ah, please, close your school, so that they don't come and cap-please!
1:23:04 - 1:23:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Close your schools. Is that what government should do? Should government close
1:23:08 - 1:23:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the schools? Or go after the bandits?
1:23:13 - 1:23:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, you have the whole area. So many children are out of school.
1:23:17 - 1:23:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: Because government has closed schools due to insecurity. But you are supposed
1:23:21 - 1:23:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: to provide security! So, we writers we capture
1:23:24 - 1:23:54
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, we writers we capture the the thing. You chronicle it. As we see it. As it's happening. But let the government not claim that they are not aware, not aware. You are aware! It's happening there. You read the papers, you see it. You are aware. Do something. Wake up! Do something. That's why the last, um, the last demonstration we had was called sorosoke. Speak up. Speak to power. Speak truth to power.
1:23:26 - 1:23:31
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: the the thing. You chronicle it. As we see it. As it's happening.
1:23:31 - 1:23:36
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: But let the government not claim that they are not aware, not aware.
1:23:36 - 1:23:40
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You are aware! It's happening there. You read the papers, you see it.
1:23:40 - 1:23:45
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: You are aware. Do something. Wake up! Do something.
1:23:45 - 1:23:49
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: That's why the last, um, the last demonstration we had was called
1:23:49 - 1:23:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: sorosoke. Speak up. Speak to power. Speak truth to power.
1:23:54 - 1:23:58
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, that's what I can say. As a writer, you write. And then leave it to
1:23:54 - 1:24:05
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Chinwuba: So, that's what I can say. As a writer, you write. And then leave it to those have the means to act. Thank you.
1:23:58 - 1:24:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Chinwuba: those have the means to act. Thank you.
1:24:03 - 1:24:07
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma and Titilope
1:24:05 - 1:24:12
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:24:05 - 1:24:12
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much, Ifeoma and Titilope for those insights and responses.
1:24:07 - 1:24:12
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for those insights and responses.
1:24:12 - 1:24:50
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:24:12 - 1:24:50
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:24:12 - 1:24:16
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: We are almost exceeding our
1:24:12 - 1:24:50
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: We are almost exceeding our time here. And although there is a question for Titilope, but I think... Titilope if you are disposed to answering those questions or one of the questions, uh uh you can. Or... can reach out to you. And I don't know how you want to take that. But we have to... in the next few seconds we should be rounding off. Titilope, do you want to respond to that or?
1:24:16 - 1:24:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: time here. And although there is a question
1:24:21 - 1:24:25
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: for Titilope, but I think... Titilope
1:24:25 - 1:24:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: if you are disposed to answering those questions or one of the
1:24:30 - 1:24:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: questions, uh uh you can.
1:24:34 - 1:24:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Or... can reach out to you. And
1:24:38 - 1:24:42
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I don't know how you want to take that. But we have to... in the next few
1:24:42 - 1:24:48
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: seconds we should be rounding off.
1:24:48 - 1:24:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Titilope, do you want to respond to that or?
1:24:50 - 1:25:06
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yes, I can do it quickly. Yes, my work is absolutely influenced by oral traditions. That is the tradition I grew up in. All of us had aunties and mummies who would come into the room and command the space just by telling a story. And so that is where I was raised. And that's where I I will remain.
1:24:52 - 1:24:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Yes, I can do it quickly. Yes, my work is absolutely influenced by oral traditions. That is the tradition I grew up
1:24:56 - 1:25:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: in. All of us had aunties and mummies who would come into the room and command the space just
1:25:00 - 1:25:05
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: by telling a story. And so that is where I was raised. And that's where I I
1:25:05 - 1:25:09
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: will remain. As for poetry collections, Maggie Smith, Good Bones.
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:06 - 1:25:33
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Sonuga: As for poetry collections, Maggie Smith, Good Bones. Warsan Shire, um Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth. And in her upcoming collection, which I've not read but I'm already recommending, it's called Praise the Daughter Who Raised, uh Who Raised Herself With the Voice in Her Head or something like that. Anything Warsan writes read it. Um Claudia Rankine, Citizen. The list is endless. But you can reach out to me offline, and I will chat with you some more.
1:25:09 - 1:25:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: Warsan Shire, um Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth. And in
1:25:13 - 1:25:18
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: her upcoming collection, which I've not read but I'm already recommending, it's called Praise
1:25:18 - 1:25:22
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: the Daughter Who Raised, uh Who Raised Herself With the Voice in Her Head
1:25:22 - 1:25:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: or something like that. Anything Warsan writes read it. Um Claudia Rankine, Citizen.
1:25:26 - 1:25:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: The list is endless. But you can reach out to me offline, and I will chat with
1:25:30 - 1:25:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Sonuga: you some more.
1:25:31 - 1:27:59
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Closing
1:25:31 - 1:27:59
Readings and Discussion Featuring UAlberta Writer in Residence Ifeoma Chinwuba and Edmonton Poet Laureate Titilope Sonuga 03-04-2022 16:28 [Index]
Closing: Host, Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, thanks the guests and Michael O'Driscoll makes closing remarks.
1:25:33 - 1:26:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:33 - 1:26:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:33 - 1:26:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:33 - 1:26:16
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:25:33 - 1:26:16
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much. Once again I just want to say thank you Ifeoma Chinwuba and Titilope Sonuga for your fantastic responses and your amazing readings. And I, like I mentioned earlier, have been enriched by this conversation. And I just want to thank you for your patience and everyone who came around for your support of this event. And our time is up, but I hope you had fun. So and I want to encourage you to have these conversations in other spaces. To reach out to Titilope and Ifeoma and carry on this conversation.
1:25:34 - 1:25:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Thank you very much. Once again I just want to say thank you
1:25:39 - 1:25:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma Chinwuba and Titilope Sonuga for your fantastic
1:25:43 - 1:25:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: responses and your amazing readings. And I, like
1:25:47 - 1:25:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: I mentioned earlier, have been enriched by this conversation. And I just
1:25:51 - 1:25:55
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: want to thank you for your patience and everyone who
1:25:55 - 1:25:59
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: came around for your support of this event.
1:25:59 - 1:26:03
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: And our time is up, but I hope you had fun. So and I
1:26:03 - 1:26:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: want to encourage you to have these conversations in other spaces.
1:26:08 - 1:26:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: To reach out to Titilope and
1:26:13 - 1:26:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: Ifeoma and carry on this conversation. So, at
1:26:16 - 1:26:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:16 - 1:26:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:16 - 1:26:35
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:16 - 1:26:35
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
Umezurike: So, at this point, I would like to invite Mike to formally close the event. And again thank you to SpokenWeb and the department of English and Film Studies for making the space available to us. So, Mike over to. Thank you, once again.
1:26:17 - 1:26:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: this point, I would like to invite Mike to formally close the event. And
1:26:21 - 1:26:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: again thank you to SpokenWeb and
1:26:26 - 1:26:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: the department of English and Film Studies for making the space available
1:26:29 - 1:27:38
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:29 - 1:27:38
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:29 - 1:27:38
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:29 - 1:27:38
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: This SpokenWeb event has been supported by the Social Science and Humanities Council of Canada and the Department of English and Film Studies at University of Alberta.
1:26:30 - 1:26:35
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
Umezurike: to us. So, Mike over to. Thank you, once again.
1:26:35 - 1:26:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:35 - 1:26:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:35 - 1:26:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:35 - 1:26:59
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:35 - 1:26:39
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Thank you so much, Uche. Well, I'd I'd like to conclude this
1:26:35 - 1:26:59
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Thank you so much, Uche. Well, I'd I'd like to conclude this wonderful event by offering thanks to everyone involved. First to Ifeoma and Titilope for agreeing agreeing to share their work and thoughts and audacity and pride with us today. And to Uche for agreeing to be our generous host and contribute to the liveliness of this exchange. Thank you all so very very much.
1:26:39 - 1:26:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: wonderful event by offering thanks to everyone involved. First to Ifeoma
1:26:43 - 1:26:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: and Titilope for agreeing agreeing to share their work and thoughts and
1:26:47 - 1:26:52
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: audacity and pride with us today. And to Uche
1:26:52 - 1:26:56
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: for agreeing to be our generous host and contribute to the liveliness of this
1:26:56 - 1:27:00
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: exchange. Thank you all so very very much. I want to thank
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:26:59 - 1:26:29
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: I want to thank my colleagues at the University of Alberta Dr. Chelsea Miya and Sean Luyk who launched the planning for this event and helped to bring everyone here together. And Jason Camelot at Concordia, Montreal. And all of our friends across the SpokenWeb network who are so committed to building communities of trust and collaboration in meaningful ways that have a positive impact on the world around us. Thanks to Claire and Grant for today's technical support and their always cheerful professionalism.
1:27:00 - 1:27:04
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: my colleagues at the University of Alberta Dr. Chelsea Miya and Sean Luyk
1:27:04 - 1:27:08
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: who launched the planning for this event and helped to bring everyone here together.
1:27:08 - 1:27:13
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: And Jason Camelot at Concordia, Montreal. And all of our friends across
1:27:13 - 1:27:17
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: the SpokenWeb network who are so committed to building communities of trust
1:27:17 - 1:27:21
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: and collaboration in meaningful ways that have a positive impact on
1:27:21 - 1:27:26
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: the world around us. Thanks to Claire and Grant for today's technical
1:27:26 - 1:27:30
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: support and their always cheerful professionalism. This SpokenWeb
1:27:30 - 1:27:34
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: event has been supported by the Social Science and Humanities Council of Canada
1:27:34 - 1:27:38
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: and the Department of English and Film Studies at University of Alberta.
1:27:38 - 1:27:56
SpaCy NER 1409 [Transcript]
1:27:38 - 1:27:43
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Finally, I'd like to thank all of you are in attendance
1:27:38 - 1:27:56
EdmontonPoets-Transcript [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: Finally, I'd like to thank all of you are in attendance for joining us today and to wish to wish each of you all the best in the future. Have a wonderful day. Have a wonderful evening wherever you may be. Thank you for joining us and take care.
1:27:43 - 1:27:47
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: for joining us today and to wish to wish each of you all the
1:27:47 - 1:27:51
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: best in the future. Have a wonderful day. Have a wonderful evening
1:27:51 - 1:27:54
EdmontonPoets-Captions [Transcript]
O'Driscoll: wherever you may be. Thank you for joining us and take care.