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-	The Poet Fled: And he is still far from home

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There is a collection of poetry with a similar title to the one above. When it was published around 1992, it was roundly rejected and subjected to ridicule by friends and the few lucky 'critics' who obtained free copies from the publisher-photographer who was paid to facilitate the printing. This collection now rests in the bosom of it's creator and writer of the poems still bent on fighting the Lord's battle in words. That collection, in fairness to those who shot it down, was neither a book nor a pamphlet, it was just the raw feelings of a thirty-two year old, who felt short changed by a nation and a world that were heading into self destruction.

Words in cold print have not been known to change the hearts of tyrants nor has badly written poetry warmed the hearts of peasants who toil day and night to keep body and soul a piece. At the time the collection was publishedm the nation's intellectuals were voting with their feet before the new world economic disorder made the streets the home of their intestines. They were leaving in large numbers and for some of us, their disciples, living took new meanings. All we heard were words to the effect: "scram before you become another scrap on the garbage heap of history." Some of my contemporaries remained behind and like acolytes of a new religion devised new ways of engaging the soul for the benefit of self and society. The Lawyer, who writes stage plays found an 'adaptor' for his thoughts and thus was born Ajofest, one of the most ambitious privately funded festival of Arts in Nigeria. As the stage was burning against social ills, Peter Igho and later Lola Fani-Kayode, redefined television production before the video home crowd came along to build the present house of spittle. It was not all work and hope for a social revolution, the artistes found kindred spirits in German and American diplomats who provided space and watering holes to unwind.

The crowd awaited the monthly ritual at the 'worship center' of Lopez, the Puerto-Rican diplomat who came from God's own country. He brought with him a slice of the American dream and his parties cushioned the effect of our energy sapping chores around town. We danced as if there was no tomorrow and no sorrow was too insoluble not to dissolve in the wines and drinks provided by Lopez. True to life, that dream was cut short and like a whiff our main man left the country. Somehow, amidst that creative volcano taking place in Lagos, our mentor, who trained as a Geologist but spends a large chuck of his resources on cultural activism, started what became the Artistes parliament.

The Arts stampede has now become a cultural reference point just as the concept of the Coalition of Nigerian Artistes (CONA) points at a failed dream. Looking back to the nights and days of meeting and planning one cannot help it if tears start to roll and sadness overtakes the heart. What could possibly be wrong with asking for coordinated welfare for the producers of vision, exchange programs that can take them far and wide and a systematic training program that took care of their present and future needs?