23rd June, 2019
Four female writers from Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria, have arrived Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria for the June/July 2019 Ebedi Writers Residency Session.
They are; Bintou Sanneh (The Gambia), Josephine Odura Attafuah (Ghana), Rabiat Muhammed Oyindamola (Nigeria) and Damilola Omotoyinbo (Nigeria).
Sanneh, who is a member of the Gambian Writers Association is also a youth activist and a lover of sports. Apart from her native language, Sanneh speaks French and English. She will be spending her time at the Ebedi Residency to complete her first novel. She will also use the time to interact with secondary school students in Iseyin and environs in the areas of creative writing, and Gambian culture. Her visit to the Ebedi Residency will be her first visit to Nigeria.
The second writer, Attafuah , a member of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon. She is a published author of a novel -‘The Helluva Dreamer.’ Attafuah, who has over the years attended many leadership programmes in Ghana speaks English and French in addition to her native language. Her visit to the Ebedi Residency which will be her first visit to Nigeria will be spent to complete her new book of fiction. She will also use the period to mentor Iseyin students in the arts of Poetry and Ghanaian culture.
Oyindamola, a native of Ogun State, Nigeria and a graduate of the University of Ibadan is the third writer. A committed teacher of many years standing, She also has a flair for writing which has resulted in the publication of a motivational book – ‘The Ingredients of Success’ – which was published in December 2018. She wants to use her time at Ebedi to sharpen her writing skills and complete work on her forthcoming book for children. Oyindamola, whose ultimate dream is to retire from teaching into full time writing will also spend her time at the residency to counsel students from Iseyin and its environs on their careers and the challenges of adulthood.
The Fourth Writer, Omotoyinbo, a native of Ondo State is a graduate of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. She also recently completed an online course in creative writing and has attended many other writing courses. A proud winner of some Literary awards, Damilola’s hobbies include blogging, sewing and dancing. She hopes to use her time in Ebedi to complete work on her first full length fictional novel. She will also assist students in Iseyin and environs to think about how they can shape their world and influence the society positively.
The Ebedi International Writers Residency is a private initiative for writers to complete their ongoing works in a conducive environment at no cost. Since its inception, in 2012, the facility has hosted more than 100 writers from 10 different African countries. It also offers publishing opportunities to its Fellows through an arrangement with one of Nigeria’s foremost publishing outfits, the Literamed Publishers, Oregun, Lagos. The Residency has also benefited from the support of the Belgium based Arts Moves Africa (AMA) for the provision of Air Tickets for her foreign based Fellows as well as the support of the Association Of Nigerian Authors (ANA), The Wole Soyinka Foundation, the Bukar Usman Foundation as well as many notable Nigerian Newspapers and Educational Institutions. In addition, the support of the Bank of Industry and other private philanthropists has bolstered the Residency’s commitment for the promotion of Literature and Cultural Integration across the African continent and beyond.