Book N Gauge to hold its 9th edition today featuring El Nukoya – author of ‘Nine Lives’

Seyi Lawal

The ninth edition is here! Book n Gauge is hosted by PulpFaction Book Club, in collaboration with Debonair Bookstore, Yaba, Lagos, and Wordsmithy Media. Book n Gauge IX: Nine and Still Counting would feature El-Nukoya; author, Nine Lives; Soul sensation NayoSoul and Spoken word performer Razaq Ivori.

El-Nukoya whose work is in focus at this edition of has written what literary critics describe as “an authentic Nigerian blockbuster” and a “riveting page turner.” El-Nukoya did his first degree in Lagos, and graduate studies in North America. He currently lives and works in Lagos.

According to El Nukoya, the idea to put his thoughts on paper came in 1990 when he moved with his family to a quiet suburban neighbourhood in Lagos, Nigeria. “In my solitude, great rock and rap music lyricists such as Seal, Sting, Bono and Tupac Amaru Shakur brought me companionship. Inspired by their talent, I felt an urge to create something that was universal and timeless. The prevailing socio-political situation in Nigeria provided me with a virile subject. It was six years before I could pause,” El-Nukoya.

The 9th edition will also feature appearances by rising Soul/Pop Sensation, NayoSoul and spoken word artiste, Rasaq Ivori. NΑYÒ, singer, vocalist started performing live as a teenager at age 19, which soon grew to regular performances. She has recorded three songs – Unconditional Love, Destiny Train and Rhythm of the Sound. Her music is earthy, light, melodic, joyful, and almost airborne. Although she stumbled on soul/jazz music by accident, she has however become addicted to the voice, instrumentation and arrangement of the music. Some of her influences include: Janelle Monae, Corrine Bailey Rae, Adele Adkins, India Arie, Lauryn Hill, Chrisette Michele, Jill Scott, Pink and newly discovered, Esperanza Spalding.

Rasaq Ivori longs to bring back the art of the quintessential town crier poetic semantics which he dubs “narrative news”—a  system where actual news content is infused in free flowing prose rendition like the Yoruba “Ewi”, though delivered in English yet not without the characteristic melodic chant of the past.  For six months, Ivori premiered this art at the Bogobiri House, Ikoyi, where some said the uproar it generated prompted the proprietors to establish a full scale stage house next door for performance poetry.

Book N Gauge 9 will hold at the Debonair Bookstore 294 Sabo Yaba Lagos between  2-5pm. There will be auctions, book signings, lively discussions and readings.

The event which has featured seasoned writers and poet including, Lola Shoneyin, Jude Dibia, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Tony Kan, Sam Omatseye promises to provide one-on-one interaction between authors and readers, and a platform for interaction and networking among book enthusiasts.

El Nukoya

 

 

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