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Omo Uwaifo is an
engineer by profession, but he’s better known in some circles as a
writer and lover of everything literary. He recently intervened in the
arts life of Lagos by introducing ‘The Foxhole’, a place for writers to
commune and share their works.

The Edo State born
Uwaifo, still passionate and active at 78, joined the Electricity
Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) as it was known, in 1954, before leaving
in 1973 to set up his own firm.

“When I was nine,
in the evenings, I’d sit down and tell folk stories and people would
gather around me. As a young boy, my teacher would take me to Standard
One to teach the students spellings”, said Uwaifo, recalling how and
when his literary interest began.

Edo literate

Uwaifo, who edited
the book, ‘Edo Cultural Voyage’ and whose work has been translated into
Edo language, said, “In those days, we read Edo language for the first
four years in school. I was very Edo literate.”

Uwaifo is quite
concerned about the affairs of the nation and this passion spills over
into his writing and the unmistakable tone of anger and exasperation
can be felt in his works. His articles for the Vanguard Newspaper were
published in a collection as ‘That Nigeria May Survive’.

His novel, ‘The
Fattening House’ published in 2001, and ‘Litany’, a collection of
poems, were shortlisted in 2004 and 2009 respectively for the Nigeria
Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature.

On both occasions,
none of the three works on the shortlist, including Uwaifo’s, were
awarded the prize, much to the chagrin of many. Uwaifo jokes that he
will no longer participate in any more awards as it seems no one is
winning awards because of him.

He launched his latest poetry volume, ‘Before the Golden Jubilee’, in 2010.

“It is essentially what I think about Nigeria,” the writer says of the collection.

The Foxhole

Uwaifo believes
writing is one of the ways he can make his voice heard with the hope
that he, like many other voices crying out for change, will be paid
attention to. In the same vein, he opened ‘The Foxhole’ on December 16,
2010. The venue has already hosted the 50th birthday reading for Uzor
Maxim Uzoatu, author of ‘God of Poetry’.

Uwaifo calls, The
Foxhole, located in the grounds of his Maryland, Lagos residence, his
own contribution to young writers. A foxhole is some sort of hideout
which soldiers at war use as shelter from their enemy and also to fire
back at their enemies.

“It is a private
place where writers may come together to voice their concerns or fears
of a wilting society; or to discuss the hopes and promises of an
emerging nation – her plays, songs inventions, and contributions to the
development of the human race,” he states.

The Foxhole itself
is a thatched dome-like head attached to a rotund body. It sits in the
midst of a grassy landscape, which is receiving much attention from
Uwaifo and his gardeners. The scenery is as yet incomplete as the
flowers are still being planted and a couple of trellises to aid the
climbing flowers have just been set up.

‘You don’t have to go to the island’

Uwaifo says writers
do not have to rent the MUSON Centre or any other fancy Island venue
for their book readings or literary gatherings, now that The Foxhole
has been set up.

“Anyone can come in
here and they do not have to pay anything. All that is necessary is
that we should be given some notice prior to the event so that we can
prepare the place,” Uwaifo states.

He adds that for a
gathering of about ten, there are cushions which can be set up on the
floor. However, for larger gatherings ranging from 60 to 70, there are
chairs that can be set up to fit the rotund shape of the structure,
while the speaker or individual addressing the audience can stay in the
middle.

Also, with the serenity of the environment and the
audience-proximity which The Foxhole affords, no microphones or
speakers will be required.