Nigeria Content Online

I would like to
start off this new year on a positive note. I am superstitious like
that. First of all, a big thank you to all of you who spend time
reading my column. I actually enjoy reading the online comments on my
column. They communicate more than folks realise and in many instances
provide valuable insights into the subject matter.

Most of the
comments on my column have been respectful, thoughtful, and gracious.
This is especially impressive, given that most of the respondents are
writing under aliases. There are ample opportunities to be abusive but
few of my readers take advantage of them.

My columns are
mostly opinions based on my life’s journeys and I totally understand
how some may be offended by my admittedly strong views. I do not
understand the mystery of writing, why and how I feel the need to say
certain things, but it is what it is and I really appreciate the
patience of so many folks.

One such patient
person is my editor, Molara Wood. I was one of the writers she
contacted at the founding of NEXT. One day, I got this email from her
wondering if I would author a column of my musings to be hosted by this
new newspaper outfit called NEXT. The column would be in the Arts and
Culture section and I would be free to basically say whatever I felt
like saying.

I was flattered
but nervous about the whole idea. I am not a trained journalist; I have
a full time job and a large active family that occupies most of my
time. It just seemed like a lot of work at the time. Those who know
Wood would say she is gently steely about her vision and I did not look
forward to saying NO to her. I said YES, and chanted a silent prayer to
the gods of my ancestors.

It has been
roughly two years and the other day I realised that I had written over
one hundred essays since then. I salute Molara Wood for befriending me
when she did not have to, for seeing in my demons opportunities for
communing with the world. She has faithfully edited my works, leaving
just enough irreverence and darkness to keep readers coming back. I
thank her for putting the ‘u’ back in my ‘color’ and reminding me that
Nigeria is a place on earth where my placenta is buried.

I must thank NEXT
for giving me such a beautiful platform for expressing myself. It is
great to be in the company of dreamers and doers and the founders of
NEXT have assembled some of the best writers and visionaries out there.
I am proud to have been part of this exciting project. I believe
Nigeria is the better for it because of NEXT.

I always thought
that there would be times when I would beg off this assignment for a
little while to attend to my family, work, and personal demons. We have
not confronted that junction yet; indeed it is the case that I have not
had a week when I was short of something to say. Instead, I have been
in the embarrassing situation of begging my editor to just print my
thoughts as is because I could not reduce the words to the requisite
length. My muse and my demons have been hopping, providing me the
necessary inspiration to keep engaging and sometimes enraging my
readers.

Sustaining a
family and enjoying the process is challenging. My lover is mystified
by my need to write nonstop at all times and in inappropriate places
but in over two decades, she has held us all together while I doused my
demons in e-ink. My escapades within and without the family unit have
been a source of inspiration for my column. Our children complete me
and their pet names are probably now household names, especially
Ominira and Fearless Fang. My life and my writing would be incomplete
without them.

English literature
as practised in Nigeria is a lifelong passion of mine. There are many
things wrong with Nigeria, but telling our stories is not one of them.
There is a new generation of writers out there determined to tell our
stories. They are doing a great job, running as fast as they can. If
you love reading, this is a great time to be alive: From Facebook to
books, our stories are being told. I salute our writers.

Finally, the theme
of my life is friendship, warts and all. Nothing is sexier and more
thrilling than having a really good friend to be with. The Internet and
Facebook have given me the gift of umpteen friends over the years. They
have all been extremely supportive, even when I have not been
charitable to them.

I wish every one of you a great and prosperous New Year. And this is
a promise: I am not going anywhere, I shall be here goading and
enraging all of you into greatness. Because I love you all.