Wednesday 28 November 2012

'Blasphemy Against the Church'




  • The major obstacle plaguing modern Christianity today is the infallibility of its leaders as perceived by many Christians. This is crucial as it has to do with the 21st century. In 1517, one German Christian Martin Luther broke this chain of “blasphemy against the church” and that single act won for us, the modern Christianity enjoyed today. Unfortunately the same crime that the old church commit
    ted then, is what flourishes the new church today. This time around in a trend of material salvation being dog-watched by the fear of blasphemy.
    There could have been nothing so wrong in religious leaders acquiring private jets, if it is not so glaring that Nigeria is currently exploding with poverty and corruption amidst abundant resources. Many faithfuls sleep in abject hunger (that cannot be converted into fasting) and permanent homelessness(not because they have been in a prayer desert), yet we deem it necessary to go round the world preaching when billions of Christians here are perishing in hunger.
    The church must return to its original ideas of reformation of the 15th century which is first and foremost for the well-being of its people and the free cost of salvation. In as much as Christ noted that the expensive perfumed oil poured on his head by the Mary cannot totally eradicate poverty, Christ basically meant that the church can create loan schemes, generate employment and accommodation opportunities and above all fight bluntly against every anti –people policy, and corrupt act of government officials and politicians alike that will oppress the freedom of any faithful relating with God.
    Uche Uwadinachi



Friday 28 September 2012

COME WATCH THE PRIEST AGAIN

 Come watch the best of the best Spoken Word Poets in Nigeria live on stage. Poets such as Sage Hasson, Efe Paul Azino, Plumbline, Chiedu Ifeozo, Bob Ekat, Olulu (the King not from Zulu), Atilola, Donna K, Enigmatic Olumide, Chris Eleri, Ivori, Ndukwe Onuoha, Nini Efem, Soonest I Nathaniel, Increase, Rez tha poet, Tofarati, Holyblaze, Uche Uwadinachi and many others.

The Event will also feature Soul Singers like D Tone, Lumynos, and Ajibola Adeoya.
We also have celebrities who will come perform their poems on stage.
The maiden edition of WORD UP was held on August 18, 2012. It took place at the UNILAG Guest House Lecture Theatre, Akoka, Lagos, and it was a delightful success. 
  
If you wish to partner with us through sponsorship to showcase your products and services, we have the ability to deliver the following benefits:
·  Branding Opportunity
·  Media Exposure
·  Product/ Services Experience
·  Speaking Opportunity
·  Database Acquisition
Performance Poetry and Spoken Word Events is the next tidal wave that will sweep through our country, especially among the youth; do not miss the opportunity to ride on the waves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuytmDrUOZ8&feature=plcp






Wednesday 26 September 2012

Poetry Performance of Uche Uwadinachi at the Book launch of 'Served' by Agbro Joe Jnr. at Lagos Country Club, Ikeja .











Served, memoir of a youth corps memberis a non-fictional account of Joe Agbro Jr., a journalist with The Nation Newspaper, during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), a one-year mandatory scheme for young Nigerian graduates. The book highlights the highs and lows of living and working in Ezzaland, Ebonyi State.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 

Joe Agbro Jr: Promising writer

image
Call him a promising literary light and you won’t be wrong. His first published book, Served, definitely indicates that he’s a very promising writer who just might soon be up there in the ranks of other great writers like Odia Ofeimun, Wole Soyinka and Niyi Osundare. He is Joe Agbro Jr and his literary baby, Served, is a memoir of his experiences as a youth corps member in Ebonyi State while participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2004 and 2005. It details his journey through ‘Sharon,’ the NYSC camp in Ebonyi and working as a teacher in semi-rustic Ezzaland, his place of primary assignment. “I love writing. I love putting words together to make beautiful sentences that captivate people to read them. Writing is very important to me because writing analyses a topic properly and if anyone should then read that write-up about that topic, he will understand it.”
Talking about Served, he said, “It is my own way of giving back to the society. People hear a lot about serving the nation through the NYSC.
They look forward to it and Served will help them in that as well.” Writing a book is never an easy proposition but Agbro claims writing Served wasn’t too difficult for him.
“It was not too difficult to write as I made notes intermittently during service year and knew I was going to write a book about my experience.” And on how long it took him to write it, he said, “I finished the first draft in three months in December 2005.
During that period, I worked like a maniac, typing furiously on a desktop computer I bought while serving. I usually left anything I was doing to write whenever there was electricity to power the computer.” “Served is unique, and I am not blowing my own trumpet. What makes it unique is the fact that it contains undiluted facts.
Every part of the story as well as the characters in it is real. In fact, I sometimes feel naked realising how much of myself I’ve put in there.”
And insisting on his love for writing, he disclosed that, “There’s definitely going to be another book from me but for now, I plan to ensure as many people as possible get to read Served. “I’ll like to say many Nigerians that ought to be reading are not reading.
But, for the few that still read or want to read, I think it’s the proper job of the writer to continue churning out stories.”
Disclosing that Served would be released internationally in both soft and hard versions in December, he added that “its public presentation comes up next Wednesday at the Lagos Country Club.
Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State is billed to deliver a lecture on the topic, Re-addressing the role of youths in nation building. Many other dignitaries will also be in attendance and I’m looking forward earnestly to the launching which will herald its release into the market."


http://nationalmirroronline.net/features/people/52065.html 

Saturday 22 September 2012

Uche Uwadinachi - Walls of Unending Scars

Walls of Unending Scars


 

Walls of unending scars


I have seen
The four walls
Coated with gory hand-prints
Of criminals and suspects
In-scripting awkwardness
Pleading for a public presentation

I stared at slogans
Screaming….
“we die…innocent”
“i was here”
“and so what”
“are you the president?”
“dem go fire me”
“na today”
“…save us”

My heart tears my eyes
And the graffiti spawns
Ceaselessly…

My head smothers
As ravaging foul odour
Of urine and shit
Shutters me to worship
At the walls of unending scars
With my own “craze-words”.

Hell is cell!
The black bowl
Smiths into a black hole
Bloats for the unborn convict
Guilty – of life, wanting to survive
…raiding flames at night
…beaming red in flight
…yellow coal for ice
Collies for the burning
Of our already hurt hearts.

“Pollease”…police
Poll for faults
Lease of crimes
To catch and lock our lives
Into the bloating black hole
Of a cell.


And so
The walls persist
A writing cry of the weak
Dying…to die today
And died…. Tomorrow
WILL DIE NO MORE.


                              http://castroller.com/Podcasts/IndiefeedPerformance/3007989






 
http://castroller.com/Podcasts/IndiefeedPerformance/3007989

Monday 16 July 2012

Lagos (Uche Uwadinachi) emerge 2nd runner-up in the National Poetry Slam Competition Abuja. Thanks all.






















Dike Chukwumerije is the National Slam Champion! He beat 34 contestants to emerge winner. Lady Inspirologos came second with 45.8 point which earned her a cash prize of N60,000 while Uche Uwadinachi from Lagos came third with 45.6 point carting away N40,000. The Champion went with the grand prize of N100,000. Thank u all for ur wonderful participation and we look forward to making subsequent editions grander! Picture will be streamed online tomorrow!

RULES FOR SLAM POETS
1. Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2. Each poem must be an original piece written and performed by the author.

3. No props.

4. No costumes.

5. Performances are timed and should not exceed 3 minutes; the last round may be 2 minutes.

6. No musical instruments (leave the drum set home) or pre-recorded music.

7. Each poem may only be used once during the competition.

8. Poets prepare 3 poems in case they move to the 2nd and final rounds.


RULES FOR SLAM JUDGES
1. Judges are selected at random from the audience (no experience needed); they’re given score cards.

2. Five judges are used and each is asked to leave his/her personal bias at home.

3. Judges are asked to rate 50% on performance (presentation) AND 50% on content of the poem (was it well-written, did it make sense - doesn't matter if you agreed with the content).

4. Scores are from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest), using decimals to reduce the chance of ties - (“0 infinity” is not a number, honest)

5. At the same time, judges hold up one score (e.g.: 5.6, 8.7, 9.8, 10.0) when asked by the Slam Master.

6. The Slam Master then announces the poet's scores from each judge out loud. An average is arrived at by totaling the poet’s score and dividing by 5.

7. Where there’s a dispute at any time during the Slam, the Slam Master’s ruling is final. No appeals, except to the Slam Master, are allowed.

RULES FOR SM & TIME KEEPERS
1. Slam Master ballots to decide order of presentation.

2. Time Keeper(s) deduct 0.1 point for every sec of exceeded time.

3. Time Keeper(s) announce, through the Slam Master, any exceeded time and the deduction after the judges have raised and announced their scores. The penalty is then deducted from the total score.

4. The bottom 1-3 contestants are eliminated (NOT killed o!) in each round.

5. The winner of the final round is announced last – first announce the 2nd Runner up, 1st Runner Up, then the Slam Champion.


RULES FOR AUDIENCE
1. Slam is fun, bear that in mind.

2. Applaud or boo any judge whose score you do not agree with.

3. Show your appreciation of the performance poetry – you are permitted to roll on the ground, jump to high heavens, scream your head off or cry bitterly (perhaps after hearing a brilliant poem you have been trying to write yourself for 10 years!). As you rejoice or weep, remember we will NOT be responsible for any destruction of venue property.

4. Volunteer to judge.

5. 5. Where there’s a dispute at any time during the Slam, the Slam Master’s ruling is final. No appeals, except to the Slam Master, are allowed. That’s why he is the Master of the Slam!

Thursday 12 July 2012

1st and 2nd runner-up winners of the National Poetry Slam Competition unveiled at the Bring Back the Book Official Launch in Bayelsa State.

Winners of the National Poetry Slam Competition unveiled at the Bring Back the Book Official Launch in Bayelsa State.

                       UCHE UWADINACHI AND LADY INSPIRO LOGOS
                                                          JP CLARK




                      DESMOND ELIOT ,  DAKORE,  OMOTOLA JOLADE
                                                             FRIENDS INSPIRO AND  FAMILY
                                               BRING BACK THE BOOK

Wednesday 13 June 2012

AJ, A FACTORY OF THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

BY CHAMPION NEWSPAPER
WHY SLUMS OFTEN PRODUCE RARE TALENTS
-Uwadinachi, Nigeria’s priest of poetry

Multi-talented Uche Uwadinachi, one of Nigeria most creative young poets, and author of the book scar in the heart of pain, is regarded in Nigerian’s literary circle as the priest of poetry, due to his penchant for performance poetry and the deep spiritual tone of most of his works. In an exclusive interview with DAVISON NJOKU, this key player in an exciting new generation of hip hop movement and whose poem was recently shortlisted among the best ten Korean-Nigerian Poetry Fiesta 2012, opened up on a variety of interesting issues. Excerpt.

Childhood
My mum played the role of a nurse, and a counselor. She was always there to shape and reshape the idea I had about life then, and kept on pushing to me motivational books.  This facilitated my quick recovery and the making of my first publication “SCAR in the HEART of pain”.
 

Environment

Hmmm, I am privileged to be born and raised in Ajegunle, however, this was the biggest challenge I had to face as a child growing up to learn the reality of life. It was a whole clash of contradictions. Ajegunle, the most popular slum, is a factory of the good, the bad and the ugly. Life there guarantees you what you bargain for without any re- negotiation.

AJ the jungle city is not just characterized with the usual songs of slums as in poverty, illiteracy, juvenile violence, unemployment, child abuse, hooliganism, Indian herm addiction etc, it is a home, a center for unusual skill acquisition , talent discovery and creativity. Thus like you have a tattered child in the street begging for alms, so also you see another child-tailor dressed in self made Ankara attire, helping the mother to sell Akara (bean cake) at bus stop .

I started on the negative side, seeing so many barriers and curse in the menial income of my parents and everybody around.  Really, the fees were not there for school, textbooks, and medicals, so like other kids, coupled with the blunt fact that the only things I see were pocket crimes around, mass cases of unemployment, decayed local road projects, contaminated pipe borne water systems, I saw nothing but living in extinction from a normal life.

These to me are scars to the life of the ghetto child- a crux of urban poverty in the new millennium. An innocent child denied of his/her right to basic amenities in the name of structural mismanagements. These were the sad testimonies in my book ‘SCAR in the HEART of pain’ captured in ‘Curse.’ The second and third phase ‘Cure’ and ‘Course’ however, pictures my survival and conquest in the profound statements of every other youth that has defeated these huge societal and psychological predators.

Peers

Peers are no less products of the existing social calamities. They are forms of what they are in the environment where they find themselves born or raised. They only struggle to tear it out one way or the other. My state of mind and health did not help me then in directly associating with peers which equally would not have helped less or worse to my development.  Though all I saw in them from the distance I always observed, was the same predicament, however I encountered and discovered my remedy, myself. This thus made me stronger than any peers could have had on me. On my teenage bed, I discovered that the same writing which I secretly used to paint my pains on papers turned out to be the therapy to my long grief. I became a priest to my maladies. Writing poetry peered me all along through those process of healing to the last page of my book.




Motivation

Ajegunle is my story, my motivation. As long as I kept seeing those contradictions, those humiliation and oppression, I get motivated by the fact that a good standard of living is still possible for the ghetto child, only if he/she struggles and for it. To be born in the street is not the fault of any child and should not be justified as his /her responsibility under the excuse of moral obligation.

From the very first day, I discovered a pen could write, and express one’s feeling on a paper, that was the day I discovered my closest and deepest motivation. Writing poetry was a therapy I realized could motivate anybody, any day. The unique thing about this kind of solution is that like any analgesic, it kills that pressure in you and reactivate your brain cells to work actively again.

The poetry book I first encountered, that really influenced me, was ‘Season of Struggle’ by Aj. Dagga Tolar - a collection damning all forms of societal predatorship under the disguise of  the people’s  leadership. It was a book to learn that no child is guilty of poverty. Later in life, I caught a big fish, I found a deity of my best inspiration, in respect to using poetry to manage life’s best stories. He is Niyi Osundare – the grand priest of poetry. He was my menthol in how to write accessible poetry.

I must confess that the small poetry contest awards here and there, are indispensably encouraging to me, to write more and become a better poet. Starting with the ANA (LAPOFEST)poetry prize for 2006, June PoetryCraze award  2009, 2nd prize Ken Saro-Wiwa contest  award USA 2010, June Loudthots prize 2011, Korea-Nigeria Poetry feast top-ten award 2012, then owning the credit as the director of the winning poetry performances of District 5 Educational Board-Jam Feast 2011 and overall winner of the GT-Bank National Art Festival (P.L.A.Y) - Alakoto Senior High School, 2011, I cannot but say that I have been greatly inspired to change my world .  So a big thanks to you all who have given me those honours, they may not be large cash but they are costly symbols to me and to every growing child in AJ.



Dreams for the future

My foremost wish is to see my other publications and spoken word Cds out in public shelves, been read, heard, watched and reviewed, and not to be stocked for ages in libraries that now functions like museums. I plan to raise a house of poetry in Ajegunle with two departments- an ultra modern library and a theatre devoted to performance poetry. There the young and old can search and experiment their taste and charms of the genre. I also look forward to carry out vocational trainings in several skills acquisitions with possible access to the equipment to start their own businesses with. I also want to start a campaign for the use of the Pidgin Language as a subject in our schools. Pidgin is the last left breed of our dying indigenous languages. The hybrid of everything Nigerian, that must be respected, preserved and developed. The Nigerian pidgin is a statement of our history, ways, lifestyle, strength, experience and the future. And I believe this it is not just a dream, it is the future.




Sunday 1 April 2012

Ef i mi le joor by Priest of Poetry

Monday 19 March 2012

ON STAGE AT GBAGADA LAGOS NIGERIA

Monday 20 February 2012

Sunday 8 January 2012

THIS RAIN



This Rain

Rain        
                 Rain…
Assembling the cities in drones
Of angered voices
Falling it
              billion heads
              drooling the earth
              like inebriate drummer
Rippling
           It endless circle
            to join
The ebbing cause of change
The ground is to loose
It face to the drain of ages
Every frightened pebble
Shall be swept along
            stubborn soils
Not even your corner of hole
Can withhold
This turbulent abrasion
Run if you CAN
               NOT HIDE
For the cat is drenched
Already
Ready to be washed away .

©Uche Uwadinachi