We have this understanding that he let me know whenever he arrives the country from his United States base, for a chance to hold conversations on literature, the arts and invariably the state of the nation he loves so passionately. It is a self-serving proposition on my part that has enabled me to scoop fellow reporters on the latest news about the renowned literary scholar’s career and his critical views on Nigeria. So, I was understandably excited to receive his text informing me he was in town shortly after Christmas and New Year festivities.
But I didn’t get to see Prof Niyi Osundare, poet laureate, until Easter weekend, the eve of his departure in March! Save for his appearances at Lola Soneyin’s 50th birthday in Ilishan, Ogun State , and at a colloquium organised in his honour in his Ekiti home state, the eminent writer-intellectual kept out of public view and also out of reach on phone for most part of the first quarter of the year...
until he began to pack his luggage to return to America. “I’m sorry, Yinka”, he apologised when I eventually met him at his Ibadan home. He explained that he had been preoccupied writing two books for which he came home to do the necessary research.
He had just signed the contract for Bookcraft Ibadan to publish one he completed the day before, he announced with glee and triumphant sense of accomplishment. PREMIUM TIMES delivers fact-based journalism for Nigerians, by Nigerians — and our community of supporters, the readers .