A poem by the British novelist and playwright, Peter Kalu for the British Council International Digital Collaboration Project in partnership with the Nigerian author and short story writer, Obinna Udenwe Please don’t come sliding onto my bench whispering nirvana is a construct and you’re here for us to do the construction play by play to reach high, because That don’t fly for me, I need somebody grounded. There are journeys we have to go on and it won’t be…
On the 1st of November 2019, at the Enugu Sports Club, the Centre for Memories — an organisation working to serve as the repository of the history and culture of Ndigbo — hosted Chika Unigwe, Nigeria’s multiple award winning author of On Black Sisters’ Street and a Professor at Brown University in the United States, for their monthly distinguished speaker series, Nkata Umuibe. Chika gave a resounding speech on the need for Igbos around the world to unite and…
In this engaging essay, Kenyan scholar Carolyne Njihia writes on electoral violence in Kenya and what the triggers are. Conflicts observed in East Africa are not just about power and resources, but are rooted in the denial of human needs such as identity, security, respect, and recognition. Exclusionary governance systems, which deny ‘others’ equal rights and opportunities, have triggered many of the conflicts in the region. This article looks at Kenya as a case study, linking electoral violence to…
It is sixty years since 1958, when Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart was first published. The Village Square Journal will be joining the rest of the world to mark the novel’s anniversary. We are seeking to publish six outstanding and brilliantly articulated essays, one every week for six weeks, starting in May 2018, that border on or/and address the following issues as well as related themes, as we countdown to the actual date of publication. The…
Hello World! We are pleased to welcome you to The Village Square Journal. A village square is more than just a venue, it is a catalyst of sorts for the arts, and all forms of its expression. The Village Square Journal seeks to be a hub where play and artistic display come together to thrill and thrive, as well a compendium of sorts for culture preservation. It looks forward to being a fulcrum of the promotion and appreciation of all…