Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, and the Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, FUNAI,  Ebonyi state have teamed up to host an ‘Expanding Frontiers’ conference and ‘Creative Practice Workshop’ series in June this year.

This development is in line with the fact that the twenty-first century’s Nigeria has witnessed an avalanche of creative writing in all genres of literature and beyond, which has shown that creative writing and critical practices offer greater possibilities for social re-engineering and meaningful mediation in public spaces.

The expansion also witnessed in the steady growth of the list of names of Nigerians associated with national and international acclaim, affirmed T.S Eliot’s assertion that, “Each age demands different things from literature, so our criticism, from age to age, will reflect the things that the age demands.”

Hence, in the organisers’ words, the conference would provide scholars the opportunity to articulate as well as interrogate new trends and stylistic evolutions of Nigerian literature in the 21st century.

In a statement signed by ANA President, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, the conference, themed: ’Expanding Frontiers: Nigeria’s Creative Writing in the 21st Century’, will hold on the June 18-19 at FUNAI, Ikwo- Ebonyi State.

The Keynote address will be delivered by Femi Osofisan, a Nigerian writer noted for his critique of societal problems and his use of African traditional performances and surrealism in some of his novels.

“A frequent theme that his novels explore is the conflict between good and evil. He is, in fact, a didactic writer whose works seek to correct his decadent society.”

According to Nigerian authors’ President, the conference aims to answer questions such as: “In what ways do the thematic preoccupations of the new literatures of the 21st century (both in the indigenous and foreign languages) differ from the previous generations of creative writing in Nigeria or Africa?

“In what ways do the styles, and methodologies of Nigeria’s literatures of the 21st century differ from literary practices of the past?

“How have the new technologies and new media affected the practices, reception and disseminations of literary practices in Nigeria and beyond?”

Abdullahi, in the statement, called for interested contributors to register and submit abstracts (which may be comparative in approach) of 250 to 300 words to the conference portal – www.ana-funai.megaconferences.com; adding that workshop participants are expected to register online at the same website.

Deadline for submission of abstract and early bird registrations is May 2018.

Speaking about the ‘Creative Practice Workshop Series’, the President pointed out that four workshops shall hold simultaneously within the period of the conference.

“These workshops shall, among other things, provide for professionals and distinguished writers to engage younger writers in creative enterprises.

“These workshops, which shall be participatory in nature, shall enable participants to gather skills in the following areas: Poetry, Prose, Drama and drawing/painting/tie & dye.”

According to the president, registration fee for the Conference and Workshop at the venue of the events is N20,000 and N10,000 respectively, stressing however that there is a grace of five thousand naira reduction of the fees for the early bird registrations.

He added that conference attendees are eligible to attend the workshop which its registration also closes by May ending.