Glo Celebrates Soyinka, Other African Literary Icons
- By Abimbola Tooki
- Published April 14th, 2010
- ITWorld
- Unrated
A few weeks after staging the show-stopping and breathtaking 2009 GLO-CAF awards in Accra, Ghana, telecommunications giant, Globacom has held a spectacular event to celebrate Professor Wole Soyinka and other African literary icons.
John Dramani Mahama, Ghanaian vice president, who was the special guest of honour, described the Globacom gesture to celebrate African literary icons as unparalleled and congratulated the company for its bold initiative.
Dubbed “Evening with Wole Soyinka and other African literary icons”, the massively-attended event honoured Africa’s leading literary giants. Among the continent’s great literary minds in attendance were Ghana’s own Professor Atukwei Okine, Nana Ayebea Clarke, Sefi Atta, Professor Richard Willey of the Black Mountain Institute of Nevada, USA, Professor Femi Osofisan, Professor Ama Attah and a host of others. The evening was also witnessed by the President of Dominican Republic, over 10 Ghanaian ministers, 13 Ambassadors and heads of missions in Ghana, university administrators and showbiz icons.
At the superlative event hosted by Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. (CON), Globacom’s chairman, the telecoms giant said sponsoring the event was in line with its avowed objective of inspiring the youth by celebrating role models and the best from Africa in the areas of arts, literature, culture, sports, music, movies and entertainment.
“This objective has been clearly pursued in countries where we operate, with the signing of deserving music, entertainment, and sports personalities as brand ambassadors,” said Bode Opeseitan, Globacom’s head of public relations, who delivered the welcome address on behalf of the company.
“We are undertaking this celebration of talent and excellence on the strong platform of Globacom’s commitment to a robust rollout and determination to deliver the best telecommunications network to the people of Ghana.
The Ghanaian Vice President in his remarks, showered praises on Professor Wole Soyinka for his boldness and relentless effort to speak the truth as it is, making him outstanding among his peers. He also thanked Globacom for sponsoring the literary event which provided alternative entertainment outside of regular mass events. He said he was delighted that Glo delivered a wonderful literary show.
“I am happy that Glo sponsored this event and it will change our ways of seeing literature. If this evening makes us see the deeper sides of life through such brilliant works, we have Glo to thank for that”, said the vice president.
In a stimulating and power-packed documentary on the life of Professor Wole Soyinka, he was referred to as Akinwande Oluwole. Born 13 July 1934, Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986, thereby becoming the first African to be so honoured.
Wole Soyinka told the gathering that art is a means for addressing and challenging the ills of the society and it, at the same time, offered hope and consolation to the people. He read a passage from his latest book to the delight of the gathering. Septuagenarian Tunji Oyelana who had sang with Professor Soyinka before, provided the background music while the Nobel Laureate did his reading. He also delivered the Classic, “I LOVE MY COUNTRY”.
Guests were also entertained by industry greats and renowned performers which included Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Irene Logan, KSM, Basket Mouth, Paapa Yankson, Kwabena Kwabena, African Footprints of South Africa and Garin Badder, a magician and pianist from Las Vegas.
John Dramani Mahama, Ghanaian vice president, who was the special guest of honour, described the Globacom gesture to celebrate African literary icons as unparalleled and congratulated the company for its bold initiative.
Dubbed “Evening with Wole Soyinka and other African literary icons”, the massively-attended event honoured Africa’s leading literary giants. Among the continent’s great literary minds in attendance were Ghana’s own Professor Atukwei Okine, Nana Ayebea Clarke, Sefi Atta, Professor Richard Willey of the Black Mountain Institute of Nevada, USA, Professor Femi Osofisan, Professor Ama Attah and a host of others. The evening was also witnessed by the President of Dominican Republic, over 10 Ghanaian ministers, 13 Ambassadors and heads of missions in Ghana, university administrators and showbiz icons.
At the superlative event hosted by Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. (CON), Globacom’s chairman, the telecoms giant said sponsoring the event was in line with its avowed objective of inspiring the youth by celebrating role models and the best from Africa in the areas of arts, literature, culture, sports, music, movies and entertainment.
“This objective has been clearly pursued in countries where we operate, with the signing of deserving music, entertainment, and sports personalities as brand ambassadors,” said Bode Opeseitan, Globacom’s head of public relations, who delivered the welcome address on behalf of the company.
“We are undertaking this celebration of talent and excellence on the strong platform of Globacom’s commitment to a robust rollout and determination to deliver the best telecommunications network to the people of Ghana.
The Ghanaian Vice President in his remarks, showered praises on Professor Wole Soyinka for his boldness and relentless effort to speak the truth as it is, making him outstanding among his peers. He also thanked Globacom for sponsoring the literary event which provided alternative entertainment outside of regular mass events. He said he was delighted that Glo delivered a wonderful literary show.
“I am happy that Glo sponsored this event and it will change our ways of seeing literature. If this evening makes us see the deeper sides of life through such brilliant works, we have Glo to thank for that”, said the vice president.
In a stimulating and power-packed documentary on the life of Professor Wole Soyinka, he was referred to as Akinwande Oluwole. Born 13 July 1934, Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian writer, poet and playwright. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986, thereby becoming the first African to be so honoured.
Wole Soyinka told the gathering that art is a means for addressing and challenging the ills of the society and it, at the same time, offered hope and consolation to the people. He read a passage from his latest book to the delight of the gathering. Septuagenarian Tunji Oyelana who had sang with Professor Soyinka before, provided the background music while the Nobel Laureate did his reading. He also delivered the Classic, “I LOVE MY COUNTRY”.
Guests were also entertained by industry greats and renowned performers which included Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Irene Logan, KSM, Basket Mouth, Paapa Yankson, Kwabena Kwabena, African Footprints of South Africa and Garin Badder, a magician and pianist from Las Vegas.
