Raising the bar in Age Of Gods & Monsters
For Afolabi Oluwaseun, there is need to question the moment for a deeper understanding of life. Speaking at the launch of his book titled, In The Age of Gods & Monsters, in Lagos recently, he said issues such as, religion, politics, hope, pleasure, art, environment and struggles of human fate must be interrogated.
Oluwaseun, an economist and banker, revealed, “the poet in me was born at a time when it felt like the world has turned its back on me.” An alumnus of Babcock University, he recounted, “I started writing from the point of sadness and it changed a lot of dynamics about how I write and think, but I always make sure the idealism I talk about reflects in my writing too.”
Asked why he chose the title, In The Age of Gods & Monsters, he responded, “every writer has 26 letters. What differentiates us is how we use it. There is always the good and bad. To reach any point in life, there is a god and there is a monster. But the way you look at it is the justification of who you are. I can tell you a story and I’m the hero, when another person tells the story, I could be the villain- the same story but different perspective.”
On his advice to youths, he suggested, “creativity knows no bounds just keep dreaming. The government should also create enabling environment.” Chairman of the event and first Nigerian Chairman/MD of Mobil Oil Nigeria, Olu Onakoya, disclosed, “all the young people I relate with, Oluwaseun is the first to write a book. You can write prose with ease, but it takes discipline to write a poem. You need rigour, imagination and skills of rhythm.”
Speaking further, he advised, “we should invest in our children. We should give them time, attention and instill the right values when they are young. There are certain values that never change–good parenting, upbringing and integrity.”
In his review, Benjamin Okoh of Classic FM said the book throws up more questions. “It’s a book everyone should have. This book connects us to God Almighty without throwing God to our faces. He has been able to take narrative into the poetry space. As you are reading the poem, you are forming the story in your head.” The book takes you to the physical and returns you to the spiritual.
In her forward, author and poet, Olusola said, “if you are good and just perfect, this book is definitely for you. And if words can heal you, you are on right in time for healing.”
There were also book readings by Olubunmi Ayorinde and Ayokunle Oyediran. Some of the titles in the book include, Olurombi, Pen and Paper, My Quest in Questions, Chained: A Victim of Religion, In The beginning: Abraham’s Journey of Faith, War, among others.
