Usman gets PAWA noble patron of the Arts medal

Folklorist and culture promoter, Dr. Bukar Usman, has been named Noble Patron of the Arts, the highest award given to a firm supporter of arts and culture on the African continent by the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA).

The prestigious event was held at the Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State from June 24 and 25, 2022.

An impressive tour out, writers from 31 African countries attended the pan-African literary conference 61 years after the first edition was took place at the University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda. It had ‘Literature Since Makerere 1952: The African Writers; Pan-African Agenda for Peace, Security and Cultural Development.’ The conference was in collaboration with Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) and Association of African Authors (ANA).

Usman was honoured for his consistent work in the promotion and preservation of African oral narratives and his piloting of Nigerian Folklore Society (NFS). Bukar Usman Foundation has also done amazing work in the promotion and preservation of oral narratives and generally assisting the growth of Nigerian literature and cultural offering. Usman has compiled over 4,000 oral narratives from across the country, which he has documented in over five published volumes. Usman’s prolific writing life is a subject fit for studies, since discovering writing in retirement after his public service years where he rose to the peak as Permanent Secretary.

Doing the honour was the Proprietor of Tunde Odunlade Arts Gallery, Ibadan, Mr. Tunde Odunlade, who presented the Pan-African Writers’ Association’s (PAWA) Noble Patron of the Arts award to Dr. Bukar Usman in the presence of his beautiful wife, Mrs. Raliat Dupe Usman while the Secretary General of PAWA, Hon (Dr.) Wale Okediran and the President of Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), Mr. Camillus Ukah looked on at Premier Hotel, Ibadan.

Some of his books include a collection of short stories and fables like The Bride Without Scars and Other Stories, Girls in Search of Husbands, and The Stick of Fortune. Under the Treasury of Nigerian Tales (TNT) series, Usman has such amazing titles as A Selection of Nigerian Folktales: Themes and Settings; People, Animals, Spirits and Objects: 1000 Folk Stories of Nigeria and Gods and Ancestors: Mythic Tales of Nigeria. Usman has also published books on his career as a civil servant like My Public Service Journey and Hatching Hopes. There are books also on his creative writing career like My Literary Journey, books on history such as A History of Biu, books on public policy such as Restructuring Nigeria: An Overview, a book on his foundation, A Foundation of Hope, among others.

The invitation letter extended to Usman by the Secretary General of PAWA, Nigeria’s Dr. Wale Okediran partly reads, “It is my pleasure to inform you of the decision of PAWA Council to honour you with the Award of the Noble Patron of the Arts. The award is as a result of your long-standing commitment to the Arts and Literature in Nigeria and in the diaspora. Please, accept my hearty congratulations on this wonderful gesture.”

Other personalities similarly honoured included former ANA President, Malam Denja Abdullahi, ANA President, Ukah, and Ibadan-based CEO/MD of Accessible Publishers Ltd, Mr. Gbadega Adedapo.