RESIDENCY DIARIES- The Community Reception

 The Welcome Reception 


On Sunday, March 27th, 2022, Patron of the Ebedi International Writers' Residency program, and some representatives of the Iseyin community officially welcomed myself and my fellow residents into the Writing Residency and the community at already. 


Our patron, Dr. Wale Okediran and some representatives of the Iseyin community officially welcomed us and treated us to good Nigerian meals and soft drinks. 


Whilst siping on some fine wine, we shared ideas on how we can use writing to create social change whilst encouraging the youth to take on reading and writing as worthy hobbies. 


We also delved into a hearty discourse on digitalisation and how parents should consiuosly groom, guide and monitor their children as they partake in the digital revolution so they can partake in providing global solutions. 


In an earlier meeting with the Patron and his wife, he shared with us how he was inspired to establish the Writers Residency. As a Biographer, he had a gig and wanted to go into a two-week isolation to focus and get it done. 

But much as he searched he couldn't chance on any facility created purposely for that. He eventually checked himself into a hotel and got the Biography done in record time. 


After the completion of his Biography project, it then occurred to him whilst reflecting that, if he could create a conducive environment where writers could come and cover more grounds on their projects, Africa would be better for it. 


Good for him, he had a house here in Iseyin which would be fir for purpose. He began works on furnishing it for same. 

And that's how the Ebedi International Writers Residency was birthed and brought into being in 2010. 


It's been twelve years and over 150 African Writers from 15 different African countries have benefited from that decision of making this place a Writing Residency.  


We also shared with him and his wife, the projects each of us were working on while in Residency. It was a day well spent in the company of people who appreciate and celebrate Writers and their contribution to literature and literacy.  




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