JOURNALIST, media and communication expert, James Akpandem, was the guest writer of the August edition of the monthly reading programme of the Literary Renaissance Foundation, LRF.
Hosted virtually on August 3 by the LRF Director Babatunde Oladele, the event saw Akpandem reading from his book, Echoes Of Our Traditional Society, which, according to the author, digs into how traditional norms and belief systems shape the identity of the people.
Akpandem read three chapters from the book, which he disclosed was born out of the deep fascination with how traditions shape “not only our communities but also our sense of self and belonging.”
He added that his inspiration to author the book came when he was serving as a correspondent for Punch News and later SA to a former Minister of Minister of Budget and National Planning,
According to him, he was working on a different project when he came across the story of mystical trees, the major inspiration of his book.
In the first chapter, “Tree That Tell Tales”, Akpandem said it is basically about some trees in the Eastern part of Nigeria that have mystical stories behind them. He said there “existed trees whose narrative attracted more than passing attention. They are regarded as totems.”
He informed that some communities worship and pay tributes to these trees like deities. These trees were regarded as ancestral gods.
The second chapter, “90 minutes at Yenogoa”, talks about an incident that happened on Monday, July 20, 1999. On that fateful day, 100 youths popularly known as Ebosi boys stormed the Government House on a mission to rescue their leader, Tikese Ogoriba, who was detained by the State Military Administrator, Captain Omoriyi Olubalade.
After the first and second reading, an impressed member of the audience, Dr Samson, requested a bulk purchase of 700 copies of the Echoes of Traditional Society.
The session drew comments and questions from the audience. Everyone appreciated the engaging, educational, and inspiring reading from James Akpandem at the LRF monthly reading.
With extensive experience in strategic communication and corporate governance, Akpandem was adviser on media and communication to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, head of Media and Communication at the 2014 National Conference, CEO and managing editor of Independent Newspaper, and many more. He has multiple national and international Awards. A fellow of the Guild of Editors, NGE, he is, among other roles, Chairman of the Editorial Board of Naija Times.