Many people were stunned after a versatile Nigerian writer appeared on stage wearing his Ohafia war dance attire to collect his N36 million NLNG prize.
Ikeogu Oke at the presentation ceremony dressed as a war dancer
Prolific writer, poet and journalist, Ikeogu Oke attended the formal presentation of the $100,000 (N36million) 2017 NLNG prize for Literature which he won dressed as a tradtional Ohafia war dancer. The attire came with isi-agu cap, okparaja (machete) and the Oja.
The event took place on Wednesday at Muson Centre, Lagos. He was awarded the prize for his book, “The Heresiad’’, after an intensive process of adjudication.
President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated Ikeogu Oke for the award. Buhari said Oke's passion and commitment to lifting the genre of poetry in the country; an art that many shy away from due to the required discipline and focus, reflective thinking and unique style of writing is something Nigerian writers should emulate.