Busayo Fakunle

Group picture at the official reception   TRAVELOGUE 8 Few days ago, I got notified that the usual formal welcome reception for Ebedi International Writers Residents would take place today at the Residency by 1pm. I thought of what to put on since I knew there would be representatives of the Iseyin community, teachers and students in attendance and because I actually wouldn't want to look like a visitor amidst my people. I wore my almost fading Ankara in the morning and set out for church. I already ironed the  Ankara with 'gas iron' from home, not knowing there would be 'excess' power here. Please how much is 1kg now? I owe her one. But then, I am not so sure if today is the first or second time attending church, far away from home this year.  Earlier before then, I had sat on my table, fixed and rearranged some stuff on the laptop. I read few papers written on Odia Ofeimun's works largely to celebrate his 'unrelenting zeal and determination to bring a chan...

Busayo Fakunle NSI with the Alado of Ado-Awaye  TRAVELOGUE 7 I was happy to leave my bed this morning having taken permission from the right quarters to be at Ado-awaye, a town close to Iseyin to celebrate the 60th World Theatre Day organised by Ado-Awaye Tourism Heritage Development Initiative (ATHDI) and the Oyo State Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) and being the venue of this month Ana-Oyo literary reading .  Historically and as being rightly informed by the king, the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Ado hill is the initial settlement place of Ado people that houses cultural and historical spots. Its unique formations delight the eyes and as I observed while climbing, there were unique resting spots named after the heroes of the town. It is also historical to be in the company of ANA Oyo State chairman, ANA National Assistant General Secretary, a Ghanaian Ebedi Fellow and notable people.  Within the five...

  Tonight,  I search for sleep Lost in the thought of you the thoughts of our yesterday  when you confessed me, Your love. You promised we will walk many miles Said I will no longer know cold Vowed to patiently teach  your children Godly ways Promised to lay my thoughts-filled head On your tiny skinny lap and  whisper soothing words into my ears  Said you will drive my dreams  see me succeed and this house will be your home. Tonight Atoke, Cold kills There is no one to tell  the pains of walking the streets  searching for job There is no one to sit with  at evenings and watch how the stars litter and light up the sky There is no tigh to rest  my busy big head on and  share tales of the fat future I dreamt. None to provide 'stomach infrastructure'. No one to give motherly care to your children, our children. Atoke,  when will you come back  to this house, your home? When? Busayo Fakunle NSI

Busayo Fakunle NSI in Chinua Achebe's Room @ Ebedi   Travelogue 6 I am not sure of the one that is more difficult in either trying to get to the top or staying at the top. Living and pursuing one's dreams can be so challenging that at some points one feels so tired, frustrated  to keep dreaming. In such situations, hope is buried and there is nothing beautiful in life. A clear instance of such is those who committed suicide. They lost hope and never saw the likely light at the end of the tunnel. But wait, are there always light at the end of the tunnels in life? I have heard of individuals who were hardworking, loving and highly religious yet ended up dieing a pauper. Perhaps they didn't get to the end of the tunnel before death got them or before they met death, timely or untimely? Hm, is any death timely? When?  This is one of the many thoughts I woke up with and my heart became so heavy. Heavier when I thought of the struggles our parents went through when we were grow...

Atoke No Lies Just yesterday, after falling  to loving you I ceased to be me. Atoke, the lighted candle  in my dark room the galaxy  that beautifies my sky  the air  that cools off my head beautiful like Michigan  in winters sweet like a well blended  Brazilian coffee. Atoke, How do your lips  lick away my pains? How does stress flee  as you touch my waist? How do your flirtatious  smiles sweep me off  like breeze? How... How do I convince you  to come kill this cold? How do I tell you that these lines aren't lies? Fakunle Busayo Nsi  

Some of the snails picked within Ebedi.  Travelogue 5 Just after leaving here (online) yesterday, I crawled into the bed having spent some hours on the table. The table seems to be my best friend for now and I think that's one of the essence of being here. It hosts few things; the borrowed laptop that now works like a desktop ( You'd better come and help my life o.), my power bank, my Bible and few books, some very expensive packs of carrot, the 'stolen' water-bottle and two tins of milk. Need be I tell you that if I have my way, I could use a tin for four days. I thought they said that thing is from cows abi, why is it that expensive again? Maybe I should also use this opportunity to ask on behalf of a friend, is it true that when you mix water with soft drinks it reduces the sugar content?  The mattress is very big (just like me you say). It will accommodate at least five people with my kind of statue. It is very soft, and cold too because of the breeze coming from th...

The Ebedi Fellows March/April 2022  Travelogue 4 I think it is no longer a secret that everyone knows me as an average student and maybe a slow learner. If you don't know, now you do.   My late dad was quick to discover that early enough that he decided to take me away from the luxury I was enjoying in the city, and especially the rich mother's love I was swimming in as the baby of the family, the last child of five to a boarding school (Igbo Elerin Grammar School, Bamgbola, Ibadan) because  I wasn't doing well and I could say reflected in my Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination result where I got credits in just two subjects; English Language and Christian Religious Studies. So when Mr Tunde took us out to a school earlier today, I was again reminded there will maybe few like me among the students who should be encouraged to strive, persist and persevere.  The school, St John's Catholic Grammar School Iseyin reminds me of that boarding school. These ...

 Boom💥🔥🔥♥️💯! It happened. Fellow, Ebedi International Writers Residency, Nigeria. FOUR AFRICAN WRITERS FOR THE EBEDI INTERNATIONAL WRITERS RESIDENCY, NIGERIA. Four Writers from Ghana and Nigeria have arrived Iseyin, Nigeria for the March/April 2022 Edition Of The Ebedi International Writers Residency. They are from Left To Right in the above picture: Michael Ikegwu (Nigeria), Gamel Sankarl (Ghana), Busayo Fakunle ( Nigeria) and Jeff Atuobi ( Ghana) The Ebedi International Writers Residency, is a private and free facility that provides a conducive atmosphere for Writers and Artists to complete their ongoing works.  Since it's establishment in 2010, the facility has hosted more than 150 Writers from 12 African countries. Many of the Ebedi Fellows have gone on to produce outstanding and award winning works from their stay in the Residency. Applications can be sent to derinjuwon@gmail.com

The table in Chinua Achebe's room  Travelogue 3 One of the things I am currently missing is the usual fight with a loved one. Some of us are fighters, great fighters at home. Yes, ask her if you're finding it difficult to understand the meaning of 'fighter'. You can use Google dictionary. And since there is no one to fight with here, I decided to fight with myself. I jogged round the house several times, did few imaginary skippings, carried an unused tyre for some minutes, jumped over it like 15 times, did few pressups my way, and then jogged round again. I  can't really remember when last I had such enough time for exercise (especially after bachelorhood ended, over seven years ago I think).  I am quite aware of the importance of doing exercises as a writer and especially the mental benefits one stands to gain from it but where is the time? Where is the money? And really, where are the fruits and the food? A quick one, if you are still single, I beg calm down, take...

One of the rooms in Ebedi, Iseyin TRAVELOGUE 2 Seriously, I never knew constant power supply exists else where in parts of Oyo State and to imagine Iseyin being at the top of the list too is really surprising. Really, there is power (creative) in having power (energy). It makes you want to work and initiate talks.  I had an engaging conversation with the gatekeeper till around 11p.m. yesterday because of my kind of person. I hardly go to bed early since my secondary school days in Lagelu Grammar School. Yet, my aunty will insist that I dressed up for school once it's 5a.m. so I sleep late and wake up early. Same till now. He talked more about the people at the helms of affairs and lamented on how even the followers are unfaithful in their dealings with one another. He expressed how inhuman and cruel it is for some to be enjoying the luxury meant for everyone.  'Aburo, koye kabu awon to n binu pe awon kori owo Ijoba daada'. ( My son we are not supposed to fight those asking ...

Sight of One of the Hills in Ebedi, Iseyin  TRAVELOGUE 1  IBADAN TO EBEDI (Fakunle Busayo Nsi) I could tell you categorically that the struggles to driving dreams into reality can be frustrating and so immeasurably demanding. Right from conception, you begin to map out faint paths towards achieving the picture of the unseen that only you could picture. Embarrassingly sometimes (even in writing), one doesn't have a clear picture at inception but with determination, focus, perseverance, persistence and prayer, it usually turns out to be a huge success and sometimes bigger than what was initially conceived. Or have you not experienced a large turn out for an event you've planned to be an indoor thing? You don't want me to tell you about the first party I organized. Unarguably, creative writing or generally, writing calls for self determination, dedication, discipline, and concerted effort from a writer who desires not only to just get publish and improve his or her earnings bu...