I was privileged to sit in on Noo Saro Wiwa’s session at the West Cork Literary Festival last week. She was there to speak about her book Looking for Transwonderland Travels in Nigeria.
I can only imagine that every person who listened to her not only went out to buy her book, but experienced the same urge my daughter did once the talk had finished. Her exact words, ‘I’d love to go to Nigeria.’
Noo spoke of the Ministry of Fire and Miracles in Prayer City, of how she was still unable to find the words to describe Lagos, of Sugar Mummys and of her unwillingness to admit to her extended family that she no longer attended church. She spoke of her father, Ken Saro Wiwa, a man admired way beyond the borders of his home country. She spoke of her growing love of the country that she had in many ways distanced herself from. I could have sat and listened to her way beyond the allocated hour, and am longing to read the book once my daughter has finished it!
Next post will be on Nicci French, I was delighted to be able to attend their session late on Friday night…
Noo Saro Wiwa (courtesy Granta Books)
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