How do we define who a young writer is?

My friends & I are attempting to contribute our waves to the ocean of community building, such that other young writers coming into the community will find a family & enough opportunities to look & cling to.

It is tiring being a Nigerian

writer. There are no privileges, sincerely. There are no opportunities. There is barely any support. & it's not even for Poetry alone.

The NLNG prize is a big big joke as it is. Imagine that as a Playwright, you'd have to plan your publication to fit into the NLNG eligibility

Window. & they think nothing is wrong with it.

I am angry & that's why we do all we do. It's not enough that young people have to wait for someone to go before it's their turn. Brunel Prize, Sillerman, the MFAs. Kí ló tún kú for young writers?

We need to build institutions. We need more festivals. More prizes. Need fellowships. We need privileged individuals doing more for the art.

It's even funny & shameful that anyone will think about being a gatekeeper when there is barely any gate here.

& the little there is,

they sef wan enter way.
Everything we do now isn't exactly for us, it's for a generation that will bring flowers to our graves. It's for children who'd teach our works & read them to their children & say we are this because they were that.

I'm angry & that's why I choose better.