Read this post to the end. I’ll be giving away the book, Guardians of the Seal by Tunde Leye at the end of this post.
***
On Saturday, August 27, 2016, I attended the first #GrillandRead event in Lagos. #GrillandRead is a literary event and it held at the RoofTop of CCHub, Yaba, Lagos (yes, the very same CCHub that Mark Zuckerberg visited on Tuesday August 30, 2016). I could have sworn I stood on the exact spot Mark stood on (when I excused myself from the #GrillandRead event to enter CCHub work space on Saturday). I guess great minds stand alike.
Anyway, back to the gist of this post. #GrillandRead was a very fun event. The gate fee was a meagre N1,500 per person and N6,000 for a group of 5 people. I hope the organisers don’t read this post and be like, “Oh, meagre N1,500? We’re making it N50,000 next time”. Mba, you guys should not even “thunk” it.
So as I was saying…There were performances by poets and spoken word artists, critiquing of books and movie adaptation of those books, meet and greet with authors, book auctions, networking with strange and familiar faces, consumption of grilled turkey and yes, dance! Dance!! Dance!!!
I particularly loved the book auctioning process. I actually won the first auction. If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram , you may have known that by now. The books are Daughters Who Walk This Path by Yejide Kilanko; Sector IV by Abigail Anaba; June 12, 1993: Annulment by Abraham Oshoko; Promise of The Future by Towunmi Coker and Guardians of the Seal by Tunde Leye.
I loved the concept of the book, June 12, 1993: Annulment by Abraham Oshoko. It is the first graphic novel by a Nigerian that I would ever come across. And it is really beautiful too and well bound! Kudos to Farafina!
I can’t wait to read Tunde Leye’s Guardians of the seal. Nigeria has been waiting for that book like since forever. I hear it will be officially launched on September 25, 2016 (I hope I heard right). Watch out for that one. I’m glad to have won this book during the auction but since Tunde Leye had prior to now, promised to give me an advanced copy of the book, I want to give away the copy I won.
Another reason I enjoyed #GrillandRead was because I was able to put a face (and voice) to some people I have come across (who I may not even be following) on Twitter. It was good to know how they look and sound in person. Tonypox did a good job Emceeing.
There was also books sale at the event.
The highlight of the event for nightcrawlers (unfortunately for me, I am not that type), was the after party at night. Come and see groove on a Rooftop! Blazing music, dark clouds with spots of shiny stars above your head, trail of red lights in Yaba traffic below, the feel of cool breeze against your body, and the feel of another sweaty human body against yours. Literati folks sure know how to have fun.
Here are a few pictures I took at the event. Sorry they aren’t that much.
From L – R: Oge,Harold, Toperants, Seun Odukoya
Slaying the dragon
With the GodFather, Tunde Leye
Books I won at the auction.
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GUARDIANS OF THE SEAL GIVEAWAY
I have decided to give away a copy of Tunde Leye’s Guardians of the Seal. Answer these two simple questions for a chance to win the book.
- Why have I decided to giveaway Tunde Leye’s book?
- Why should I give you the book?
I have no particular format for choosing the winner of this giveaway. Just let me know your answers in the comments section below and I’ll randomly pick a winner on Friday, September 2nd, 2016, on or before 3:00pm Nigerian time. Also include your contact email after your answer.
You can share this post and ask your friends to participate. That way, if you don’t win it, one of your friends just might win it. And you guys will read the book one after the other. *wink*
You are giving it away because Tunde Leye promised you an advanced copy already.
You should give me because you are crazy in love with me and I’ll be going back to Scotland next week and it’ll be lovely to have something to remember you by.
Hehe.
Oh. You know how to reach me na. Tenk yiu in advance.
😛
Nne, park one side. You’re disqualified from partaking in this. Reason? You are like family and family are not part of this. *wink*
q1.you said and I quote ‘ I’m glad to have won this book during
the auction but since Tunde Leye had prior to now,
promised to give me an advanced copy of the book, I
want to give away the copy I won.’
q2. cos I will like to read the book and am a follower of ur page.
Hayyyyyyyy! See how you family zoned me!
Diaris God o!!!!
Thanks for coming to #GrillandRead and for your really nice post about the event. By the way I saw the “meagre” 1500 🙂 We are happy to have “overdelivered”? See you at the next event… Maybe?
Of course I’ll be at the next event. Now I feel bad for calling the N1,500 meagre. I take back my words. That N1,500 was one hell of a sum. I had to take out bank loan to pay it. *wide smile*
Q1. You are giving out Tunde Leye’s book because you have two copies – one you won in an auction during the ‘grill and read event’ and the other is an advanced copy you will be receiving from Tunde Leye. You wish to give away the copy you won.
Q2. You should give me the book because i would like to read it as i have enjoyed reading previous stories written by Tunde Leye such as Baba Risi, Broken Mirrors, Yobachi, Burnt, Rekiya’s Tale, Burden of Proof, and Finding Hubby. I have no doubt that ‘Guardians of the Seal’ would also be an interesting book. In addition, you should give me the book because i could write you a review of the book after i’ve read it, if you wish .
My email address is kodilinduka@gmail.com
Thank you for planning to give out the extra copy. It would be a delight to have it☺.
Hi Kodili, congratulations on winning this giveaway. Kindly check your mail.
Thank you. ☺ but I haven’t received your email.
Hi Kodili, the mail was sent. Kindly reconfirm. Thanks
Q1 you’re giving out the book because you said and I quote; ” I’m glad to have won this book during the auction but since Tunde Leye had prior to now, promised to give me an advanced copy of the book, I want to give away the copy I won.”
Q2. You should give me because I want it, I’d love to read it, I’m a Tunde Leye reader, I’m a reader, I read, I need it, I love Nigerian literature, oya please let me win, I’ve never won giveaway.
My email address is morifeke@gmail.com
Hi Ifeoluwa. Thanks for your entry. I really wish you could have won it.
Q1: You’re giving out the book because the author already promised you an advanced copy and there is simply no point having two copies of the same book especially when one would be a personalized copy from the author himself.
Q2: You should give me this book because, well I’d like to read it, actually I got to know the author on Okada books and if I win the book and I do enjoy reading it, I’m never keeping quiet until everyone I know reads it.
You can reach me on aaduraseyi@yahoo.com
Hi Seyi, thanks for your entry. I really wish you could have won it. I liked your entry so much. If I had two copies to giveaway, I would have given you one. But unfortunately, I have only one copy and the entry by Kodili won it. Thanks for your entry all the same. Better luck next time.
Boss, I would like to read the book when you are done. Kindly notify me of any event of this nature in future. I won’t mind joining you in such an intellectual banquet.
Alright Kingsley. I’d love to lend you the book. Thanks