CLAWS OF HOPE: AN INDEPENDENCE DAY ANTHOLOGY

By Olaitan Humble

To commemorate the diamond jubilee of Nigeria on the 1st day of October, 2020, Rahma O. Jimoh, a Nigerian poet and essayist has taken it upon herself and a team of passionate literati to curate a collection of literary works. The collection features satirical poems, essays, stories, photography and artworks addressing “Nigeria’s Independence and allied matters,” as outlined in the callout for submission.

On 23rd September, 2020, an outreach was made for submission of works to be included in the anthology and the deadline fixed to 27th September, 2020. The curator, Rahma claimed that responding to this call, numerous submissions were made and those that are included in the anthology are carefully selected as they have to be “the best of the best.”

This anthology tagged “Claws of Hope” houses entries from up to 40 creatives whose works were deemed worthy for the purpose of the curation. Rahma termed this anthology “excellent” as a result of the “genius contributors, topnotch editors and creative curator” associated with it.

The collection boasts of featuring some of the best voices in the Nigerian literary space, both emerging and established. You will find beautiful works from writers such as Aremu Adams Adebisi, Taofeek Ayeyemi, Abu Bakr Sadiq, Olaitan Humble, Sulola Abiola Imran, Temidayo Jacob, Wardah Abass, Aisha Oredola, Akinrinade Funminiyi Isaac, Peculiar Comfort Ene, Rachel Magaji, Ejiro Elizabeth, Ernest Ogunyemi, Timi Sanniand many other prominent creatives.

It is worthy of note that while this amazing collection of works curated by Rahma addresses Nigerian societal issues, you will find works that make you smile and those that make you shiver. You will find works that “speak truths, rage, feeling, hope (however feeble) shared by several writers, poets, photographers and artists in this anthology.” You will find works that are bold for which their writers are unapologetic.

Claws of Hope: An Independence Day Anthology, designed and published by Temidayo Jacob on the platform; Foenix Press is guest edited by Taofeek Ayeyemi, Akinrinade Funminiyi Isaac, Timi Sanni, Abu Bakr Sadiq and S.A. Ibrahim and the eye-catching cover art is from Sulola Abiola Imran.

Cheers to a sexagenarian Nigeria.

“To build a nation where peace,

And justice shall reign.”

Access the anthology here:

Claws of Hope – An Independence Day Anthology