Posted by By SEGUN AJAYI on
The remains of the foremost writer and doyen of Nigerian novels, Chief Cyprian Ekwensi who died on Sunday, November 4, at 86, will be laid to rest on January 4, 2008, in his home town in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Enugu State, South East of Nigeria.
The remains of the foremost writer and doyen of Nigerian novels, Chief Cyprian Ekwensi who died on Sunday, November 4, at 86, will be laid to rest on January 4, 2008, in his home town in Nkwelle Ezunaka, Enugu State, South East of Nigeria.
According to the programme signed by Mr. Goerge Ekwensi, on behalf of the family, the novelist's final journey home will commence on January 2 with a holy mass and songs of praise at Hillview Crescent, Independent Layout, Enugu, followed by a funeral mass at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, also in Enugu, the following day.
The procession will make a brief stop-over at his residence in Enugu, before it departs for his home town in Nkwelle Ezunaka where there will be a wake keep and lying-in-state.
The committee further revealed that, on January 4, 2008, Ekwensi's body would be laid-in-state at Onuwa Lodge, Ekwelle Ezunaka, befor the funeral mass at St. Williams Catholic Church. His body will be interred at 1.30 pm on the same day.
When asked if there were moves by individuals, organisations, or government to immortalise him, Obialor said that there was a promise to that effect when he clocked 80, even though it is yet to be fulfilled. He called on the government and other concerned bodies, inclined towards Literature to immortalise Ekwensi for his immense contributions to Literature and national development.
Having written about 30 books, the late Ekwensi bestrode Nigeria's literary firmament like a collosus. Some of his popular novels include: People of the City, Jagua Nana's Daughter, The Passport of Mallam Ilia, Afican Nights Entertainment, Lokotown, the Slave Boy, The Return of Shettima and his poilitical satire, Divided we Fall. He is survived by a wife, children and grand children.