It
was a gathering of A lists authors, book aficionados, and captains of
industries at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos to launch two
books written by 10-year old
Munachi Mbonu.
was a gathering of A lists authors, book aficionados, and captains of
industries at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos to launch two
books written by 10-year old
Munachi Mbonu.
The
books, Concealed and Chidubem: A child of destiny were products of
leisurely exercises by the Year Six pupil of Grande Oakbridge Montessori
School, Osapa London, Lekki,
which she wrote to entertain her cousins until her mother, Ifeoma,
urged her to seek a wider audience.
books, Concealed and Chidubem: A child of destiny were products of
leisurely exercises by the Year Six pupil of Grande Oakbridge Montessori
School, Osapa London, Lekki,
which she wrote to entertain her cousins until her mother, Ifeoma,
urged her to seek a wider audience.
Munachi
said Concealed, centered on a group of young friends in school learning
what is valuable and love, was inspired by TV drama series, Friends;
while Chidubem, which
features a boy adapting to city life after relocating from the village,
was influenced by her interactions with her cousins who had similar
experience.
said Concealed, centered on a group of young friends in school learning
what is valuable and love, was inspired by TV drama series, Friends;
while Chidubem, which
features a boy adapting to city life after relocating from the village,
was influenced by her interactions with her cousins who had similar
experience.
“When
the house is noisy, my Mummy tells us to go to our rooms and read and
do book reviews. She doesn’t like us watching the TV for long periods. I
started writing stories
and giving them to my cousin’s to read.
the house is noisy, my Mummy tells us to go to our rooms and read and
do book reviews. She doesn’t like us watching the TV for long periods. I
started writing stories
and giving them to my cousin’s to read.
“The
first book was from TV drama shows; the second book was inspired by my
cousins who moved from the village to Lagos. They did not like some
things we liked here but
were willing to learn new things and adapt,” she said.
first book was from TV drama shows; the second book was inspired by my
cousins who moved from the village to Lagos. They did not like some
things we liked here but
were willing to learn new things and adapt,” she said.
Munachi’s Mum said the girl started writing at seven.
“She’s
been writing from seven. I got her first laptop at five. So she would
sketch some things and write about them. At age seven, she started
writing. During the holidays
I buy a lot of books and tell her to do a book review. She has written
about five or six books.
been writing from seven. I got her first laptop at five. So she would
sketch some things and write about them. At age seven, she started
writing. During the holidays
I buy a lot of books and tell her to do a book review. She has written
about five or six books.
Ms Mbonu said she thought the books were ripe for publishing because she enjoyed reading them as an adult.
“When
I read Chidumbem, it was really funny. I was laughing. I told her
that older people needed to read her books, not just her cousins. She
was scared at first but
I encouraged her. We met with an editor who saw the manuscript and she
was impressed,” said Ms Mbonu.
I read Chidumbem, it was really funny. I was laughing. I told her
that older people needed to read her books, not just her cousins. She
was scared at first but
I encouraged her. We met with an editor who saw the manuscript and she
was impressed,” said Ms Mbonu.
Advising other parents, Ms Mbonu urged parents to invest in their wards.
“I
will advise parents to invest in their children first before investing
for their children. Expose a child to multiple activities and through
that you know what the child
likes,” she said.
will advise parents to invest in their children first before investing
for their children. Expose a child to multiple activities and through
that you know what the child
likes,” she said.
Guest
of honour at the launch, Tony Kan, popular writer and poet, who started
writing at 11, urged Munachi’s parents to support her.
of honour at the launch, Tony Kan, popular writer and poet, who started
writing at 11, urged Munachi’s parents to support her.
He
shared how he ended up studying English at the University of Jos after
three failures to get in for Medicine. He also said his love for
writing had taken him all over
the world.
shared how he ended up studying English at the University of Jos after
three failures to get in for Medicine. He also said his love for
writing had taken him all over
the world.
“I
wanted to study Medicine at the University of Jos. I was admitted for
Chemistry, the first time, then Biochemistry, then Microbiology. My
uncle then asked what I wanted
to do, and I opted for English. In the first year, we had a reading
list of 48 books. I had read 47 of them.
wanted to study Medicine at the University of Jos. I was admitted for
Chemistry, the first time, then Biochemistry, then Microbiology. My
uncle then asked what I wanted
to do, and I opted for English. In the first year, we had a reading
list of 48 books. I had read 47 of them.
I
want to say to Mum and Dad, this girl is doing something great;
encourage her. I have traveled all over the world but I have never
bought a ticket in my life. I get
invitations from people because of my books,” he said.
want to say to Mum and Dad, this girl is doing something great;
encourage her. I have traveled all over the world but I have never
bought a ticket in my life. I get
invitations from people because of my books,” he said.
