The oil-rich city of Warri was trailed with incessant conflict/crisis between 1997 to 2003 recording a great number of casualties, thereby attracting the attention of international peacekeeping and human right bodies from around the globe.
In a bid to appraise the negative consequences of violence in the light of the active and passive conflict still plaguing the Nigerian State, Africa and the World at large, Theresa Ebi Tobuyei wrote GASP; a literary piece, which focuses on the consequences and the psychological and psychosocial issues that arise from the scars inflicted on the people especially marginalized groups such as children, young people, and women, in the times of the crisis, wars, and armed conflicts, around the world.
This piece of literature unearths the harsh realisties of how even decades after the end of active violence, the victims still struggle to embrace their now-tainted lives.
GASP is a fictional tale about three teen girls who physically witnessed the brutality of war and in this case, the Warri crisis; with each of them losing a principal member of their family.
The story captures how they were separated by the circumstances of life displaying how each of them navigated their way through life whilst nursing the scars the crisis left behind.
The piece told in the third person’s perspective through each of the character’s lives also considers other societal vices like electoral violence, domestic violence, bullying, sexual assault, child abandonment, and the likes; displaying the travails and triumphs of her characters.
The writer, Theresa Ebi Tobuyei, is a Nigerian author and educator. Her novel GASP was published in December 2021 and has been praised for its powerful storytelling and its insights into the enduring impacts of war.
Theresa is also the founder of a non-profit organization – St. Theresa Magazine (STAM) charged with the humanity consciousness and seeing how she can also impact her society positively.
Theresa Ebi Tobuyei who likes to be referred to as a humanity writer/novelist is a lawyer who currently functions as a Senior Judicial Research Officer with the Bayelsa State Judiciary. She is known for identifying societal vices and weaving powerful stories around it.
STAM with her core on educational awareness and advancement will host the fourth read of the Book, GASP along with a colloquium on the topic “Appraising the Aesthetics of a Reading Culture in Nigeria with the Author of GASP” on Tuesday, the 29th of August 2023, by 4:00pm prompt at Roving Heights, Auditorium, Abuja.
The event will be chaired by Esteemed Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali and will feature a keynote address by Ken Etete, CEO of Century Group. The Creative Director of Hedge productions Limited, a Nigerian based Movie production company who recently purchased the movie rights for the adaptation of the book will also be in attendance and together with the author of GASP; Theresa Ebi Tobuyei, they will engage the attendees in a conversation on GASP and the essentiality of a reading culture to the advancement of their career and in extension, the economy, the Nigerian economy.
The book reading event is part of STAM’s ongoing efforts to promote a love of reading among young people in Nigeria. The read is committed to providing opportunities for young writers to develop their skills and to connect with other creative minds.To register for this event, kindly visit Eventbrite and make your reservation.
This event is proudly supported by:
Century Group – www.ceslintlgroup.com
Olby Synergy Ltd
Skype Energy Ltd www.skypeenergy.com
Custodians of African Literature (COAL) www.Coalng.org
GloryLand Book Club Bayelsa
1402 Book lounge
We hope to see you at the event on Tuesday!!!
Signed:
Theresa Ebi Tobuyei
The Author.
