Watbridge Hotels Comes Alive for James Ene Henshaw
...as rain of tributes pour in for pioneer Nigerian playwright
by samuel udoma
The Letters House of Watbridge Hotels, Uyo, came alive yesterday as Uyo Book Club, alongside eminent scholars, writers and intellectuals gathered to mark the 99th posthumous birthday memorial of Dr. James Ene Henshaw. The event was supported by Watbridge Hotels &Suites, Uyo and the James Ene Henshaw Foundation(JEHF).
Dr. Ene Henshaw, (born August 29, 1924, died August 16, 2007), a physicist by profession, was one of Nigeria's pioneers playwrights. He is well known for one of his all time classics, This Is Our Chance. His other notable titles include Medicine for Love and Dinner for Promotion.
During the session, a Professor of Theatre and Aesthetics at the University of Uyo, Effiong Johnson delivered a sumptuous review of some of Dr. Henshaw's works, dwelling a little bit more on 'Magic in Blood' - regarded as one of Henshaw's rarest.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Uyo, Prof. Joe Ushie in his rapporteur, hailed Dr. Henshaw's influence on a generation of writers, especially those from the Southern part of the country. Ushie offered critical insights into Dr. Henshaw's use of language, thematic plots and style in many of his plays.
On his part, patron of Uyo Book Club and the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South in the Senate, Dr. Ekong Sampson, in his goodwill message delivered by his Special Assistant on Media, Samuel Udoma, said that Dr. James Ene Henshaw deserves to be celebrated.
Senator Sampson, recalled the fond memories of Bambulu, a well known character in Henshaw's This Is Our Chance, which gained fame in schools and colleges, paying tribute to the 'medicine men in literature', including the likes of Cyprian Ekwensi, Martin Akpan for their great sense of storytelling and exploring the 'writer in the scientist'.
Uyo Book Club in-house orator and former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors(ANA), Akwa Ibom State, Dr. Martin Akpan, himself, a medical doctor just like Dr. James Henshaw, also gave a resounding presentation, sharing his thoughts on the evolution of Doctors-Writers, which he said dated back to antiquity from St Luke the Evangelist down to Dr. Godwin Noah in the 21st century.
To wrap up his rich presentation, Dr. Akpan regaled the audience with an immaculate rendition of some of the popular lines of Bambulu from 'This Is Our Chance'. Dr. Akpan is said to have acted that part back in his primary school days, many years ago.
Other speakers at the session including Dr. Bassey Ubong, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Ekanabasi Ubong, who chaired the session, Abom Tony Esu, who moderated the cake cutting and took the audience through the relationship between some English and Efik names such as Henshaw for Ansa, Prof. Solomon Obotetukudo, Mrs. Ini Iteh, Mrs Alice Ugbe, General Manager, NTA, Uyo, hailed the lasting literary legacies of Dr. James Ene Henshaw.
One of James Ene Henshaw's children, Ene Henshaw Jr, who joined via Zoom from the UK, lauded Uyo Book Club and Watbridge Hotels for hosting such an elaborate memorial for their dad. He said the event has opened up a good prelude to the Henshaw centennial coming up next year.
Earlier in his tone setting, the founder of Uyo Book Club, Dr. Udeme Nana said the club will continue to celebrate and immortalize literary giants for their contributions to knowledge and the reading culture.
Recall that so far, Uyo Book Club has held special sessions for William Shakespeare, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Christopher Okigbo, among others. Henshaw is the first writer from Akwa/Cross to be so honoured by the book club.
Highpoint of yesterday's meet was the cutting of the birthday cake and a toast to the 99th posthumous anniversary of the Dr. James Henshaw.