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Tue 31st May 2016 

WRITE ANGLE'S MAY GUEST ,TOLU AGBELUSI – A PHENOMENAL WOMAN!

May's Write Angle brought in a guest who took the audience's breath away! In her very gentle manner, she tackled subjects that were far from 'delicate'. Tolu Agbelusi, Nigerian born and living in London, conveyed stories of life in Nigeria for a young woman, and her transition to living in London. Her first visit back to her homeland, where she was given 'Instructions on going back home'. Switching to Nigerian accent, she told, 'You are no longer in London. First, customs. Then, men will help. They will cut the string from your shoulders'. She told of her parents wanting to be sure she had plans for her life. If not married, then a lawyer...not secretary...while all she wanted was, 'be happy'. She also told of all young girls trapped. One who wanted her daughter to be just like Tolu and said, 'She is married at 22, living in a mansion, goes to church, and is successful, while she was already 24…'

A powerful story teller, she used her acting skills to bring poems from her latest project, 'Home is', a play about what 'home' means to each person. This is not about the name of a place everyone calls paradise...how it influences your identity, what it means to each person…There was emphasis on women being abused, and no matter how often warned to stay away, they return. One powerful poem, 'Wake up', about women who always get into the wrong relationships. 'The last one held your heart with barbed wire hands'. The audience was totally with her. Another strong poem about the house she lived in, in which 'he' had control and she finally realised she was not free.

She also did several poems of people caught in the human crush at Hillsborough Football disaster, Sheffield in 1989 where 96 died and 766 were wounded - the worst disaster in British sporting history. After the longest enquiry ever, it ended with the realisation that it wasn't the fans' behaviour but the fault of the South Yorkshire police for failure to control the crowd. 'Daughter' , Discovery', Hallelujah, 'Barely' – one describing 'I feel like a car folded over by a bulldozer...I couldn't breathe or maybe I could'.. Tolu's confidence in performing her work produces a natural humour as well as pain/pathos. She has a wonderful grasp of language and conveys imagery, effortlessly.

Of Maya Angelou, her favourite poet, she said, 'If she was alive, we'd have written poems together' It inspired her to write, 'Fly' - 'Go ahead, seize the mirror…' Everyone laughed, as she asked the women in the audience to join in with her. 'No...no', she felt their response wasn't convincing. She had them say it till she finally got the response she wanted. 'I'm a woman. Phenomenally.. phenomenal woman. That's me. That's me'. Now you can give the mirror back. Fly'. All in all, Tolu had the audience in her palm from beginning to end. A wonderful performer! Responses from the audience as they left – 'You have to have her back!' (I didn't want her to leave).

Meantime, at the Open Mic, Bruce Parry read from his father's book, 'Watchman', overseeing the village, chapel house, the woman who seldom went out. Children scared, believing she's a rat by night. The minister who says, 'of the young, meet them halfway. Of the old, they're nearly home. Meet them all the way'. JeanAnne Naumcyzk, back after too long – with spiders picked up by her vaccuum. Then, a witty poem of Lady Marion loving Robin Hood who the Sheriff wanted for himself (or was it Robin's tights she wanted)! Barry Smith's poem described the beautiful historic pathway running alongside the Sussex Selsea steam engine (slowest train ever) through Shelbourne Harbour – 'the sense of antiquity and being there forever', a site well worth visiting.

Jood read 'The Side of the Road' about death to the beast - the weeping wailing woman at the side who kidnaps small children. Then, 'Shame Down Satan', sung and spoken with the wrath with which it was intended. Two powerful poems. John Haynes, having lived in Nigeria, and South Africa read 'Ballad of the Petrol Queue' - like most Third World countries where corruption is the way of life. 'It makes the country easier to rule'. Then 'Voice' based on a politician who thought most important to teach what can be done with one's hands: 'That's true education'. Finally, 'The Children of Soweto', about the uprising in South Africa.

The creative Audi Maserati, using his ukelele, did songs – to do with the full moon. An anti-war song about a spoon. 'It's not about watching TV. It's about loving and kissing, chilling out for a while...a song I don't want to end'. Then, 'It don't get better than this' and 'Contemplating Moonlessness, 'The very best place to put a smile is right there on your face'. Richard Barnes played guitar singing about a dysfunctional folk band where everyone had different beliefs. Very funny. Then, Richard Hawtree performed 'The Epiclesis', part of the Eucharist where the priest invokes the power of His blessing on the Eucharistic bread and wine, mostly done in Eastern churches. His version referred to an early Irish prayer, 'come down to reach for us'. Lovely rendition.

Tim Dawes spoke of those who set fire to themselves - in a poem 'Let's ignite again', 'walk far from doubt. walk toward purpose. Let me not go quietly out'. An inspiring poem. Then, a beautiful one of his mother 'My Name is'. She died of dementia. 'A strong woman with a defence against Gypsies, Communists and other threats.... She'd kept a diary, always beginning with 'My name is Gillian Mary ….' Toward the end, 'a broken garden fence of a woman', she was just writing, 'My name is……'

Leslie Prior read 'Love regiment disaster, questions unanswered', about the breakdown of a relationship – the anger, disappointments...then 'The Shortage of Short Men'. 'Women are just too high to reach...when Jake takes the mike, he might not know I'm even there at all'. Then a poem about her two cats, George and Jennie. 'George rules the larder. I love him so much, I might even grow a tail'. David Roberts did 'Magpie' and 'Snoggers Lament', two sad poems, 'Where is my woman. Where has she gone. Has she flown away...…' and 'Thinking about the more loving days'. Jilly Funnell rounded out the open mike, starting with another sad tale, 'Waiting for the Assassin', Her 17 year old cat dying. 'My sorry choice – to let you die, pray you won't turn away from me in fear'. Then on an upbeat, a very funny incident of a very attractive man following her, flirting with her, and Jilly suddenly finding herself complimenting strangers, finding everything around her beautiful. One person said, 'she's so nice' while another said, 'Maybe we should call the police'.

She finished with her guitar, singing, 'Jimmy on a Cloud' (we think it should have been 'Jilly on a cloud!'. Very good performance! Very good evening!

A £45 voucher for two meals at Nagshead, a great pub/restaurant (Chichester) was won by a lucky audience member.

 


 

   
   

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