"Dear Younique"
A reflection
Dear Fellow,
Today’s despatch features a piece from my friend Cinplangnan. If you have subscribed to this newsletter before July 2022, you met her via two of her writings published here: “Wonder Letter by Cinplangnan” and “Where Does Inspiration Come From?” The first was a piece in anticipation of the release of an ebook she co-authored with KaatNanret entitled Levography and Grace, and the second was a musing she shared with me.
On Sunday, 19th May 2024, the anthology I told you about in “A Whim” was unveiled to the world. I have not fully processed my thoughts on that day to write to you about it yet. Several reviews on the event are on social media, but Cinplangnan’s review got my attention because it is more detailed and captures some of the project’s aspirations.
The following is her kind-of-a-review of Sunday’s event published on her Facebook timeline. The following is a reproduction of the piece. I hope it gives you a feel of what happened on Sunday. Enjoy:
Dear Younique Person,
What do you do when words don’t quite accurately describe what you feel? When the image you try to weave eludes you? It’s been a few days since the unveiling and yet I find myself stuck. Still processing but at much slower pace than I would like. (Consider this a lengthy journal entry.
It was a really beautiful day, save the heat. I had a plethora of discussions—from Vigil and hear beautiful locs, conversations with Mr. Sam, down to Samuel and his quest for masa. I finally put a face to a lot of names that were hitherto not more than phantoms in my mind’s eye—it was a real pleasure. Speaking of the likes of Habib, Wordsmith, Daniel, Francis (to mention a few). I almost laughed out loud when Mr. Gaya referred to us as “the fellows”. I don’t know why, but I found it simply hilarious.
It was especially beautiful hearing/seeing Nen James talk. I had never seen a deaf person actively communicate before Sunday. And I may have whispered that I would learn sign language someday, in a world where we sometimes forget about those who can’t hear the sound of it—to spread a little more love.
It was beyond joyful meeting people I had not met in years or months, the likes of Sarah, GK and amigo Izang (again to mention a few). It was a bit disappointing not meeting people I had hope to meet—like Kaaty, Iveh, Rejoice, and Kenny. But I know how it is. Life comes at us differently, especially as students—exams and all.
The highlight of the day was, of course, finally releasing The Twelfth Despatch: On Writing and Becoming in print! Tell me, how do I capture and store up this joy? It is buzzing under my skin. I smiled until my cheeks hurt. The book has been the first thing in my bag since Sunday.
Dear Younique, no feat is too small to celebrate. And while you cocoon and wait, I hope you thrive in this journey of becoming.
Love,
Cinplangnan.
In addition, Cinplangnan wrote the essay entitled “Of Writing and Becoming” in The Twelfth Despatch. I hope you get to read it, as it is the only essay whose title is closest to the anthology’s subtitle.
Isah, Cinplangnan Ezekiel is currently an undergraduate student of geology at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU Bauchi). She co-authored Levography and Grace, and loves writing levo scripts. She loves cats more than other pets, aspires to be a polyglot who speaks and writes in at least a dozen languages, and loves to confront her ignorance with light. She resides in Mangu LGA of Plateau State, Nigeria, where she is gradually building her collection of rocks.1
From “List of Contributors” in The Twelfth Despatch: On Writing and Becoming, ed. by Micah Timothy Evi, Habib Robert Simon, Zipporah Ayomide Adigun, and Sarah Ayuba Tawus (Jos: ACTi Publishing, 2024), 8.
Congratulations! I read it and felt like I had been there!! I would still love to read your own reflections though.
Yours sincerely,
Your Fellow.
🎉🎉🎉🎉