About me: Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

It is a tragedy to remain in a world you cannot control and all the more tragic if you do not have control over your own life. People who have surrendered leadership of their lives to others are always at the mercy of those they serve.

Omoruyi Uwuigiaren is a former cartoonist turned writer. When he was a kid, writing was the last thing on his mind. He loved music and composed rap songs for his high school band. After school, he wanted to pursue a career in music. Instead he embraced writing. Thanks to a pastor who encouraged him to write little books and make them available in bookstores.

Ruyi lives in Lagos. Next to his family and friends, writing is his passion and happiness. Today, he writes middle grade adventure fiction and picture books. Some of his published books include The Adventures of Nihu, The City Heroes and other stories from the heart of Africa, The Mystery of Taiwo Da Silva, the Promised Land; I am Jane, Jane the Good Girl, Shadows in a River, Little Okon and the Outside World, Giant in a Hut, and the Little King.

He is the founder of Ruyi’s World of Books and Stories and Human Change Communications Company. His literary works and short stories have appeared on Moronic Ox Literary and Cultural Journal, San Francisco Review of Books, QWERTY Thoughts, the Story of a Writer, the Guardian Newspapers, and the Vanguard Newspapers.

Most of his books are printed (in-house) on either 60 grams or 70 grams bond quality paper by Human Change Communications Company. Covers are printed in full colour on pelican or FBB paper (thick and durable) and laminated. 

The little books and pamphlets are moved to his trimming station where they are folded and bound (by hand) using a commercial-grade saddle stapler. Each book is carefully trimmed using an electric trimmer, making the outside edge crisp (just like perfect bound books have). Every book is neatly packed and new-looking until they are sold. The extra effort means his books are more expensive to produce, but beautiful and highly collectible. Most of his little books are produced in large numbers from 300 to 1000 copies and are usually sold out in three months or less. His books are distributed to primary schools in Nigeria. Quality is key. He builds his books to last.

You can buy some of his eBooks here. Apart from his blog where you can read his books, articles and short stories for free, you can also download his free books in PDF, Epub, Kindle and TXT formats here.

Reach him at: Ldsomoruyi@yahoo.ca

No Black in Heaven by John Chizoba Vincent

White is the colour of heaven,
there are no black people in heaven.
They have sting strength of eel dirt
which heaven cannot accept.
Their black skins breed corruption,

greed and selfishness. 

Black against white, heaven quaked,

I will not weep for their misfortunes;
dislodge their noble grits with fair 
speed, I do not intend to bestir their sleep.

Heaven has no street for rotten bins

neither is there places in heaven
where poor souls stop to urine on a pole
where children are
left to die of hunger and pains and the eyes behold
blood as water. There are no such places
in heaven. I only passed and was never
allowed to enter 'cause I'm Black.
Beneath this glazing memory, find no
solace like a dot of empty bassets.

Black tear-afflicted eyes are uncertain,
never look an African in the eyes even God
lost words watching them glean with smile.
He could not pass judgment immensely,
brilliant gold beams His face as clouds
part their burnt spirits into tensed of gazing
men of deadly deception; black is beautiful,
Of a truth, Satan knew his people at heart.
He peeped from grey curtains for his furlong
and Michael firmament awoke weakness.

The roads to heaven are beautifully built,
Blacks won't be there because they are broken.
The walls of heaven are coated with gold,
Blacks won't be there, their hands grew
green into orchard of blood & dragons breathe.
With the entire gospel psalm in this land,
no single soul sing of black over there,
Sin over the soul of humanity, they seek.
Until light over shadows blackness over here,
spittle of warm blood won't cease in heaven.
If a black is allowed into the warm hands of heaven,
won't they bribe God?

 Meet John Chizoba Vincent...

He's a cinematographer, poet and author several books which include, "Hard Times". His articles, poems and short stories have appeared on Turk Magazine and other online journals. Follow Vincent on Facebook.