Sandra Ekine, writer, expert editor and professional Human Resource Manager has launched a collection of poems, titled; ‘CUP OF TEA’.
During the virtual launch of the book, Ekine revealed that, “CUP OF TEA was written as a love poem to my writing journey. It summarises my passion and love for writing and my journey so far. Way back in 2007, I started journaling with a diary my mother had given me just before I headed to the University. It all began with me writing about how much I missed my family because that was my first time away from home.
“I stopped journaling for a while but still found myself going back to my journal, scribbling my feelings and thoughts down. I am the type of person who keeps things in and journaling I discovered helps me process and release a few of those feelings and it works for me.
“Fast forward to 2020 with Corona virus and the lockdown, it felt like life was put on hold and the very thing which makes us function was used against us- our connections and relationships. This was one thing I noticed we were all deprived of in 2020.
“As human beings we need connections and are all connected one way or the other no matter where we are in the world. Corona showed us that and threatened us with it.”
The author also noted that, “for me, everything that happened made me realise the need to make sure that we do not lose that connection, the reason we thrive.”
Speaking about the book, immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Adedeji Adekunle, SAN, noted that the book “is an anthology of 60poems spanning over 3years, cataloguing the author’s life experience in various facets of her life.
“However, unlike traditional poems which deal mainly with very abstract concepts and probably very complex style. What I find striking about Cup of Tea is the easy to read vocabulary and the flow leaving the reader not only with a firm grasp of the ideas and thoughts but also giving that reader room for deep reflection.
“So line by line powerful images of abstract concepts like love, faith, hope, friendship, loss and perhaps not so abstract concepts such as corruption, governance, poverty, conflict, gender relations, equality, girl and women empowerment, COVID-19 and inclusion leap out as each page is turned, leaving indelible impressions on the mind of the reader.”
The collection was reviewed by Mrs Habiba Alkali-Nur, author of The Phantom Army; Anthony Abu, Development Communications’ Specialist; Mr Akonte Ekine, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Strategist of Absolute PR; and Mrs Kesiena Aiwemhemnle, a professional chef and writer.