Siyanbola Victor 

Thursday Film Series held a special screening and discussion on environmental degradation at the Drapers Hall, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, on Thursday, 6th February 2025.

At the event, a documentary titled “The Poets” was played. This documentary is a repository of the beauty of nature and how it has been annihilated by African society. The documentary features Prof. Niyi Osundare, a Nigerian poet, and Prof. Syl Cherney-Coker, a Sierra Leonean counterpart of his. The two of them have, through their literary pieces, protested against the high incidence of environmental degradation in their respective countries and even on a global plane.

Recall that on November 21, the age-long Heritage Park of the University of Ibadan was utterly destroyed which Niyi Osundare referred to as ”murdered trees”.

In the documentary, Prof. Coker took his friend, Niyi Osundare on a tour round his home at Sierra Leone. Together, they commented on the changes which have occurred over time regarding nature. They opined that even though everyone regards them as troublemakers, literature is protestant in nature. In one way or the other, a good work of literature should protest against an idea.

Commenting on the topic of discourse in a panelist session alongside Prof. Osundare and Ms. Aderemi Adeola, Ms. Molara Wood said: “Ibadan is a beautiful place but it’s filthy. You that are trying to do the right thing will even be derided. We need to raise an awareness campaign that the quality of your environment is very important.”

The event had in attendance Prof. Femi Osanfisan, Prof. Sola Olorunyomi, the Director of the Institute of African Studies; lecturers from the Department of English, Prof. Nelson Fashina, Head of the department of English; Prof. Omobowale, Prof. Aguoru, and a host of other lecturers, with students who show concern about the raging trend of environmental degradation in their community.