By Success Ude
The air at City Cafe was thick with more than just the aroma of freshly brewed coffee yesterday; it was filled with the rhythmic pulse of spoken word and profound reflections on the heart.
Benin Writers Society (BWS) led by Douglas Ogbankwa Esq., in a seamless collaboration with City Cafe, hosted “Love and Letters,” an evening dedicated to exploring the complexities of modern romance through literature ,community dialogue and strategic networking.
Setting the Stage
Vice President, Events and External Affairs of the BWS, Princess Diana Eweka, assisted by the Provost of the Society, Amb. Nosa Onaghise, coordinated the event, which was well attended by wordsmiths from all walks of life.
The event commenced with an inspiring opening charge from Ambassador Nosa Onaghise, the Provost of the Society, who set a tone of warmth and intellectual curiosity.
Following the welcome, Mr. Longe Ojo, the CEO of City Cafe and nestling hub, led the gathering in opening prayers, officially opening the doors to a night of vulnerability and creative expression.
Mantle was then handed over to the evening’s moderator, Ude Success. Hosting with a blend of charisma and grace, Success navigated the audience through a series of thought-provoking “real-life” questions and interactive games that broke the ice and sparked deep conversation among attendees.
Core of the event featured a robust panel-style discussion where attendees deconstructed what it truly means to love in the 21st century. Moving away from fairy-tale clichés, the collective wisdom of the room reached a powerful conclusion.
The group defined love not as a fleeting feeling, but as a deliberate practice involving:
Teamwork
Building a shared life through mutual effort.
Choice
The daily decision to stay committed.
Compromise & Acceptance
Balancing individual needs with the reality of a partner’s true self.
Fluency in Love Languages
The vital importance of affirming partners in the specific ways they feel most seen and heard.
The atmosphere shifted from intellectual to ethereal as local literary talents took the stage. The crowd was spellbound by a lineup of gifted poets, including: Mary Rose, Beloved,
Angel and Princess Diana Eweka etc.
Their performances, along with several other contributors, transformed the cafe into a sanctuary for the soul, leaving many in the audience visibly moved.
Barrister Gabriel Ehigiator led a bevy of Lawyers ,who put some legalistic tinge to the riveting event.
As the event drew to a close, the consensus was clear: “Love and Letters” was more than just a literary meet-up; it was a necessary bridge between the writers of Benin City and the community they serve.
Between the snaps of fingers for poignant lines of poetry and the shared laughter over relationship “red flags” during the games, the collaboration proved that when art meets a welcoming space, magic happens.
Success Ude is Media Director, Publicity and Brand Manager for Benin Writers Society (BWS)
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