Femi Akintunde-Johnson, popularly known as FAJ, one of the country’s most celebrated journalists, will release the digital version of his third book – Reflections – on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.
The 300+-page book is filled with enriched information, personal recollections, detailed fact-checking of many of the major works of Nigeria’s movie and theatre stars across the ages. It also includes some never-before-seen photographs provided by these actors or their family members and associates for those who have moved on.
FAJ said; “The book is an anthology, a collection of my thoughts, observations, and sentiments during more than three decades chronicling the Nigerian entertainment industries as a journalist, critic, and systemic rewarder.”
Reflections will be launched at an exclusive virtual gathering on the same day; hosted by former Guardian editor and culture activist, Jahman Anikulapo, and the Culture Advocates Caucus, CAC.
Niran Adedokun, a writer, PR practitioner, journalist and author of “The Danfo Driver in All of Us’ , states that the book is;
“Breezy without being pedestrian and intellectual without alienating any reader who seeks knowledge. This book at once, sets the records straight, venerates those to whom honour is due and inspires opportunities for further scholarship on the subject matter. It is recommended for everyone whose feet itch for a role in the variety of opportunities that the Nigerian film industry offers.”
“What Reflections captures in snackable bites, divided into seven chapters, are the profiles of the luminaries whose radical thinking and struggles manifested in the shining beacon now called Nollywood,” Sola Osofisan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of Africanwriter.com, enthused.
Reflections is available for pre-order at $2.99 (N1,495) on Amazon and wixsite till June 15, and will thereafter be sold for $9.99 (N4,995).
For those who don’t know, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, popularly called FAJ, enlisted his name in the Nigerian media with forays in editing entertainment pages of The Punch newspapers, defunct Climax mag between 1988 and 1991. He rose to become Editor and E-in-C of Climax, and popular titles – Fame, Encomium, New Treasure and TPL – consecutively between 1991 and 2015 (the latter four, he co-founded).
An engaging writer and analyst, FAJ is also the mastermind behind four of Nigeria’s best-known awards of the 90s: Fame Music Awards (FMA), The Movie Awards (THEMA), The REEL Awards and Awards for Musical Excellence in Nigeria (AMEN).
A graduate of English from the University of Jos, he has lectured at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism; and led a training initiative called Basic Skills Academy. He is also a columnist with ThisDay Newspapers, an avid reader and speaker.
Two books bear his name: ‘Lifelines: A Slice of My Life’ and ‘Footprints: Interventions in Nigerian Entertainment’, both published in 2011.