By Charles Adeyinka
A new book, “The Sons of Thunder-An American Odyssey (SoT)”, by International Author, and former Presidential Aspirant, Okey Samuel Mbonu, was launched Saturday September 4, in the Washington, DC Metro, United States.
The star-studded Event, held in the backdrops of the US capital, also featured “Film Screenings” of various titles in the Book, which the Author says features the new format in story-telling, which he calls “21st Century Art & Rhythm”.
The event was sponsored in part by Afrik International Inc.-one of the fastest-growing food conglomerates in the US; Olney Winery Incorporated Inc., a major US wine manufacturing company; Leeds Realty Inc., a fast-rising top US real estate brokerage, development, management, and engineering company; Cozi Furniture Inc., a top Maryland Furniture company; Dave’s Seafood, Meat & Poultry Inc.-a Baltimore-based premium producer of seafood, meat & poultry; and Pan-African Visions Magazine & TV, the number-one source of pan-African news.
The event was graced by business and political leaders, from the US and the Nigerian Diaspora, including the CEO of Afrik International, Chief Pius Ezeigwe; former Presidential Candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 elections Prof. Kingsley Moghalu; CEO of Leeds Group of Companies, Ola Famuyiwa; CEO of Brickstone Management Consultants, George Oluwaboro; the Diplomatic community; various elected Officials & Political Candidates; including the Attorney-General of Prince George’s Maryland Hon. A. Braveboy; CEO of Ijeabuonwu Law Firm, Chike Ijeabuonwu Esq; Principal Agent for All State Insurance, Essex, MD, Dr. Emmanuel Onyekwere; and a host of other professionals, business, and community leaders.
Mbonu described his new work as the direction of “21st Century Art & Rhythm”, a term he coined to address how a 300-page Book was condensed into a small readable format, featuring poetic stories, each of which is also adapted to “short films” at the same time. The “Sons of Thunder-An American Odyssey” is currently being distributed by Amazon worldwide, with particular exposure in the US, UK, EU, Japan, and other less logistically-challenged countries. He promises to facilitate the quick penetration of the work into Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa in due course.
Film clips from the “SoT” are available on the “Amazon Influencer Page” of “Okey Samuel Mbonu”, and coming soon on YouTube, and other formats worldwide. Mbonu is confident that he is in the forefront of an emerging Artform, which takes into account the shortened attention span of millennials, and their default tendency to be entertained, and motivated in short bursts of entertainment.
In response to questions about the current state of Nigeria, Mbonu warned that Nigeria is now on a “fast descent to anarchy” due to catastrophe insecurity, which is now fast-spreading across Nigeria; and which could conceivably render Nigeria uninhabitable soon, if urgent measures were not taken. He stated that the entre citizens of Nigeria, and not just the government needed to dialogue among themselves fast; if they still wished to have a country.
Mbonu strongly condemned killings across Nigeria, including the recent killing of Olajide Sowore, brother to Nigerian Activist Omoyele Sowore. He opined that self-defense may soon be a viable option for many Nigerians, if insecurity persists. He promised to also launch the Book and its accompanying “Short Films” in Nigeria in the near future, after negotiations with distribution partners in Nigeria.
*Charles Adeyinka, is Senior Media Adviser to Hon. Okey Samuel Mbonu