had just purchased the latest copy 
of GR (Vol. 1 No.4) and was driving 
home with a friend along Kingsway 
road when we happened to spot Benjamin 
Aderounmu, or 'Kokoro' as we'd 
always known him, walking along 
the busy road 'doing his thing' which 
these days has been reduced to begging 
for alms along Lagos streets. 
The last time I saw him was maybe some 
fifteen years ago on TV on one of the variety shows 
at the time. It was really a pity and a 
shame to see him reduced to this 
state. I was so ashamed for him, 
myself and the country in general 
that I couldn't bring myself to stop 
to offer him alms as that would 
have served to underscore the reality of the situation for 
me. 
It just seems a great shame that in other countries 
artists, blind or sighted, are able to support themselves and 
other dependants through their art. In the United States, for 
example, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder are multiple award 
winning artists in spite of their'handicap'. Something really has 
to be done to redress the situation otherwise what encouragement 
would there be for upcoming artists if their forebears are 
left to eke out a living begging for alms? 
On a brighter note, allow me to commend you on the ever 
improving quality of your publication. I have been following GR 
from inception in 1 995 and had decided to purchase a full 
year's supply before sending in any comment (although it did 
take you more than a year to release four issues). These main 
the articles 
typeface 
Glendora Review. 
Obi Eze 
Satellite town, 1.0903 
February 1, 1997 
African Quarterly 
on the Arts 
100 
improvements have caught my eye - 
i. Improving literary and intellectual depth of 
ii. Switching from New Roman to Universe 
iii Increasing number of pages, 
iv. Improved paper quality 
With these and other improvements, GR 
has succeeded in carving niche for itself as a 
major voice for African Art internationally. 
My only complaints, minor though they are, 
are the absence of the usual short story in your 
current issue and the fact that you did an entire cover 
story on '25 years of film in Africa' in your second issue 
without any mention of the late Hubert Ogunde who 
bestrode the industry like a colossus in the Eighties. 
Another suggestion I would like to make, which I'm 
quite sure you are already considering, would be 
the inclusion of colour in the magazine. This 
would have served to really portray the beauty in 
Obiora Udechukwu's works (Vol.1 No.4) and the 
plates used in the 'making photographs' article. 
Anyway, in spite of these minor 'glitches' I 
have to once again compliment you on your ever 
improving magazine. Keep up the good work and long live 
Vol. 2/Np. 1 GLENDORA r