BOOKS AND BEATS AT THE
JAZZHOLE Live music and literature come together at the Jazzhole – a bolthole of beats and books in Lagos. Chidozie Uzoezie reveals why a recent visit revitalised his love of reading.
T
he view from the outside doesn’t give much away, except for the random paint-
ings on the wall. But as the sun sets far behind its golden rays, the door opens to what I call an evening of music from the masters. And as you walk in, the perfectly synchronised afrobeats filter into your ears. Your
London, United Kingdom. I didn’t
mind is at peace with what your
only want to make good grades, I
ears perceive. And as you take your
also wanted to learn. And not even
position surrounded by books, the
the wicked winter weather could
soothing trans-cultural harmony
stop me from frequenting the librar-
tion, came alive. I wanted to read
puts your mind at ease as it caress-
ies. So walking into the Jazzhole
Just and Unjust Wars which first
es your body and soul, leaving
Bookshop brought back those
caught my attention, and then When
you with an almost unquenchable
memories almost in one quick flash.
God and Cancer Meet stared me in
craving for more. Now, that’s what
NOT YOUR REGULAR BOOKSHOP The Jazzhole in Ikoyi, Lagos
Stepping into Jazzhole Lagos, for
expectations, every bit of them, was exceeded by an exponential magnitude. My voracious literary instincts, which had hitherto been in hiberna-
the face. And so did Grey’s Anatomy
you get on a typical gig-day at
the first time, I wasn’t sure exactly
and The World in Six Songs. I was
the Jazzhole Lagos. The gig days
what my expectations were. My
practically consumed by the fire
don’t come as often as they used to
feelings were mixed, at best. But all
of reading, and I wanted to read
though, but that essentially takes
of that quickly gave way as soon as
every book I set my eyes on, but
nothing away from the Jazzhole.
I made my first gaze. What my eyes
that wasn’t even possible. My mind
met wasn’t like anything my mind
couldn’t stay on one book because
had imagined, not even close. All my
my wandering eyes couldn’t stay off
For The Love of Reading For someone who writes so much, reading so much is a given. At least, that’s what people think. Personally, the last time I read with so much avarice was some years ago when I was writing my postgraduate dissertation at the University of East
the rest. If you were in my shoes, you
My mind couldn’t stay on one book because my wandering eyes couldn’t stay off the rest
would do exactly the same.
Beyond The Ordinary Established in 1991, the Jazzhole Lagos is not your regular kind of bookshop where you go for
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