Mabel Segun @95: Celebrating a legacy of literary, sporting excellence
By Godwin Okondo
THE cultural and sports communities came together last Tuesday at the J. Randle Hall, Onikan, Lagos, to celebrate the remarkable life and achievements of a matriarch Mrs. Mabel Segun, a literary icon, pioneer children’s writer and former national table tennis champion, as she turned 95. The two-day event had as theme ‘The Multifaceted Artistry of Mabel Segun’ and pays tribute to a woman whose influence spans literature, sports, broadcasting and education.
Dignitaries, writers, scholars and admirers gathered to honour her contributions, sharing heartfelt tributes that highlighted her impact on Nigerian culture and society. The occasion also featured an exhibition curated by her daughter, Omowunmi Segun, and culminated in the launch of the Mabel Segun Foundation.
According to her daughter Omowunmi, the idea of the exhibition was to capture her mother when she was younger and tell the story of her childhood up till date.
“We are telling her story to inspire the younger generation coming behind,” she said. “My mother was someone who despised the norms, and she proved you can do sports and also study, and do both very well.”
Dr. Bunmi Oyinsan described how Mabel Segun’s early life set her apart as a formidable force in literature and journalism, noting, “Not only was she an exceptional student, she was also a force in journalism. She served as the Deputy Editor of Nigeria’s first student magazine, The University Herald, working alongside (Chinua) Achebe, who was the editor. Even in those days, she was using the power of words to shape conversations and inspire change. After her graduation in 1953, she immediately made her mark on the literary scene, publishing her first short story, which won the first Nigerian Festival of the Arts Literature Prize in 1954. This was just the beginning of a career that would go on to inspire generations.”
Dr. Oyinsan also spoke about Segun’s outstanding achievements in sports when she said, “Many might have forgotten that she was also a first-class athlete. She was not just a casual player; she was a national champion. She played table tennis at both school and national levels, winning the gold medal in the doubles category in 1954 and sweeping every available title in subsequent years. She also excelled in badminton, securing bronze in the Nigerian Regional Championship. Even after decades of competition, her passion never waned. She continued playing table tennis professionally until the age of 58, placing second in the 1988 national event. To put it simply, she did not just participate in sports, she dominated it. Either in literature or athletics, she shattered every expectation, showing the world that women, both intellectually and physically, are formidable.
“Beyond her achievements in literature and sports, Segun had a distinguished career in broadcasting. “As a producer and presenter, she brought stories to life, making literature and culture accessible to countless Nigerians. Her excellence in broadcasting was recognized in 1977, when she won the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation Artiste of the Year Award, and yet no matter where life took her, whether as a teacher or broadcaster, one thing remained constant—her writing. In 1965, she published her autobiographical children’s book, My Father’s Daughter. Many Nigerians who celebrate writers today can trace their passion for writing back to reading this book. I too was deeply moved by it. It was after reading My Father’s Daughter that I saw myself as a writer for the first time. This book was the first book written by an African woman, a Nigerian for that matter, that I read. Mrs. Segun gave me and many others the permission to dream, to aspire to become writers.”
Mabel Segun being serenaded by a saxophonist and flanked by some writers AJ. Dagga Tolar; Ndidi Enemor-Chiazor; Evelyn Osagie; Ifeanyi Avajah and her daughter Omowunmi Segun at her 95 birthday celebration… in Lagos
Her contribution to literature extended beyond her own writing, as Dr. Oyinsan elaborated, “She played a foundational role in establishing the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in 1981, serving as a trustee and ensuring that Nigerian literature had a strong support system. With her commitment to ANA, she helped shape the careers of countless writers, creating space where the next generation of storytellers would thrive.”
The Chairman of the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Chief Kayode Aderinokun, emphasized the importance of celebrating Mabel Segun when he stated, “Mama is 95, and Omowunmi has done an excellent portrayal of her, and some of us are not that privileged to know her that closely, but through her works you catch a glimpse of her genius, and overall, her simplicity is so transparent. I congratulate the family and well-wishers for honouring someone who deserves to be honoured. We have all benefitted from her erudition. Today, she is over 90 and still as vibrant, physically and through her works. I picked one of her books to remind me of the kind of person she is. Mrs. Segun has managed to beat men in tennis and in academics. We have to let the world know what she means to humanity and know the impact she has created.”
Secretary General of Pan-African Writers Association, Dr. Wale Okediran, shared his personal experience with Segun virtualy from Accra, Ghana, saying, “I’ve known her for more than 40 years, and we have worked together on so many occasions. I recollect that we collaborated on some activities, including publication of books and organization of workshops, and I remember one time in Kaduna where a workshop was held. I was one of her students. She will continue to be our mother and we want to continue to see her beside us. I hope that I will have the chance to come to Nigeria to see her in person. Happy birthday!”
Also, Professor Niyi Osundare, in his tribute, described how he had long admired Segun, noting, “Let me begin by saying congratulations to our matriarch, Mrs. Segun. I’m so sorry I’m unable to join you all in this very important occasion, but you can be sure I’m there with you in spirit. She has been with us for a long time now, and we want her to be with us even longer. I started hearing her name when I was in high school, that was in the 1960s, but it was when I became an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan that I started studying her works, particularly her poetry.”
Prof. Osundare reflected on Segun’s impact in literature and leadership, noting, “Her works tell us a lot about her. The apparent simplicity and the hidden density that are there. That was the time Wole Soyinka, Christopher Okigbo, J.P. Clark, Gabriel Okara were the ones all over the place, and out of the blue, there was a female voice among them, and that was her own. Mrs. Segun has always been the one female person in the midst of so many men. Maybe this is what has given her a kind of independence we don’t find in other people.”
Soyinka shared a personal memory, emphasizing her fearless and pioneering spirit: “Imagine a group of young people playing soccer, which we improvised in those days, using many kinds of things as football, and then we kicked the ball over the wall into the neighbour’s yard. The question is, when some are busy looking for a ladder to climb over the wall and retrieve the ball or go to the front door, knock and apologize, somebody had already climbed over the wall, retrieved the ball, tossed it back to you, and then followed the game by the same route. That person would be Aunty Mabel. She’s a woman and she was the exemplar of feminism, a sense of equality between the genders. Soccer was not her favourite game, actually, it was ping-pong. She had a unique way of integrating herself into any kind of situation.”
The celebration culminated in the launch of the Mabel Segun Foundation. Omowunmi Segun acknowledged the overwhelming support that made the event possible, adding, “We got support from the J. Randle Centre. They gave us this place to use for free. We also got support from family members. I would also like to acknowledge the support we got from individual writers from all over the world, people I would call Mabel Segun’s other children. We also have Jahman Anikulapo, who we harassed to moderate at the last minute, and he had no choice because the harassment was so much, and he thought the only way that he could get rid of us was to accept and he did. I thank all of you who took time out to be here today to celebrate my mother’s birthday. God bless you as you return to your various destinations.”
