Matthias Pantaleon (24 August,1984 / Oronija Island, Rivers State, Nigeria)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Birth Name: Matthias Collins Pantaleon
Pen Name: Lyrics Munachi Fingers
Born: August 24,1984 Oronija Island, Andoni, Rivers State, Nigeria
Origin: Agana, Andoni, Rivers State, Nigeria
Occupation: Poet, Playwright, Lyricist
Years active: 2001-present
Firm: The Matthias Pantaleon Centre for Poetry and the Arts
Associates: Lorri Trent Poetry Society, Loudthotz Poetry, Independent Poets Community
Links: www.poemhunter.com/matthias-pantaleon/


Lyrics Munachi Fingers (born August 24,1984) , better known by his birth name Matthias Pantaleon, is a Nigerian Poet, Playwright and Lyricist from the Unama Edeh Royal family and the Etete Jackson War Canoe House both notable families in the Andoni countryside (Rivers Sate) , south eastern corner of the oil rich Niger Delta Region, Nigeria.
Born to Lady Josephine and Chief Pantaleon Eneawaji Unama-Edeh (a retired Assistant Superintended of Police) in a small isle named Oronija, Pantaleon was christen Matthias at birth but his father called him Muammar Gaddafi, after the Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi.
EARLY LIFE
Pantaleon was raised between Benin City, Ogoja, Port Harcourt City and Nnewi in a Christian family; Educated at OUCS Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi High School Nnewi, Meu Victory College Idimu Lagos and Lagos State Polytechnic where he studied Mass Communication.
In 2002 while at Nnewi High School Nnewi, Pantaleon was expelled for fighting with a school prefect while Mr. Nzewi, the Junior High School’s Principal was addressing staffs and students.
Fight ensures between Pantaleon and Solomon Ijele the Junior Labour Prefect, when the later has tried to seize the lethal slippers of the former. The exposure was later over turn by the intervention of his form teacher Mrs. Joy Akonu (being a Class Captain himself) Pantaleon was a favourite among his teachers.
Raised in the Catholic faith, Pantaleon was baptized at St. Michael de Archangel Parish Nnewi in 1999 by Fr. Cletus Okoye and in the year 2000, October 1st to be precise, he was confirmed according to the Catholic tradition a soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ by Bishop Hillary Okeke with confirmation name ‘Collins’.
Writing Career:
Pantaleon started writing in 2001, inspired by the poets like ‘ Langston Hughes, JP Clark, Niyi Osundare, Wole Soyinka, Sarah Teasdale, Emily Dickinson, Chris Okigbo, Maya Angelou, Pablo Neruda, David Diop and books such as ‘Godfather by Mario Puzzo, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, The gods are not to blame by Ola Rotimi, Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Triumph of the Water lily by Stella Ify Ossamor, Buchi Emecheta’s Second-class Citizen, Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr., Theories from Socrate and Aristotle, music from Tupac Amaru Shakur, Earl Simmons, Bob Marley, Donna Summer, Phil Collins, Brandy, Onyeka Onwenu and Whitney Houston.
Pantaleon has written over one thousand poems on different topics and languages, four plays (dramas) and two novels. Thought most of these books never saw the stables of publication as the original manuscripts were destroyed by his ex Glory Nimaa. An incident which caused him both emotional and mental set back as it reflects in his poems: IRRATIONAL LOVER, ODD, I AM A STUDENT OF LIFE and FAIR SHARE…
Pantaleon is a Poet to watch as his obvious literary skill is reflected in his literary works.
THE MATTHIAS PANTALEON CENTRE FOR POETRY AND THE ARTS
Is a non-governmental, non-profit making organization with passion for the arts, literature, life, culture and style.
As a charitable organization the centre is dedicated to the improvement of young poets and other forms of literatures; and the development, packaging and delivery of the rich cultural heritage of African literature.

AIM: TO CREATE LEGENDS FROM ORDINARY MEN

OBJECTIVE:
• To provide an enabling environment for the development of literary skills
• To provide academic, material and mental assistance to young poets/writers
• To restored the culture, values and the lost dignity of man



BOOKS BY MATTHIAS PANTALEON

• ECLIPSE OF THE HEART [POETRY]
• LORD BANHAM [PLAY]
• A BIRD WITHOUT A SONG [POETRY]

Matthias Pantaleon's Works:

(1) ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

(2) A BIRD WITHOUT A SONG

(3) LORD BANHAM