As a poet only a single word can inspire me and I will end up cooking a full pot - Okeke Bright.C

 SYNW INTERVIEW SERIES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

 AS A POET ONLY A SINGLE WORD CAN INSPIRE ME AND I WILL END UP COOKING A FULL POT - OKEKE BRIGHT.C

 

Okeke Bright.C is a Nigerian poet and writer who is currently the Coordinator of SYNW in IMSU (Imo State University). In this concise interview with Wole Adedoyin, he shared with him some brief facts surrounding his life and writing career.

 

SYNW: WHY DO YOU WRITE?

 

 OBC: My genre of writing is Poetry

 

SYNW: WHICH WRITER DO YOU ADMIRE?

 

OBC: I admire Niyi Osundare

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? ARE THERE ANY AUTHORS (LIVING OR DEAD) THAT YOU WOULD NAME AS INFLUENCES?

 

OBC: I am currently studying the works of Niyi Osundare, as he is one of my favorite poet. 

Prof. Chinua Achebe is one great writer that influenced me so much through his writing.

 

SYNW: WHAT WAS THE BOOK THAT MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE — AND WHY?

 

OBC: 48 Laws of power by Robert Greene is the book that influenced my life so much because it has life applicable laws embedded in it that directs my path.

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOUR 10 FAVORITE BOOKS —AND WHY?

 

OBC: My 10 most favorite books stands to be : The Bible, 48 Laws of Power, Mafia Manager, The Prince, Rich Dad and Poor Dad, How to Win friends and Influence people, There was a country, Rules of parenting, Half of a yellow sun, Think and grow rich.

I love books that speak about reality and principles of living and books with a touch of history.

 

SYNW: FAVORITE FILMS?

 

BOC: My favorite movies of all time remains: 3 idiots, Apocalypto, Money Heist, Fast and Furious and Strike Back.

 

SYNW: FAVORITE MUSIC?

 

 OBC: My favorite music is Reggae and Blues

 

SYNW: IF YOU HAD A BOOK CLUB, WHAT WOULD IT BE READING — AND WHY?

 

OBC: If I should have a book club it will be reading on Arts and literature with a touch of philosophy. 

I love work of arts and literature because it shows life’s beauty. I consider philosophy because there lies man’s solution to problems and it encompasses the root of life.

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS TO GIVE — AND GET — AS GIFTS?

 

OBC: The favorite that I can give and would love to be given are Literature books, Philosophical books and Motivational books.

 

SYNW: GIVE US THREE "GOOD TO KNOW" FACTS ABOUT YOU. BE CREATIVE. TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WRITING.

 

OBC: I am very jovial with a  thousand smiles.  I have a great sense of humor which can never be hidden no matter how much I try. I greatly blessed with deep thinking and Critical Analysis.

 

Talking about my inspiration in my writing, I will say that I get inspired by anything. A single word can inspire me and I will end up cooking a full pot. I get inspired by what I see and listen to. I also draw inspiration from my deep thinking...

 

SYNW: WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO KNOW? CONSIDER HERE YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES, YOUR INTERESTS AND HOBBIES, YOUR FAVORITE WAYS TO UNWIND — WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.

 

OBC: I like smartness, intelligence and honesty, with these three I can conquer any obstacle. Talking about my dislike, I don’t like anything that makes me sad or moody, I don’t like dullness, harsh words, dishonesty and deceit.

I can unwind through several ways like : Playing my favorite songs, hanging out, playing the guitar.

 

Upcoming Nigerian novelists should not be in a hurry to publish - Onyinyechi Iheanyi

 SYNW INTERVIEW SERIES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

 UPCOMING NOVELISTS SHOULD NOT BE IN A HURRY TO PUBLISH - ONYINYECHI IHEANYI

 

Onyinyechi Iheanyi is a novelist and essayist. She is currently a co-coordinator of SYNW in FUOTUOKE (Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State). In this brief interview with Wole Adedoyin, she shared with him some facts surrounding her life and writing career.

 

SYNW: WHY DO YOU WRITE

OI: I write because I want to impact positively in humanity. I can't get across to everyone at the same time or within a space of time, but my books can

 

SYNW:  WHICH NOVELISTS DO YOU ADMIRE?

OI:  I admire Chimamanda Adiche, Woke Soyinka, Nora Roberts, Kenneth.E.Haggin, the late Dr Chinua Achebe, the late Dr Gabriel Okara, Dr Wale Okediran, Prof Femi Osofisan, Dr Tim Lahaye and a host of other authors

 

SYNW: DESCRIBE THE ROUTE TO YOUR FIRST NOVEL BEING PUBLISHED

OI:  I've not published yet, I'm currently working on my first project

 

SYNW: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ASPIRING NOVELIST?

OI:, I'll always advice novelists to never be in a hurry to publish and they should always have it at the back of their minds that they are not just writing for themselves but for their audience too

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING RIGHT NOW?

OI: I'm currently reading "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman.

 

SYNW: ARE THERE ANY AUTHORS (LIVING OR DEAD) THAT YOU WOULD NAME AS INFLUENCES?

 

OI:  I've been influenced positively by Mr Wellington Nwogu, Kenneth.E.Haggin, Dr Tim Lahaye and a host of other authors.

 

SYNW:  WHAT WAS THE BOOK THAT MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?

OI:  Well in my 20 years on earth, I would say the book titled "Why You Act The Way You Do" by Dr Tim Lahaye. For me, it was the start of a new beginning, a new start and a different perspective on life, managing weaknesses and strengths.

 

SYNW:  WHAT ARE YOUR TEN FAVORITE BOOKS AND WHY?

OI: "Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage" by Kenneth. E. Haggin, that book opened my eye of understanding to know God's will, His purpose for His children maritally

"Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman, it has helped me become astute emotionally, I can now control my feelings, actions, reactions and responses towards situations and people, effectively and positively.

"Heartbreaker" although I can't really remember the name of the author, I like it because it's a crime, romance and suspense filled novel, I like anything involving action, perhaps if things were different, peradventure, I would have become a security agent or a secret agent

"Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Adiche, I like it because it reveals the orthodox life of contemporary Catholic families

 

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe because it portrayed beforehand what not just Nigeria but Africa is currently undergoing

"Second Class Citizen" by Buchi Emecheta, I like it because it tells and reflects a typical African marriage where women have no say over how their own lives or the life of their families should be run and it also shows how racism has eaten deep into the fabric of societies all around the world

"The Bronze Horseman" I really like that novel, while reading it, it's as if you're teleported back in time to the period of the world war 2, that book gives an insight to what citizens of affected countries suffered and how countries, states, families etc had their whole self tilted on the wrong axis

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, I like romance drama, in that book, Shakespeare tells a story of a love, a union that couldn't be because some important figures held onto the prejudice of the past

"The Captives Diary" I'm a lover of anything Christian, anything that has to do with being Christ like, it made me reflect on my life and relationship with God, it stirred up a deeper hunger in me to know God more

"Birds Of Different Feathers", although it was never mine, it was my youngest brothers own, I liked the novel, it gives insight into how people are wired differently, even if they shared the same placenta

 

SYNW:  FAVORITE FILMS?

OI: I'm a movie freak, I can't say I have a favourite movie

 

SYNW:  FAVORITE MUSIC?

OI: Nope, I'm a lover of Christian music

 

SYNW:  IF YOU HAD A BOOK CLUB, WHAT WOULD IT BE READING AND WHY?

OI: If I had a book club, I would encourage and support the reading of novels and documentaries because reading such genre increases wisdom and also improves vocabulary in an interesting way

 

SYNW:  WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS TO GIVE AND GET AS GIFTS?

OI:  I'll love to give out "Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman and "A Time To Kill" by John Grisham, an awkward title, yes, it's not actually as it's named, it's a good book, you can't read A Time To Kill and remain a dullard, it stretches your thinking capacity beyond your imagination. And I'll like to be gifted "Half Of A Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Adiche

 

SYNW:  GIVE US THREE "GOOD TO KNOW" FACTS ABOUT YOU

OI:  I'm fun to be with, I easily forgive when provoked, I'm a loyal friend

SYNW: TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WRITING

OI:  I can't really recall what sprouted my interest in writing, I can only remember my early days of writing as at 8 years, when I'll just pick up a pen and a book and scramble away on it

 

SYNW:  YOUR LIKES, DISLIKES, INTERESTS, HOBBIES.

OI:  I like good food a lot, you can say I'm a foodie, I like fashion, dressing beautifully, I like sightseeing, I like swimming etc. I dislike dirt, it irritates me, I dislike nosy behavior. My hobbies are singing, cooking, strolling, dancing, reading etcetera etcetera. My favorite ways to unwind are strolling, dancing, listening to music etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I always write whenever I have a story to tell – Sakinah Yusuf

 

SYNW INTERVIEW SERIES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

 

I ALWAYS WRITE WHENEVER I HAVE A STORY TO TELL – SAKINAH YUSUF

 

Sakinah Yusuf is an essayist and children literature writer. She is currently the Coordinator of SYNW in BUK (Bayero University). In this brief interview with Wole Adedoyin, she shared with him some facts surrounding her writing career.

 

SYNW: WHY DO YOU WRITE?

 

SY: I write because I have a story to tell, to unburden my thoughts and create a world from my imagination.

 

SYNW: WHICH WRITER DO YOU ADMIRE?

 

SY: The author I admire is Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW? ARE THERE ANY AUTHORS (LIVING OR DEAD) THAT YOU WOULD NAME AS INFLUENCES?

 

SY: I am currently reading "The thing around your neck" Authors that influence me are Paul Coelho and SE Hinton.

 

SYNW:  WHAT WAS THE BOOK THAT MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?

 

The book that influenced me was "The Alchemist" by Paul Coelho because it educates us about following our personal legend "our dreams" and by trusting our hearts, we can achieve it.

 

SYNW:  WHAT ARE YOUR TEN FAVORITE BOOKS AND WHY?

 

SY: I have a difficult time choosing top ten favourite books but here they are; The Outsiders, The Pelican Brief, Then She Was Gone, The Diary Of Anne Frank, The Couple Next Door, The Fault in our Stars, Getting away from murder, One of us is lying, Things a Brother Knows and lastly, Night by Elie Wiesel

 

SYNW: FAVORITE FILMS?

 

SY: My favorite films ranges from my tribal films, horror, Korean and Indian: Hunger Games, The curse of Illarona, It, The Exorcist, The shining, Vagabond, Quiet Place, Five feet apart

Midnight sun, While I was sleeping

 

SYNW: FAVORITE MUSIC?

 

SY: My favorite music goes to Maher Zain collections

 

SYNW: IF YOU HAD A BOOK CLUB, WHAT WOULD IT BE READING — AND WHY?

 

SY: If I had a book club, I would chose Zayd Ibn Isah's upcoming book "We are all book". With the way things are going In this country,it captures ideas to Ponder On. It is a satire.

 

SYNW: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS TO GIVE — AND GET — AS GIFTS?

 

My favorite books to give out are books by Sarah J Mass and Agatha Christie and my favourite books to receive as gifts are self help books

 

SYNW: GIVE US THREE "GOOD TO KNOW" FACTS ABOUT YOU. BE CREATIVE. TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WRITING.

 

SY: I love books, movies and food. During my primary school days, I was inspired by my headmaster in school then. He would forced us to buy "Ralia; the Sugar Girl", by then I hated  reading. I loved watching movies more than anything other thing. But the way he would read each chapter and describe it to us with passion made me to be interested in the book and reading generally. He made that book sounded like I was watching a movie. My dad also inspired me. I remembered he would gift us books and compelled us to summarize them.  I like being engrossed in a good book and feeling satisfied by the ending.  

 

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO KNOW? CONSIDER HERE YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES, YOUR INTERESTS AND HOBBIES, YOUR FAVORITE WAYS TO UNWIND — WHATEVER COMES TO MIND.

 

I like meeting people who I can discuss deep issues such as books, movies, politics and nature.

I dislike junk foods, noisy eating, laziness and idle talks. My interests include Learning new recipes, history; that's why I love visiting museums and reading historical facts. I also love researching a lot about Nature and psychological issues. My hobbies include cooking, writing and watching basketball games. My favorite place to unwind is a quiet secluded place surrounded by nature wonders; perfect place to deep think and unwind

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Poets should be original and ready to learn from successful poets – Onatunde Rachael

SYNW INTERVIEW SERIES FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, 2020

UPCOMING POETS SHOULD BE ORIGINAL AND READY TO LEARN FROM SUCCESSFUL POETS – ONATUNDE RACHAEL

 

Onatunde Rachael is a Graduate of English/French from the College of Education Osiele Abeokuta Ogun State Nigeria. In this short interview with Wole Adedoyin, the current State Secretary of the Society of Young Nigeria Writers (SYNW – Oyo State Chapter) speaks on her life and writing

 SYNW: WHY ARE YOU A POET?

OR:  As driving a bus makes one a Bus Driver, in the like manner the first thing that makes me a Poet is when I write continuosly. Also, I love putting my thoughts, feelings and things around me into an conceivable writings. I am a Poet because I think into the past, present and the future.

 

SYNW: WHAT WRITERS DO YOU ADMIRE?

OR: I love the Late Buchi Emecheta’s "The Joy Of Motherhood,". The work makes me admire her so well. I love the way she made the book so real and imaginable. Also love some works written by Prof.  Femi Osofisan. His play titled "The Women Of Owu." is one of my favourites plays.

 

SYNW: WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

OR: I get inspired by the things happening to me and in my vicinity.

 

SYNW: TELL US ABOUT A NORMAL WORKING DAY…

OR: Before the pandemic, my normal working day used to be teaching, but now I majorly write, read and sew sometimes.

 

SYNW: HOW DO YOU WRITE?

OR: Whenever I have an idea or inspiration, I put it down immediately so as not to forget such idea, and review it later by arranging the words in lines and stanzas properly.

 

SYNW: WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND A POEM?

OR: It depends on my own level of knowledge about the massege I want to pass, also I  always thought of what massage or point will the piece I am about to put down pass to the readers’ minds and how can this massage make or blight them.

 

SYNW: DESCRIBE YOUR ROUTE TO BEING PUBLISHED…

OR: For now, I don’t have a published work of my own but ive been published in some notable anthologies.

 

SYNW: WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE TO AN ASPIRING POET?

OR: My advice to aspiring poet is to continue writing and never ceases to write, knowing that "quitters never win, and winners never quit." To become a winner, we have to continue writing, writing, and writing until people start to write about us. We have to continue building ourselves until we become the best.

 

SYNW: FINAL QUESTION (PROMISE!): DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THE YET-TO-BE-PUBLISHED WRITERS READING THIS?

OR: A part of the scripture says "...despised not the days of little beginning..." a yet to be published writer should not despise the days of writing a "nonsense" because out of it will still be a little "sense." We are to know that a drop of water makes an Ocean. We are to take the right nutrients literally so as to grow   just as a baby that takes the right nutrients will grow normally. We should seek to know so as to be known, we should continue reading, reading, and reading until we will be read.

 

SYNW: TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR WRITING ROUTINE; WHAT’S A TYPICAL WRITING DAY FOR YOU?

OR: I write my rough works anywhere and at anytime but I do the proper works in a serene and conducive environment majorly very late in the night, around mid night or very early in the morning.

 

SYNW: WHERE DO YOU WRITE FROM?

OR: I write from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State to be precise.

 

SYNW: ON THIS TOPIC, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO BUILD A PLATFORM AND GAIN READERSHIP?

OR: I’m still studying, reading, observing and learning from the established writers. I also participate in any open anthology.

 

SYNW: FAVORITE MOVIE?

OR: The Mount Zion Movies.

 

SYNW: BEST PIECE(S) OF WRITING ADVICE WE HAVEN’T DISCUSSED?

OR: I wish I had started writing early than now however it is not too late for me. So to everyone out there never think it is too late or too early for you to write. Also, writing entails having passion, if you are not passionate you can't write, as writing requires dedication and commitment. Writers also must be original, be known for your style of writing, don't try to imitate another person and loss your uniqueness in the process.

 

SYNW: SOMETHING PERSONAL ABOUT YOU PEOPLE MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?

OR: I am a Fashion Designer

 

SYNW: WHAT’S NEXT?

OR: Growing better and bigger.