Writing, Reading and Storytelling are vehicles that move Culture forward - Akobi Joshua Bamigbade

 

WRITING, READING AND STORYTELLING ARE VEHICLES THAT MOVE CULTURE FORWARD - AKOBI JOSHUA BAMIGBADE

 

Akobi Joshua Bamigbade is a published author and book promoter. He has worked as a teacher of English Language all through his career even when appointed as Principal until his retirement from government service in 2020 after the mandatory 35 years in service. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he shares with him brief details about his writing career.

 

WA: WHY DO YOU WRITE?

AJB: It's just an instinct.

 

WA: WHICH WRITER DO YOU ADMIRE?

AJB:  Chinua Achebe

 

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

AJB: There are so many of them. Sir. Rider H. Haggard, Chinua Achebe , Sydney Sheldon, Ola Rotimi and so on.

 

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

AJB: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. I was influenced by its straightforward narration and its use of proverbs.

 

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

AJB:  The question could have been my favourite genre or authors. I love African writers whose sole aim is exposing the African experiences under colonialism or apartheid or the new experience under self rule. In a nutshell, I enjoy satire. Equally I enjoy thrillers, espionage and adventures. I love reading books from Achebe, Soyinka, Elechi Amadi, Sembene Ousmane, Buchi Emecheta etc. For thrillers I enjoy  books from Sydney Sheldon, Dennis Robin's etc.

 

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

AJB:  Poetry and Prose. I love poetry because of its use of words. Prose because it keeps you company. You are never lonely with Prose in your hands.

 

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

AJB:  I love reading novels and love seeing children writing. Most especially I love pleasant surprises in actual live and always want to bring this into my stories.  In a nutshell I love intrigues.

 I always want reader to get the message I am using the story to pass across. I love treating contemporary issues though a literary work   lives on forever and would be relevant in any period or time.

 

WA:  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.

AJB: For hobbies, I love reading and playing volleyball.

 

WA: WHAT INSPIRES YOU? 

AJB: My writing inspiration comes from happening in the society.

 

WA: HOW DID YOU GET TO BE WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

AJB:  I have a motto; Jah guides. God has been leading.

 

WA: ARE YOU A FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME WRITER?  HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOUR WRITING?

AJB:  A part time writer. You know I have been a civil servant all along.

 

WA: WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE OF READING/WRITING?

AJB: Quite foggy. The likes of  Achebe, Ferdinand Oyono, Peter Abrahams are dwindling.

 

WA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?

AJB:  Can t say

 

WA: WHAT KIND(S) OF WRITING DO YOU DO?

AJB:  Short stories and poetry

 

WA: WHAT CULTURAL VALUE DO YOU SEE IN    WRITING / READING / STORYTELLING /ETC.?

AJB: Writing, reading and storytelling are vehicles that move culture forward. Without them there would be nothing left of a particular society's culture. They are transmitters of culture.

 

I don’t write to compete, I write to educate and entertain-Luqman Alawode

 

OSOGBO BOOK CLUB INTERVIEW SERIES

I DON’T WRITE TO COMPETE, I WRITE TO EDUCATE AND ENTERTAIN-LUQMAN ALAWODE

 

Luqman Alawode is the Director of Studies, Initiative for Sound Education, Relationship & Health. Also, Osun State Coordinator of SYNW and a Fellow of the World Institute for Peace. He is the founder of Humanity First Initiative and Initiator of War Against Fake News, a global anthology that was targeted at eradication of spread of fake news across the globe. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks about his love for writing and experience as a writer.

 

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING?

LA: Writing to me is inborn, though my father was not a writer but he was an orator, he speaks senses and anybody that is so close to him like I did would have no option than to put on a thinking cap. His words are inspirations. So I can say, it all started from the willingness to document my father’s words of wisdom. This is how I developed the skill couple with the everyday happenings within my environment.

 

WA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING

LA: Long ago, I can’t really say precisely but officially, I started in 2014 courtesy of my wife’s wishes to know my special skill apart from everyday’s office assignment.

 

WA: HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER

LA: Yes, it was not accidental. I have always wished to be a writer

 

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER, SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT?

LA: Writing is not a money bag. Fine, you can make it through writing but do not starts with the aim of making too much money otherwise you will be shown a way out very quickly. Start slowly and watch your skills taking you across the globe.

 

WA: HOW DO YOU HANDLE WRITERS BLOCK?

LA: Well, I don’t really experience this as such because writing is a pleasure to me. I don’t write to compete, I write to entertain and enlighten. So, I write only when I am inspired to do so.

 

WA: HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?

LA: Sincerely, I have not published through the traditional publishers, most of my works are online. I have two of my books on Okadabooks; NEMESIS and POWER OF THE TONGUE. Also, I have championed and also participated in several anthologies both Local and International. I have also published a magazine on humanity, it was released late 2020.

 

WA: WHAT IS THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED WHILE WRITING YOUR BOOK(S)?

LA: The way the inspiration comes. I never knew I could write as much as I am doing today but the moment I start writing, I never get bored. 

 

WA: DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CHARACTER THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN? IF SO, WHO? AND WHAT MAKES THEM SPECIAL?

LA: OLAMIDE in my book titled “OLAMIDE THE GLORIOUS CHILD” unfortunately; I sold the book to a publisher when I had no knowledge about how writing works. 

 

WA: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION?

LA: Everywhere 

 

WA: HAVE ANY OF YOUR BOOKS BEEN TRANSLATED TO AUDIOBOOK? 

LA: No

 

WA: WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?

LA: OLAMIDE THE GLORIOUS CHILD

 

WA: WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?

LA: The “THEME” that is central idea must be clearly understood. Before writing, the writer should understand what he/she wanted to write about

AUDIENCE; you are not writing for yourself, if it is for you, you already know the story but since writing is for others either to educate or entertain them, the writer must have the audience in mind.

CLARITY: Ambiguous words can piss your readers off, be as clear as possible.

POINT OF VIEW:  Your point of view has to be specific. Are you writing in first person, second or third?

 

WA: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME?

LA: I celebrate all authors. I don’t go with name but contents of books. However, I think JP CLARK

 

WA: YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK BY HIM

LA: The Wives Revolt

 

WA: HAS A BOOK EVER CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

LA: Not really but I am usually motivated when reading biographies 

 

WA: WHAT GENRE DO YOU LOVE?

LA: All. All genres have their significance 

 

WA: ARE THERE ANY GENRES YOU DISLIKE?

LA: No

 

WA: WHAT AUTHOR (WHO IS STILL LIVING) WOULD YOU DEARLY LOVE TO MEET?

LA: Wole Soyinka

 

WA: WHAT BOOK CAN YOU RECOMMEND TO ME?

LA: Talent is Never Enough – Brian Tracy