Writers Should Stop Copying Prof
Wole Soyinka, Other Known Writers- Wole Adedoyin
Wole Adedoyin is the President of
the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) and the National Publicity
Secretary, South, of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). In this
interview with ABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE, he speaks on his writing and how
it becomes the source of his selfless service to the growth and
development of literature especially among young Nigerians.
Can you share with us your
background as a writer, then author?
I started writing when I was in
secondary school then. But later went professional when I became a financial
member of Oyo State branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in 2004
under the leadership of Mr. Anthony Ebika, a former Chairman of the state
chapter.
Before joining ANA, I was once the
Coordinator of Olaudah Equiano Poetry and Prose Club of Educare Trust
Exhibition Centre. We do hold readings on Thursdays of every week. And during
such readings, established and known writers do participate to share their
writing experience with us. We have featured writers like Dr. Tony Marinho,
Ebika Anthony, Femi Adedeji, Abdulsalam el Mubashir, Kunle Okesipe, to mention
but few. Also there was a time we featured one American Professor of Poetry
when he came for an academic function in University of Ibadan (U.I.).
So, whenever such readings hold I
tapped from the experience of such writers. And of course, the Association of
Nigerian Authors helped me a lot. During those periods, I didn’t miss any ANA
monthly meetings. I was always there before any member to help them arrange
chairs and do other things. That was when Mr. Anthony Ebika became the Oyo
State Chairman of ANA. It was also during this period I came across the current
President of ANA, Mallam Denja Abdulahi, when he came to represent ANA
President in Oyo state for a literary programme. Though we later met at
ANA/GLO/CBAAC Drama writing workshop held at UNILAG when I represented ANA Oyo
at the workshop. I think that was 2005 or 2006.
During this period also, I
contributed some of my best poems in ANA Oyo anthologies and Agogo, a monthly
literary magazine edited by Mr. Anthony Ebika. I still have some copies of
these issues. My late dad helped me preserved them in his library. I became ANA
Oyo Auditor in 2006 and served till 2008. Later I was elected ANA Oyo PRO for
another period of 2 years.
It has been long some ANA Oyo members have hated me not only in Benue. You would recall that they stood against my candidature as ANA National PRO in Benue State when I expressed my interest to contest for that position. Some of them also opposed my candidature when I wanted to become ANA Oyo Auditor in 2006. During this time also I started my personal literary movement known as World of Poets and Literary Society which later metamorphosed into Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) in 2010.
It has been long some ANA Oyo members have hated me not only in Benue. You would recall that they stood against my candidature as ANA National PRO in Benue State when I expressed my interest to contest for that position. Some of them also opposed my candidature when I wanted to become ANA Oyo Auditor in 2006. During this time also I started my personal literary movement known as World of Poets and Literary Society which later metamorphosed into Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) in 2010.
What's the trigger for your writing
expedition?
Happenings around me which also made
me to venture into politics. Also the search for qualitATIVE and educative
information. Though I’ve read lots of books, I also did Literature in English
during my secondary school days. This also added to it.
How did the Society of Young
Nigerian Writers (SYNW) come to being?
I was once asked this same question
in an interview with Mallam Ibrahim Adam of the Daily Trust Newspaper. As I
have stated earlier (there), the World of Poets and Literary Society in 2010
metamorphosed into the Society of Young Nigerian Writers after due
consultations with some literary stakeholders, especially young writers.
In 2010, the Society of Young
Nigerian Writers started as an Ibadan literary movement to create an avenue for
upcoming writers to share ideas, criticize and network with one another.
SYNW idea was original. Original in
the sense that the membership concept is different from ANA. And the fact that
it embraces writers between the ages of 9 and 35. It accommodates teen and
young writers. We did not draw any member from ANA Oyo then. What we did then
was going to the University of Ibadan and the Polytechnic of Ibadan to hold
creative writing workshops.
Our programmes like Fagunwa Day and
2000 E-Book project draw secondary schools' students nearer and closer to our
Association. The Association however went National when we organized Prof. Remi
Raji @ 50 National Poetry Competition. That was 2011 and that was the first
time we would have our release published in Nigerian Tribune, The Nation and
The Sun Newspapers. We also received entries from International students from 5
different universities in US, UK, Ghana, France and South Africa. Though the
competition was divided into two segments: Junior Category (for secondary school
students) and Senior Category (for tertiary school students). Winners were
awarded monetary prizes. Also, participation and prize certificates were given
to all of them.
After the event, our other
activities like quarterly workshops, E-anthology project and Fagunwa Day
attracted other young writers to join our Society. Later we started having
National, Zonal and State coordinators.
What are other programmes and
activities of SYWN?
Our programmes are not much due to
funding. But in order to carry out all objectives as stipulated in our
Society’s Constitution, we have earmarked some activities as annual programmes.
We also have quarterly events. Some of our programmes/activities are: SYNW
quarterly workshop which started in the year 2012 and has trained over 1000
young writers across the country. We have had people coming from far places
such as Kano, Jos, Kaduna, Edo, Rivers, Benue and Kwara State. We taught
them practicals.
We have taken them to printing
press, taught them how to paginate, design book covers and turning their
publications into E-Books on the computer (practical approach). We have
evidence for all of these. And we do give them Certificate of Participation for
any workshop anyone of them attend. And again our E-Anthology has
published over 500 young writers through our poetry anthologies. You can
download some of these publications on Obooko. One school in
Philippines is currently using one of these anthologies as a recommended text
for their students. The name of the school is St. Nicholas College.
Our Annual Fagunwa Day event is now
in its Seventh year. It has published, recognized, rewarded and awarded over
100 secondary school students from over 40 schools in Ibadan, the capital of
Oyo state. The event has also featured eminent personalities in Yoruba
literature like the Late Prof. Akinwumi Isola, High Chief Lekan Alabi, Dr. Remi
Adedokun, Prof. Bayo Adebowale, Baba Tunbosun Oladapo, Mr. Jare Ajayi to
mention but few. Three editions had also had in attendance three children of
the late author, Chief Mrs. Sijuwola (Nee Fagunwa), Mr. Dipo Fagunwa and Mrs.
Diwura Fagunwa.
Chinua Achebe National Day is
another vital project of the Society in honour of the late modern architect of
African Literature, the Late Prof Chinua Achebe. The idea was conceived by the
Anambra State Chairman of the Society, now the National Secretary, in person of
Mr. Izuna Okafor. The annual event has been endorsed by the Anambra State
Library Board and the family of the Late Prof. Chinua Achebe. It is an avenue
for remembering, celebrating and honouring the late author annually. Now in its
third year.
And of course, our annual Read
Across Nigeria (RAN) project which started in the year 2016 took readings to 23
states of the federation. The 2016 event was in honour of Dr Wale Okediran, a
medical doctor and a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors
(ANA). The 2016 Read Across Nigeria took place only in 23 states of the
federation. The 2017 edition which had Hajiya Hafsat as our guest of honour was
held in only 10 states of the Federation. The idea behind the project is to
take reading to the grassroots.
We currently have three
correspondence courses which we have developed to test and enhance the creative
writing and reading skills of our members. The courses are Creative Writing
Correspondence Course in Poetry, Prose and Drama. D.O. Fagunwa Correspondence
Course, to test the abilities of his readers and fans; and JF Odunjo Yoruba
Correspondence Course, fully written in Yoruba Language to test the abilities
of students in Yoruba Language, traditions and culture.
We also have SYNW 2000 E-Book
Digital Library project aim at establishing Paperless book clubs in schools. We
have already established over 50 digital libraries and paperless books clubs in
some selected secondary schools in Oyo State. Our first edition of the National
Week of Remembrance for the Departed writers (NAWRED) took place last year. It
was an online event which exhibited photographs and profiles of outstanding and
best dead authors from Nigeria. Currently we now have over 200 in our
archives.
Another of our programmes and
activities is Prof. Ola Rotimi Inter-Secondary Schools Playwriting Competition.
The first edition was held in 2014 at the Amphi theatre, through the support of
the former Head of Theatre-Arts Department of the University of Ibadan, Dr.
Remi Adedokun. The event was bankrolled by my late dad, Late Prof. Albert
Aderemi Adedoyin.
We have also compiled the database
of eminent authors and writers across the world, country by country. They
are currently online in PDF format archived in a blog. We have also designed
graphical wallchart posters in JPEG format of famous authors across the world.
What is the Society doing to ensure
a lasting reading and writing culture in young Nigerians?
Our activities have been highlighted
(above). We have done what we could in our own little ways since the inception
of this Society. Our quarterly workshops, E-Anthologies at Obooko,
Fagunwa Day, Chinua Achebe National Day, 2000 E-Books Digital Library and
Paperless Book Club Project, Correspondence Courses, Read Across Nigeria (RAN)
Project, National Week of Remembrance for Departed Writers (NAWRED), Prof. Ola
Rotimi Inter-Secondary School Playwriting Competition, We have also compiled
and designed database and wall chart posters of world renowned and eminent
authors.
Our future projects include: Groom a
reader and adopt a writer project, Yoruba Literature Animation project,
Indigenous Reading Campaign project, Reading for National Development and Unity
(READ-U) which will take us to all the six geo-political zones of the country.
We are also currently designing online archives/blogs for some selected writers
aim at keeping their legacies and documenting latest literary researches on
them. The writers are: Cyprian Ekwensi, Elechi Amadi, Akinwumi Isola, Adebayo
Faleti, Chinua Achebe, Ene Henshaw, Supo Kosemani, D.O Fagunwa, J.F Odunjo,
Prof. Olabimtan, Buchi Emecheta, Flora Nwapa, Abubakar Imam to mention but few.
How is SYNW funded?
We are funded through donations and
dues from members as fully stipulated in our Society’s Constitution.
What can you say about your
published book; and are you working on any one at present?
I only have one published work
titled, "Ojuju and Other Poems for Children". It won ANA Oyo John
Asiedu Sarpong Prize for Children Poetry in 2005. It was published in Ibadan by
Dei Tempus Press and Publication Agency. I still have like four other
unpublished anthologies of poems for children. I’m currently working on a collection
of short stories also for children.
What inspired you to dedicate
yourself to impacting in young writers and authors?
I am still a young writer. I passed
through a lot before even publishing my first poem in a national daily. I have
passed through what other young writers are currently passing through. How I
overcome the ordeal is what I’m currently giving out to them. And the best way
to do it, to my own knowledge, is through SYNW and God has been giving me the
grace to continue the good work. Anyone that is above my might. I do refer them
to my literary father Dr. Wale Okediran.
What's your perspectives on
authorship. In other words, who's an author?
This has been a very serious issue
over the years. Normally, an author is a published writer. One who expresses
ideas in writing or one who engages in literary work. An author is also a
person who writes novels, poems, essays and so on. Mainly, he or she is the
composer of a literary work.
The concept is if you are a writer,
you can write about other people’s thoughts or ideas, but an author has
to come up with the idea, the plot and content. You also become an author when
your books are published, but if your writings never publish, you remain a
writer.
What's your take on digital and traditional
publishing and which one is your preference?
Publishing is an industry that is
worth looking more closely into, at how the industry has evolved from print
format to digital publishing. The traditional publishing refers to the system
of getting a book published which involves processes like editing,
computerizing (formatting, cover designs, pagination, footnoting, end noting),
copywriting, Proof reading and later becomes a book. After this, marketing and
distribution comes in.
The advent of Google, Facebook, You
tube, Twitter, Amazon’s kindle and Apples’ iPhone and iPad. The transformation
from traditional print to digital has changed the industry for good. Both
digital and print have their pros and cons but the real challenge with both of
these concepts is trying to maintain and build audience as well as producing
content that is engaging and relevant. With ever decreasing attention spans and
even more content available, people expect a constant stream of personalized
engaging short form content delivered instantly which can be consumed on mobile
and tablet.
The beauty of digital publishing is
that it makes it very easy to share your favourite poems, prose chapters,
essays to spark discussions on social media that creates a much higher reader engagement,
build community, and access a lucrative wide audience. Reading from print
publications offers a memorable and leisurely experience as you fold pages to
save your favourite chapters of lines, opening from page to page and digesting
slowly. The problem of this is that once you have read it and put it away, you
are like to forget about it.
In SYNW, we utilize digital
publishing. 40% of our project were done digitally.
What's your typical day like?
Good and splendid. I am always
online 24/7. I’m a professional blogger and web content manager. I update my
blogs and manage other social media platforms. I also source for latest
information almost every day in case if there is any on the activities of the
Association of Nigerian Authors.
How do you balance your task as ANA
Publicist (South) and SYNW President?
Well, you cannot serve two masters
at a time. You must leave one for another. The success of the current National
President of ANA, Mallam Denja Abdullahi, is what I am after. I have handed 80%
of SYNW’s works to our National Secretary and PRO, in person of Mr Izuna Okafor
and Mr Musa Muhammed. They are both outstanding and brilliant literary
organizers. If I’m still running SYNW like I have been doing before, I won’t be
fully committed to ANA’s cause.
What’s the secret behind all your
successful landmarks in your engagements in the Nigerian reading and writing
world?
Commitment and dedication in
everything I do. Also giving respect to the elderly ones. No matter what you
have attained or been in life, there are people ahead of you. I don’t
underrate anybody. I ask questions if I don’t understand. And I mingle with
people irrespective of age, colour, tribe, gender, culture, background and
religion.
How do you read and write?
I always read from 12:00am to 2:00am
on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I was brought up that way since
when I was a kid. And for writing, I write anytime the inspiration comes.
What draws you to read any book to
the end?
The plot, setting and the beautiful
words used in such book. Also the connection with what is currently happening
in the real life.
Do you have favourite books?
Yes. There are lots of books I
starred with different reasons. Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens,
the Ake and the Trial of Brother Jero by Wole Soyinka, Tenants of the House by
Dr. Wale Okediran, Nene and Other Stories by Dr. Tony Marinho, Petals of Blood
by Ngugi Wa Thiongo, Animal Farm by George Orwell, Chike and the River by
Chinua Achebe, She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith and lastly
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare.
Which should come first in your
opinion: writing or reading?
Reading of course. If you can’t read
you cannot write.
If there's one thing you can do to
improve the state of Nigerian writings and writers, what would that be?
Pass the endowment funds for the
arts into law. We all need it.
What's your vision for years ahead?
There are lots.
What's your word of advice for young
writers and authors?
They should be committed, dedicated,
respect their elders and not selfish. Whatever that is not useful to you; if
it’s useful to another writer, don’t keep it: give it out. You will forever be
remembered for what you have done in his or her life. And they should stop
copying Wole Soyinka and the rest of the known writers. They should be
themselves. Be original.
