This interview with Ngozi Razak-Soyebi was first published in March
2006. To find out even more about the author, you can visit our Ngozi Razak-Soyebi page.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Agbor, which is a small community in the eastern part of
Nigeria, towards the end of the Nigerian-Biafran war. I understand my
folks were on the constant run from the ever-advancing Nigerian troops and it
wasn't easy for them lugging a baby along. Anyway, we survived the war,
and moved to Lagos in the Western parts of the country where I began my
schooling. My folks later moved us all up north to Kano where I had my
primary and secondary education between 1973 and 1983. I moved down to
the western parts of the country again when I was accepted for a B.Sc degree at
the University of Ilorin between 1983-1987. Since then, I have lived in
Lagos and Jos.
What was it that first got you into writing and when did
you start writing?
I have always had a fascination with books. I guess
every writer says that, but it is really true here. I'd rather be caught
reading than
watching television, although I must confess that I went
through a period in recent times when I actually stopped reading books
following the numerous rejections I'd received from publishers.
Anyway, to get back to the question, what first got me into
writing was the writing exercises I got to do when I was in primary school.
I went to a school run by Irish missionaries, and bless their dear souls,
Sisters Mary and Emma made sure we wrote everyday in our English classes.
It could be an exercise as simple as "How did you spend your
Christmas holidays?" Or one as complicated as "What would you like to
be when you grow up?''
I wrote my first novel when I was fourteen. Looking back
now, I realize how terrible it was. I had absolutely no idea of POV,
syntax, story structure etc, but then I was only fourteen. I didn't write
seriously again until the turn of the millennium ---although I scribbled down
some ideas along the way - when I left my job in the pharmaceutical industry to
pursue my dreams.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
As a child, Enid Blyton of the Famous Five and Secret
Seven series. I absolutely adored her books and it is so hard to imagine
that she amassed 500 rejection letters before her first sale.
As I grew older I began to appreciate the works of Louisa May
Alcott, author of "Little Women." I didn't get to appreciate the
works of African authors until when I was in secondary school and I read Chinua
Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." I knew the minute I read his book
that I wanted to be a writer. Without prejudice, it is one of the best
books ever written by an African writer.
Where do you stand on the nature v. nurture debate? Were
you born a writer, or were there factors in your environment that enabled you
to become a writer?
A little on both sides, I'd say. True, there are
some born-writers, but I strongly believe that, like with every job or
God-given talent, writing has to be nurtured.
I wasn't born a writer. If I was, I'd have made more
in-roads long before now, but like I said in question 3 above, my fascination
with books developed from an early age and I guess it made the decision easier.
Environment-wise, it is sad to say that I live in a country that kills
talent. We are encouraged here more to acquire degrees than to pursue our
talents. Consequently, most talented people here usually realize their
true ambition much later in life.
There are a lot of courses teaching creative writing
nowadays, but do you think that good writing can be taught?
Definitely! I haven't been fortunate to attend a
creative writing course yet, but I made up for that by visiting valuable sites
on the internet. I particularly liked the interactive community at www.eharlequin.com with interesting links.
I learnt all about POV, syntax, synopsis, story plotting and structure
etc from these wonderful sites.
Have you entered writing competitions? If so, have you won
any prizes?
Loads, and only recently won the 2006 Macmillan Writer's
Prize for Africa for children's fiction.
What kind of things do you write?
Fiction mostly, although I have done reporting (mostly
commentary) for the internet magazine Generator 21 (G21), reporting from the African perspective.
What, for you, is the best piece of prose that you have
ever written?
"The House
That Kojo Built"
What are you working on now?
Another story for children titled, "BETWEEN RATS AND
MEN" as well as a short story titled "THE CURSE OF BITRUS" which
I hope to enter for the Caine prize next year.
What is your writing day like?
Unpredictable. I have a two-year-old and so I have
to get up in the early hours to get some writing done. And then, when I
drop her off at her playgroup, I visit the cybercafe to check my mails and do some
research for my works, and if I'm lucky I get some more writing and typing (I'm
one of those people who writes first on paper before transferring it onto the
computer) done in the late evening when she's asleep.
Of course, it doesn't always work out as smoothly as that.
I'm also an aspiring songwriter and when I'm working on my lyrics, I
often neglect to write.
Where would you like to be in 10 years time?
I hope to be the J.K. Rowling of children's fiction
writing from Africa. Hopefully, I would have had the Caine Prize and the
Commonwealh
Prize in my bag by then, too, and be an established songwriter
as well.
What is the most exciting thing about writing for you?
The freedom to create.
What is the most frustrating thing about writing for you?
Rejection letters, you bet!
What is the best piece of feedback that you've had from
your audience?
The judges comment on "The House That Kojo
Built." I quote: A young but exceptional hero takes on a challenge
others couldn't. The writer has a sharp eye for character and creates a
vivid world in the space of one multi-tenanted city compound at the mercy of a
forbidding landlord.
Do you write for a particular audience, or is your first
priority to satisfy your own creativity?
Initially, my first priority was to satisfy my own
creativity, but since winning the Macmillan prize I have found that I truly
enjoy writing for children, and I have decided to focus more on that audience
now.
Lisez cette page en français avec
Babelfish Lesen
diese Seite auf Deutsch mit
Babelfish
