INTERVIEW: Any Writer, Scholar That Fails To Speak The Truth Does Not Deserve The Title – Haneefah

 

Haneefah Abdulrahman is a writer, an interviewer, spoken poetry artiste and a podcaster from Nigeria whose work has appeared on Nigerian Review, Wisprout Project, Arts MuseFair, and elsewhere. She is a 2021 fellow of Ebedi International Writers Residency and also a Pioneer fellow of Imodoye Writers’ Residency and a Columnist at DailyTrust Newspaper. She is the Author of Shades of Becoming. She is the 2021 Winner of The Arewa Rising Literary Star.

Born in Kaduna, Haneefah is an indigene of Kogi State. She is a student of English Literature at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.  She is the Chairperson of Kaduna Branch, Hill-Top Creative Arts Foundation, the 2021/ 2022 Chairperson of the Creative Writers Club, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria – Nigeria, and the Assistant Editor of Literature Voices (LITVO). In this interview with OSUN DEFENDER she speaks on what it takes to be a writer and or a scholar. Excerpt:

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CHOLARS have failed to put pen to paper and the result of which we are having brutes in different sectors of our lives being terrorised with banditry, corruption and mis-governance.  Don’t you think the reading culture is blame able and do you think our writers could be exonerated from all of these mishaps?

One of the major purposes of scholars and writers is to speak the truth through research and writing. Once that purpose isn’t fulfilled, they are no longer worthy of the titles. A friend once asked me why I love to read and write; and I replied, “Reading teaches me how to wield the sword of life and writing sharpens the sword each time I slay life’s issues with my pen.”  When one decides to become a writer or a scholar, he or she has decided to tell the truth no matter what, and try to right the wrong. It doesn’t matter if what he or she writes is fiction or nonfiction.  Any writer or scholar who has failed to put pen to paper is not a real writer or scholar, as such they shouldn’t even be honoured with the title.  Most writers are harassed for writing freely yet they continue writing because they know their purpose. For instance, some days back, Nnedi Okorafor, the Nigerian American award-winning author of Afrojujuism made a Facebook post about some teachers in Nigeria telling young people not to read her book because they are full of witchcraft. She added that it wasn’t the first time it was happening. This didn’t stop her from writing. The truth is that even though Nnedi’s works are fiction, they are inspired by reality. Before colonialism, most Nigerians practiced juju as a form of religion. Presently, there are people practicing Juju and witchcraft.  We find writers putting their lives in danger by writing the truth, some are even arrested and tortured, for instance, the likes of Ngugi Wa Thionga, Amma Ata Aidoo, Wole Soyinka, Nawal ElSadaawi, Kofi Awoonor and others. Writers can never be exonerated from any situation in the country, be it corruption, mis-governance or good governance, etc. Writers do not have any choice but to write and fight through.  Every writer has the power of helping the people to voice out their worries, pains and joy inclusive.

The poor reading culture has very big negative effects in the society. It causes poor understanding, indiscipline, fear, etc. This negative effect becomes bigger and the youths grow with it when they don’t get to be encouraged to read, thus corruption, ignorance and other mishaps.

It is not very common having female writers in the North squaring it out actively with male writers in the country generally. What has been your driving force and contributory power behind your success in the literary world?

It has been me. I have been working hard, praying, consistent, taking risks and persisting. Every success, no matter how little, always comes with challenges but the ability to keep working and praying keeps one going. Apart from being a Writer, I have been in leadership positions in the literary space where I led and work with men, and people even way older than me.  You know, taking challenges has always been part of me as a child. It also involves mindset, when you tell yourself you can do it, you can. Put in the effort and try. I have sleepless nights working. Writing itself is a form of discipline. As human, it is only natural that some challenges do scare me but then I try and try. I grew up in a slum-like area. Education was not really appreciated there, I wasn’t surrounded with intellectuals. It has always been self-mentorship for me. I have always had the mindset of not allowing society or age to restrict my passion or cage my dreams. 

The primary school I attended was a Hausa speaking one, even the teachers in class had to speak Hausa most of the time before my classmates could grasp what they teach.  I learned to read my English and verbal reasoning text books ahead of the teachers, especially during break time, since I didn’t enjoy playing ten-ten, skipping and those primary school games. The head teacher loved me for that and applauded me publicly very often. My classmates were not happy with that so they bullied me but it didn’t make me stop reading or doing what I love to do. When it was time for secondary school, I had to be transferred to town, a mixed school, it was exciting for me. I got there and met press club. The first placed I presented my work physically was in creative writers’ club.  The first day I attended, I witnessed a critic throw a paper at someone who presented his work and he looked the person in the face and asked, “Who told you that you have the chance to be a writer? Your work is trash.” Watching the critic do that to a writer and seeing that nobody objected his harsh mode of correction should have discouraged me but I wasn’t. I was determined to send my work to their email because I wanted to be heard. Fortunately, my write up was loved and applauded and I kept on writing and attending workshops.  I kept becoming facing the challenges etc. There are times people pick on me for no reason but as it is said, they are those things that comes with success.  My Dad has been very supportive. For instance, when I graduated from secondary school and I told him I wanted to work for a year before I proceed with school, although he wasn’t comfortable with it but he allowed. I let him know that I wanted to feel the struggle, I wanted to survive on my own out there. There are actually so many stories of my struggles and successes. Everything boils down to being courageous, prayerful, persistent and consistent to achieve my goals especially in the writing area. It has always been self-mentorship for me – reading, learning, unlearning and relearning.

What is your view of the idea of Residency for writers and your experience as a Writer-In-Residence of both Ebedi and Imodoye?

A residency is a safe space for writers.  When you are in a Writers residency, you are able to communicate with your muse and characters without intrusion, get into the plot and explore your settings. A residency helps to grow the writer personally and creatively. Apart from writing, you have your self-time, you reflect and brainstorm for ideas on other projects. For Writers, being in a residency is like being in heaven, you are provided with everything you need to complete your manuscript.  Every African and Nigerian writer should appreciate Dr. Wale Okediran and Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi for initiating vibrant residency programmes. Dr Wale Okediran administrates Ebedi International Writers Residency and they accept writers from all over Africa, while Dr Akanbi administrates Imodoye Writers Residency accept only Nigerian writers for now. At a residency, you are taken on a tour around, events are organised to connect with the community, you are given the platform to mentor budding and young writers; you connect, discuss and collaborate with other residents (Writers).  My experiences from each of these residencies are two beautiful books on their own.

Poetry has been adjudged in many quarters as hard, banal and not paying off economically for poets who have not much to show for their romance with the Muse, don’t you consider this as a labour loss?

There was a time I initiated a conversation on poetry, money and marriage. Some said they will love to marry poets because they viewed them as very romantic people; some said they can’t marry poets because they believe that poets have weird ways of thinking. A poetess said she cannot marry because they are broke. Most poets do not write for the money. It is the passion for them first, it is more of expression to them.  If poetry is about money, I think the idea wouldn’t even exist as poetry. Although there are many poets making money and living big from poetry and their stories will always start with the struggles before they are even known. Dike Chukwumereji is one of Nigerians leading performance poets and his passion has taken him this far, we see the likes of Bash Amuneni who is making big money from poetry. There are young poets like Martins Deep, Yahuza Abdulkadir, Salim Akko, Loveth Liberty, Zakkiya Dzukogi, to mention but a few making money from poetry. What needs to be put in is patience, consistency and hard work. There are many magazines accepting poems and paying poets. Submissions come with rejections but with consistency, there are always acceptances, I mean that’s why there are journals that allow simultaneous submissions. I wouldn’t say poetry isn’t paying off economically. It just depends on the poet personally.

What do you consider as the roles of the poet in the society and how does he shape the minds of the people if he is not being widely patronized?

Poetry itself is a very essential part of existence. As part of literature, it reflects reality. Poets help people heal. Poets directly or indirectly give solutions to people’s problems. Poets are obliged to always write about life; its beauty and ugliness, joy and pain, love and hatred, bad governance and good governance. On behalf of the people, poets are to grieve.  Poets speak for muted people. I have a friend who was beaten mercilessness by some policemen for writing a poem about them taking bribe, recently. My friend still writes, fearlessly.  John Mekas points out that generations should listen to their poets. As for a poet shaping the minds of the people to be patronised, I feel every poet has his or her audience, people who are interested in love will definitely listen to poets who write about love. But then again, poets will have to become better than yesterday to have more audience or keep being patronized by the audience that are already there.

What are the themes that feature most in your books and what inform your stand?

My book; Shades of Becoming (a collection of short stories) mainly have the themes of Fear and Survival, society and survival, parenting, the supernatural which all revolve around love, life and death with characters on a journey to self-discovery, mindset thus the shift from slavery to freedom, from fear to courage. These themes in all are all struggles to balance life in our becoming in shades. My writings including the stories in my book, Shades of Becoming are inspired by existence.

How do you think Nigerians can bring back the faded reading culture among the younger generation?

Platform like National Library of Nigeria has been trying to encourage the younger generations to read by organising programmes like the Readership Promotion across the country. We also have Hill-top Creative Arts Foundation that has been grooming very young people on the culture of reading and writing. Platforms like these are helping to bring back the faded reading culture. Other ways to help young generations find interest in reading is by encouraging them to listen to audio books and attending readings. It is also important to have reading schedules, let’s say even for 30 minutes every day.

Nigeria is a patriarchal society where women are often considered lesser in value to men. Have you at any time experienced inferiority complex in your career or society at large?

Many times, some men call me a Feminist even when I do not give that confirmation. When they do, I ask why and they give almost the same answer, which usually falls on, “Because of your literary activities and the leadership positions you are holding.” “You are holding many positions”, etc. And then part of the first questions interviewers ask is, “Are you a feminist?” and then I ask if every lady climbing the ladder of success must be tagged with feminism. I am not saying feminism is a bad thing. It has its waves and the issue of feminism is controversial. For most Nigerians, feminism is fighting men and wanting to do everything men do but sometimes, it is misinterpretation. Every successful woman does not necessarily have to be a feminist to be great. Another point is, I am first human before I am a woman and I will definitely react by fighting for justice if my rights are tampered on. And I have never felt inferior in my career because I am a female. I mean I am working hard to be the woman I becoming, so why should I let anyone make me feel inferior? I have in fact worked with men who are encouraging and even if some decide to be otherwise, it is their problem and not mine. 

There is an ongoing advocacy for inclusion of women in politics and governance. Are you considering joining politics and take part in any government?

It is good that there is an advocacy for inclusion of women in politics but politics is not for me. I am a writer; a poet and my kinds do not see eye to eye with politics.

What is your impression on Nigerian education system, what are the good sides and the bad sides?

I refuse to say anything about the good sides of the Nigerian education system because I am one of the many victims of the bad education system.  I should have graduated but I am stuck because of industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).  I refuse to say much about the bad Nigerian education system because it is too bad.