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.