Tell us more about you?
I’m currently a student of the Nigerian Law School; I’m a book reviewer and a creative writer. I am also a volunteer.
Not so fun fact: I’m shortsighted and can be very cynical.
How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing since primary school. I found some things I wrote many years ago and I was horrified.
What was the first thing you thought of when you saw the ad for the contest?
I thought that I’d better send in my submission fast because I discovered the contest on the day of the deadline.
What does Sankofa mean to you?
To me, Sankofa means we cannot know who we are without knowing where we come from.
Tell us about your entry.
My entry is a science fiction short story, set sometime in the future, in Nigeria. It came to me in a dream.
Did you have any challenges in writing your piece?
Since the idea came to me in a dream, the only difficulty was getting myself to put pen to paper (metaphorically, because I actually typed it on my phone, and edited it on my laptop).
What is the future of literature in Africa?
I don’t know but I hope the future of literature in Africa is diversity, inclusivity and cultural pride.
What does being a tribesman mean to you, and how do you think being part of a community will influence African literature?
The thing about being part of a community is that I have a responsibility not to take my writing for granted and to do better. I think this is how it influences African literature, by making us aware of our responsibility.
Sound bite, anyone?