Onyekachi Peter Onuoha, 23, a graduate of English and Literary Studies, University of Calabar recently added to the world literary cannon his latest books. He spoke to our reporter, ISAAC MENSAH on his source of inspiration among other things.
How do You feel been able to author books for public consumption?
Well, I feel humble to be an author because it takes courage and humility to be one. Humility in the sense that you have to understand that readers are not passive readers in the 21st century. No matter how they read a literary work of art either in a modern or traditional way, they'll respond to it either negatively or positively.
What has remained your source of Inspiration over the years?
My inspiration is climate change as reflected in my work, 'The Drop of Fascination and other Poems'. Now, we in the 21st century face more greater threat than our forebears because climate changes is more dangerous than the twin disease of HIV/AIDS and cancer. This is so because you have to come in contact with them to be actually destroyed by them and it actually can be effectively managed. But be that as it may, climate change is a respecter of nobody. It can meet a person anywhere and at anytime and has the possibility of sweeping man out of existence. Also my source of inspiration comes from the issue of tribalism in the marital union. Coming from historical antecedent where parents imposes marital mates on their sons/daughters and on refusal to tilt to their wishes, they either end up marrying another from different tribe. And this in most cases may have external influences on the already established union and thereby destroying the said union and subjecting the progeny of the said union into psychological scares. Seeing the plight of outcomes of broken marriage i was inspired to write about it. Certain practices in the society that are morally reprehensive give one the raw material to recreate these experiences and in the process interrogate such experience.
In writing your collection of books what were some challenges that stared you in the face?
Challenges are inevitable. Combining academics with writing is an herculean task. However, i was able to overcome it because i believe creativity and writing is a responsibility first to the author to enlighten his generation and to leave a legacy for posterity sake.
Who were your major support ligaments in these projects?
My family have actually supported me financially, and morally. My lecturers in my department have also played a pivotal role to see that i come this far.
What is your take about the reading habit among youths nowadays?
There's a decline in the reading culture among youths. This is so because they spend much time in trivialities than reading and studying. Also, students in modern times only go for summary of books without reading the main books by extension, we are producing implied readers rather than readers who can read the complete literary text and make their own statement about a particular work of art.
What measures do you think should be deploy to Improve the reading culture among present day students?
The reading habit could be improved upon if we redefine our concept of education where emphasis will be placed on development of man and not the certificate. Moreso, where man will be evaluated on what he/she has upstairs and not the paper he/she possesses. Lecturers could be instrumental in a way, if they recommend recently published books to students, this will enable them to read because they'll not be able to see critical works on it. There should be a shift in the mode of asking traditional questions to asking practical question that will require students to come in contact with the text that he/she is about to answer questions on.
What was the duration like scripting these books?
It took me one year.
Who is your role model?
Chinua Achebe.
What are some likely threats to creativity in our present day society?
The advent of technology poses real threat to creativity in the sense that we live in a society where the young ones think the internet is a leeway for copying another person's work without them contributing their own quota.
Give us an insight into your literary works?
Actually, my first book, 'IDARA' aims to desconstruct the pre-concieved notion that access to marriage is guaranteed in same tribe. The heroine, Idara is ensnared by these illusory premises as she discovers bitterly the harsh realities of life.
My second book, an anthology 'Drops of Fascination and other poems' aims at educating people on the issue of climate change and man's activities towards the depletion of the Ozone layer.
The Third, an anthology also 'Heresy of Gossip' offers a brilliant anatomy into the rampage characterizing our tertiary institutions in recent times. It offers a profuse perception on the celebration of womanhood and lecturers that have affected me one way or the other in the university of Calabar.
My second book, an anthology 'Drops of Fascination and other poems' aims at educating people on the issue of climate change and man's activities towards the depletion of the Ozone layer.
The Third, an anthology also 'Heresy of Gossip' offers a brilliant anatomy into the rampage characterizing our tertiary institutions in recent times. It offers a profuse perception on the celebration of womanhood and lecturers that have affected me one way or the other in the university of Calabar.
'Moonlight Lady', takes a cursory look into the plight of the girl child and womanhood in the African society. It attempts to desconstruct the negative perception about the place of the woman in a patriachal society.
Another, 'Aluta Struggles' claims to interrogate nepotism and God fatherism and its attendant effects on students' unionism.
What is your advice to upcoming and aspiring authors?
Well, my advice to them is simple. They should be drivers of their destiny, which means they should believe in themselves and their crafts irrespective of individual opinions because as Chinua Achebe said:
'the society does not tell the write what to write although they may have a say on what the writer has already written'.
'the society does not tell the write what to write although they may have a say on what the writer has already written'.
And as an upcoming writer, you should not be afraid of criticism because the critics is an impetus to the near perfection of the literary work of art.
Are you currently working on any book?
Sure, i'm currently working on two books entitled 'The Lost ALA' and 'Man is the Religion In Legion'. Our fathers are busy selling off their ancestral lands in their rush to drive big cars and to live an hypocritical affluence life. 'The Lost ALA' will seek to interrogate these ways of life and to forewarn that parents are sowing articles of civil unrest.
This will arise because when the next generation do not have lands to farm and to build on, thereby making them alien in their own lands, that'll be the only means to respond to such negative construction in the society.
This will arise because when the next generation do not have lands to farm and to build on, thereby making them alien in their own lands, that'll be the only means to respond to such negative construction in the society.
First published in 2012, by Isaac Mensah on The Nation Newspaper
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