Literature

My pen is that faceless crusader aiming for a change - Salamatu Sule

SALAMATU SULE, a graduate of English and Literary Studies from the Kogi State University, Ayingba, is a multi-talented writer. She writes prose and poetry in both standard and Pidgin English. In this interview with SUMAILA UMAISHA, the imaginative writer, who hails from Opulega, Ankpa Local Government of Kogi State, speaks on her experience as a writer and how fellow young writers could overcome the various challenges associated with writing in

Nigeria.QUESTION: Let?s begin with your brief biography.

Salamatu Sule: As you already know, my name is Salamatu Sule. I am a writer, a poet. I hail from Opulega, Ankpa Local Government of Kogi State. I am a graduate of English and Literary Studies from the Kogi State University, Ayingba. I am the first of eight children from my mother.

When and how did you start writing?

I started writing at a very tender age. I was writing more of scribbles, writing for me at that time was more of fun. In 1999 I was selected from my secondary school to participate in a poetry competition organized at the UK Bello theatre by the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA. Then I knew I was going to write poetry. It was in 2010, however, I delved into writing proper.

What inspired you into writing?

For me, I read a lot and I have read quiet a number of books that have inspired me in their various peculiar way. And one of such books is Chinua Achebe?s Things Fall Apart and Camara Laye?s The African Child.

You also write in Pidgin English; why?

Pidgin as you know is a language of the masses, the market people and the media. It has also gained entry into politics as it is a veritable tool used for political campaign. In this country, we have several writings in pidgin language and one of such is a poetry collection by the late Mamman Jiya Vatsa. For me, what is new about my kind of pidgin poem is the stylistic device and more importantly, the movement to change the word pidgin into what is now called Naija Language; this movement was championed by the Naija Language Academy (Naija Langwej Akademi) with a standard orthography (Standad Naija Otografi) with a new standard spelling system for writers of pidgin language. A language that is widely spoken by the people deserves to be standardized.

Your writings are mainly focused on Nigerian problems, especially the socio-political problems. Do you hope to change the country for the better through this?

A writer is a mirror of the society really. He writes about the ills of the society with a hope to changing it for the better. I write about the socio-political and economic problems of this country because there is a gross decay in the politics of the country and this has almost gone beyond repair. My pen is that faceless crusader aiming for a change.

You have quite a number of unpublished poems; why haven?t you published them and when do you hope to publish them?

You see, I?m in a country where people do not want to be part of a painful process; for my writing, only the writer family can appreciate what I am doing right now; every other person would want to see the end product. For me, my writing is a painful passion and pleasure for my leisure so I just keep writing. But I hope to publish my first collection of poetry next year. I have had the privilege of seeing some of my works on the national dailies and that was last year.

Among the Nigerian writers who are your role model and why?

I like the works of Achebe so much that I often make reference to it. But Zaynab Alkali is my role model. I remember I read her book The Virtuous Woman several times. She is the master of her own language as she has that good artistic prowess.

Considering the difficult publishing climate in the country, what?s your advice to young writers like you?

I must confess, the publishing climate in the country is so unfavourable for upcoming writers like me as one really needs to invest a huge amount to get a book publish. It is also difficult to get one?s book into the market and that is why we have so many good writers undiscovered.

Nevertheless, I want to encourage young writers out there never to give up on their dreams, it is a passion that hunts you even if you feel you do not want to because you don?t get that encouragement . More importantly, you must identify yourself with a writer?s body or association to give you all the necessary zeal to continue to write.

(c) Interview by SUMAILA UMAISHA.

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Literature