As part of The Ethiopian Herald’s push to expand the frontier of its fan base in Africa and beyond the Sunday Special edition has succeeded to get a Nigerian prolific author-poet Ngozi Olivia Osuoha for an interview. She will share to us the pains and pleasures strewn on the road of authorship.
She was born and bred in her hometown, Nkwerre, Nigeria. She grew up under the wings of her parents and teachers.
The Ethiopian Herald: Could you brief us what inspired you to be a writer and who are your role models?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha : Writing is a talent, and talents come from above. God is the giver and inspiration. But then, the world inspired me, and still inspires me. Horrors and evil, going on around the world, I want and wish for a better world.
My Dad is a writer, though unpublished yet. He is my role model. A few other big names whom I love, though have not really read them all.
Herald:What are the challenges that are sure to confront writers?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha: I have had some ups and downs and still having, especially with time. It requires patience and dedication. I have authored eleven books including a co-write.
It wasn’t easy until I met Kris on Facebook, who turned it around beautifully. His fastness is amazing. Well, I hope to write about my books and publishers someday, not now.
Herald :What are the themes of your poems?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha : My works revolve around happenings, history, stories, dreams, visions, missions, let them continue, never give up no matter what. It is never easy especially in Africa.
Herald:Many take poetry a forbidden territory and fight shy from reading poetry to say nothing about writing one. What is your take on this?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha : Poetry is not an untouchable zone, especially to me. I feel it is in fact, we need it in all areas of life to pull down some strongholds.
Herald: African authors were using literature for lampooning the ills of their time like colonization what is expected from contemporary writers?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha : Previously it was actually about colonialism and corruption, yes. But now, nobody is colonized anymore. Hence, the divert on other things. Though colonization is coming back or has been there in different forms, like religion, politics, civilization,….
Herald: Brief us about your books, global participations and the awards you got?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha : Eleven books including a co-write, they include THE TRANSFORMATION TRAIN (355 VERSES) LETTER TO MY UNBORN (560 VERSES) SENSATION (100 POEMS) TROPICAL ESCAPE (CO-WRITE WITH A KENYAN) FRUITS FROM THE POETRY PLANET (100 POEMS) POETIC GRENADE (82 POEMS) WHISPERS FROM THE BIAFRAN SKELETON (67POEMS) CHAINS (45 POEMS) FREEBORN (50) ECLIPSE OF TIDES (55 POEMS)
I have featured in over sixty (65) international anthologies, mostly outside Africa. I have published over two hundred and fifty (250) poems/articles in over twenty countries (25) I have won several awards, and one time BEST OF NET NOMINEE Yes, it is. Unity is a force. It matters a lot. African poets can achieve more if and when united. We need the unity. All my books are available on Amazon. One also on Bookemon.com Some also on Poetic Justice Books And Arts, some on Indiebound.com Some on Barnes and Noble too. Attached to this interview answers is the Amazon link to my books. Meanwhile before year-end, I hope to publish at least three more books. Some are already with publishers marking time. *RAINDROPS WHISPERS OF THE BIAFRAN SKELETON* Those include my books
It may interest you to know that I have been able to do all the through the internet, social medal especially Facebook for those of us who see the media as a place to play around.
Herald: Have you books translated into other languages?
Ngozi Olivia Osuoha: Some of my works have been translated and published in Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Khloe, and other languages too.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday September 8/2011
BY ALEM HAILU
