“The diverse world of books”
Free State Black Literature is now established and acknowledged world-wide. It is also generally accepted that the main catalyst behind this resurgence is Omoseye Bolaji, a prolific author, and journalist who has inspired many others to write. Here, HiFive’s Jerry Seekoei caught up with him for an illuminating session on the world of writing…
You’ve got a fair amount of recognition as a writer – many books published, reviews, published studies discussing your work…I was quite staggered to see how many references you have on the internet. Your recent awards too have also been well publicized. How does it all feel?
BOLAJI: I have a feeling I’ve heard this question before! (laughter). At the end of the day life goes on, really. From a simplistic point of view I believe that what really pleases a writer most is when a reader comments favourably on one’s works. The other day I met a stranger who just came to me and said: “Mr. Bolaji, I read the Sesotho translation of your play (The subtle transgressor), I could not put it down for a second. It was superb. I give it ten over ten!”
Some other observers also believe that you are lucky to have some people (writers/critics) impressed with your work. Mr. (Pule) Lechesa for example has been described as your “disciple”. Others like Petro Schonfeld and Prof Pretorius also love your work…
BOLAJI: I suppose some people would always be particularly enamoured with one’s works. Some of these people will now go out of their way to ensure that such works are even more publicized or analysed …a very pertinent example is Flora Weit Wild who over the years has done wonders in promoting Dambudzo Marechera’s literary works. It appears she has published more books - studies - on him than he (Marechera) ever wrote! However there are many others who have also promoted my work and written a lot about it…people like the late Pule Lebuso, Flaxman Qoopane, Charmaine Kolwane, Urbain Tila…my thanks to all of them.
Do you have favourites among your published works?
BOLAJI: Really I have said it before, that I am not one of those writers who go on and on reading and re-reading whatever they have published. I believe that a writer should move on after every “literary project”, as it were. Ideally whilst working on a particular book, there should be some excitement about it, but when it’s made available to the public there is no need to cling to the works with exceeding élan! Yes, inevitably there would be some mistakes in the books which the critics would gleefully point out. That is their province. I remember that a certain critic claimed to have detected “hundreds” of mistakes in Wole Soyinka’s The man died. But this did not stop the book being celebrated the world over.
Some other “critics” also claim that throughout all your books you hardly have anything bad or negative to say about whites
BOLAJI: There is no need being confrontational just for the sake of theatrics, or playing to the gallery, or whatever. I did not grow up under apartheid – actually my first years were spent in London (England) and I had a wonderful white Nanny who took care of me. White people have helped me a lot over the years in furthering my writing career. I have a number of very good white friends. I suppose many whites would be “bad” in the same way many blacks would be “bad” too. Recently a top footballer announced that racist jibes against him never worried him “it’s done by a minority and they just need to be enlightened” he said.
There is plenty of ignorance in respect of writers. Are writers “famous” even to themselves or in particular areas?
BOLAJI: We can all be quite ignorant when it comes to literature. As Lechesa pointed out in his book, The evolution of Free State Black Literature when Toni Morrison won the Nobel Award for literature a fellow American commented “Who is he?” As we might know Toni Morrison is actually a very famous black female American writer. What usually happens is that we all have our favourite writers. I have met many writers locally who hardly know icons like Es’kia Mphahlele or Gomolemo Moake or Njabulo Ndebele…such people usually know a lot about Ngugi, Achebe; by the same token most know little or nothing about Wole Soyinka who was the first African to win the Nobel Award. I myself only recently got to read some of the books written by Aryan Kaganof – a very funny, blunt, candid writer. It helps when those who love books – or budding writers – have been introduced to certain writers at school.
So perhaps you mean that we can sort of “specialize” as regards our knowledge or interest in writers/literature?
There are so many writers all over these days that we can be forgiven for some ignorance. Again it’s like football, soccer in a way – you get fanatical supporters of a team, e.g Bloemfontein Celtic supporters here who know EVERYTHING about the team on a daily basis. Many of them will tell you they know little or nothing about international football. Yet you get other football lovers locally who know very little about local teams but can give you daily news on Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid etc! Hence there are writers who know a lot about literature locally, a fair number of them might also have some general knowledge of writers nationally – the Zakes Mdas, Ndebeles, Mzamanes, Tlalis, Ngcobos etc. Then there are some who read only certain Eurocentric writers – others like Caribbean authors…another ilk are those who read only particular type of books, maybe romance, historical, biographies
Or mystery/detective fiction…
Yes. I have a soft spot for that! There are readers who read only the Dick Francis’, Agatha Christies, Sidney Sheldons; and the African works in this wise. You know, there are African writers who also write such (mystery) books; like Kalu Okpi, Victor Thorpe, Bolaji! (laughter all around)
Reproduced here courtesy of HiFive magazine
May 12th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
A fantastic interview. I could not believe my eyes when I saw it. I doubt whether even the protagonists know about this
May 12th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Monsieur Bolaji is as refreshing as ever here. Pity he seems to be incommunicado - is that the word? - these days
May 12th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Well done again Mr Bolaji. We’ve all been rather busy these days. I know you will laugh if I remind you that I like calling you “the living legend”
May 13th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Well, that’s a relief then. If a person like Bolaji says ignorance in literature is not a disaster. I for one have loved the writings of CLR James since my teen age years, but hardly anybody knows about him in my society.And anyway how many of his prolific books have I got to read over the decades?
May 13th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I might also add that that this interview again shows Bolaji’s vibrancy in literature.He has so much respect and awe for the African greats (in writing)
May 13th, 2008 at 9:52 am
For the meantime let me just say I am happy to see this interview on the blog.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am
the interview is fantasitic, ntate bolagi must be thrilled and blushing with excitement. the interview really grasped essence of who ntate bolaji really is and i must say he is a fantastic writer. the person who has inspired me and motivated me in my life as a writer. i am happy to say that this is a an honorable man indeed. PAPA!!!!!
May 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
The reference to Flora Weit Wild in the interview is interesting. Another example is Adele King who over the decades has done much to popularise the writings of the late Camara Laye
May 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Bolaji’s writings do have a strong effect on many. For example Charmaine Kolwane wrote and published her own successful study on him (Bolaji) whilst she was still very young.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
i used to run acros mr bolaji at a particular internet. i think anybody who tries even small resaerch on him on internet can see that mr lechesa is a very important pivot for him. he’s the main man, the boss!
May 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Neo Mvubu in comment 7 above talks about blushing… now Pela’s (above) comment makes me want to blush too. I am not the boss. In many ways I am just sort of starting my literary journey.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:26 am
An interesting read indeed, very insightful.It conjures up memories of my own early favourites such as Ben Okri, Buchi Emecheta and Ayi Kwei Amah, most people do not read them but that does not make them ignorant, it’s just a matter of preference. What takes the fancy of a reader, what makes you tick and stay engrossed in a book, lost to the outside world, hidden deep in your world of books.
About the author(Bolaji)himself, well his corpus of work speaks volumes about the man and his contribution to literature here, in West Africa and abroad. Reading his material tells a story of a sojourner, a man who has seen the world. The fact that some folks refer to him as a recluse belies this, often said to be a man who prefers to be left to his own devices. But those who know him will tell you a different story.
Suffice to say his (literary)efforts here will be indelible in the minds and hearts of book(or blog) lovers forever.
Egbon.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Superb comments above by Mr Thaisi, one of the icons of black literature especially in the Free State. I wonder why people like Lechesa are called “disciples” - how can a man who has criticised Bolaji’s works heavily be a disciple? An irony? We know Mr lechesa is feared and disliked by many because of his critical writings.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Actually those three writers mentioned by Ntate Thaisi are among the best in the world: Buchi Emecheta, arguably the greatest black African female writer in the world; Okri, who won the Booker Prize; and Ayi kwei Armajh, perhaps the most controversial yet powerful African writer ever. But how many readers know them?
May 19th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I’m humbled by comment 13 above,I remember reading about the story of the Tempe Man(Madubela?) who went on a killing frenzy, killing about 9 people in Tempe before he himself was shot dead by one of the soldiers there. The story was eloquently covered by the revered Mr. Duma himself if my memory is not failing me. My apologies if I’m mistaken.
May 19th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Mr. Lechesa is correct, those authors are among some of the world’s most respected writers. My all time favourites.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Good to see that my interview has generated some interest. All of us can learn (from others) about the very wide field of literature
May 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
To read this interview, and comments, makes one regret not being introduced to general literature at a young age. Now it’s too late for most of us.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Come on, Ntate. It’s never too late. Within months one can learn a lot. You can start by reading general books discussing many writers/literature; eg my book, The growth of F S Black literature. Then you can read one Ngugi book, one Ayi kwei Armah book, one Achebe book, one Njabulo Ndebele book, one Mokae book etc…
May 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
One can learn a lot from general books. E.g Flaxman Qoopane discusses dozens of writers in less than 30 pages in his book, City of Roses and Literary Icons. Bolaji discusses around 100 writers, African and international, in his book, Thoughts on Free State Writing.
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
It is always inspirational to read about mr. Bolaji.I believe people like him should be awarded more and more to give the next generation of writers a motivation to continue….I think its time now we see his work on stage…Like plays and short stories..
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
A great, great interview