WRITING SHOULD NOT BE A SHORTCUT TO WEALTH, IT
MUSTN'T BE COMMERCIALIZED. IT MUST BE USED TO DRIVE THE COLLECTIVE GOOD – TUNDE
AKINGBODERE
Tunde
Akingbondere is a prolific author of so many books, a vibrant public speaker,
poet and Columnist. He is the author of the best-selling "Okonkwo, the
poor Orphan". The prose, Okonkwo, The Poor Orphan had been adopted as an
approved literary text since 2018 by the Ondo State Ministry of Education, for
junior secondary school one. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks
about his writing career.
WA: WHAT
INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING?
TA: I write because
I have the conviction to affect my society positively. A lot of values have
changed in the system; we must learn to operate via the instrumentality of
writing as we correct so many things.
WA: HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
TA: I have been in active writing for six solid
years
WA: WHEN DID YOU
START WRITING?
TA: I discovered my
passion for writing while I was in secondary school. That was during the year
2014. The school really contributed to the development of my artistic dream.
WA: HAVE YOU
ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER?
TA: Sure! I was a
fan of books. That inspired my interest in writing. I could not just afford to
digest without birthing my own idea. I continue to improve on my craft each
day.
WA: WHAT ADVICE
WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER, SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT?
TA: Writing is what
every living being should do. Nobody has been able to fathom the number of
untold stories. Appalling too is the fact that these stories could have made
bestsellers. Emerging writers must learn how to be tenacious, forthright and
painstaking. Writing might not be a shortcut to wealth, it mustn't be
commercialized. It must be used to drive the collective good.
WA: HOW DO YOU
HANDLE WRITER'S BLOCK?
TA: Writer's block
is to be handled with seriousness. It is an avenue for the sharpening of one's
ideas and innovations.
WA: HOW MANY
BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
TA: I have written
so many books. But I only have 3 published books at the moment.
WA: WHAT IS THE
MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED WHILE WRITING YOUR BOOKS?
TA: Writing apart
from being one of the greatest callings, has taught the susceptibility of an
average human to mistakes. Nobody is perfect when it comes to writing. One
learns while writing too.
WA: WHO IS YOUR
FAVOURITE CHARACTER?
TA: Okonkwo of
Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart".
WA: DO YOU HAVE
A FAVOURITE CHARACTER THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN, IF SO, WHO? AND WHAT MAKE THEM SO
SPECIAL?
TA: Okonkwo, the
comedic hero of my first book.
WHERE DO YOU GET
YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
TA: I am inspired
by situations of people, events and happenings around. I was inspired to write
about student unionism on witnessing the state of the leadership in our
universities.
WA: WHERE CAN
READERS PURCHASE YOUR BOOKS
TA: I have my books
on AMAZON, Boldscholar and some others.
WA: WHERE CAN
READERS FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?
TA: A type of my
name on Google would release most information about my books and Articles.
WA: HAVE ANY OF
YOUR BOOKS BEEN MADE INTO AUDIOBOOKS?
TA: None!
WA: IF SO, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN PRODUCING
AN AUDIO BOOK?
TA: I have not done any. I might not be in the
best position to talk about that.
WA: WHICH OF
YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?
TA: Okonkwo, The
Poor Orphan
WA: TELL US ABOUT
YOUR FIRST BOOK
TA: I titled my
first book Okonkwo, The Poor Orphan". It was published in the Great
Britain. It has to do with a very young boy, who seem to be very far from most
opportunities. He was forced to go through the rigours of life as an orphan but
later became successful. A story of determination, didactic too!
WA: WHAT WAS THE
JOURNEY LIKE?
TA: Not too easy
but we scaled through
WA: WHAT, IN
YOUR OPINION, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?
TA: A good writing
must be able to clarify itself, it must be simple and loaded with ideas that
can champion improvement and developmental initiatives.
WA: WHO'S YOUR
FAVOURITE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME?
TA: Professor Wole
Soyinka
WA: YOUR
FAVOURITE BOOK BY HIM?
TA: The Trials of
Brother Jero
WA: ON YOUR
LATEST BOOK, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOK
TA: My latest book
tallies salient issues as to student unionism. I titled it "A History of
Student Unionism in Nigerian Universities". The book is an authoritative
document on the resonance of student unionism in Nigerian varsities.
WA: ARE THERE
ANY SECRETS FROM THE BOOK, YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR READERS?
TA:
The secrets are still sacred. It will be laid bare soon.
WA: WHAT WAS THE
INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY?
TA: The inspiration
behind the book is the level at which students' union leadership had descended
in Nigerian Universities.
WA: WHAT IS THE
KEY THEME OR MESSAGE IN THE BOOK?
TA: Student
Unionism and its Paradigm Shift in Nigerian Universities.
WA: WHAT DO YOU
HOPE YOUR READER TAKES AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?
TA: I like to imbue
my readers with the inspiration to fire into the actualization of some ideals,
capable of redefining leadership at the level of the student union.
WA: WHAT IS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE?
TA: The title
inspires leadership in Nigerian Universities.
WA: HAS A BOOK
EVER CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
TA: Sure!
Leadership Jigsaw by Yemi Akinsiwaju did a lot to bring some changes to my
leadership career. I did love it.
WA: WHAT GENRE
DO YOU LOVE?
TA: I think I am in love with prose works, lately
poetry. Prose works are meant to unleash your ability to tell stories. They
continue to expose the metaphysical realities.
WA: ARE THERE
ANY GENRE YOU DISLIKE?
TA: NONE!
WA: WHAT AUTHOR
(WHO IS STILL LIVING) WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET?
TA: Professor Wole
Soyinka! He is an hero I met a long time ago. I long to meet him again.
WA: DO YOU LIKE
TO DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS ON A BOOKSHELF OR KEEP THEM IN A VIRTUAL LIBRARY?
TA: I like to see
my books on bookshelf. That's the only way to immortalize those who have taken
their time to birth a book. Online distribution of books has contributed in no
small measure to piracy of intellectual properties.
WA: DO YOU
PREFER FLASH FICTION, SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS OR NOVELS?
TA: I prefer
novels. The bible, including so many big books like autobiographies (exploring
into life and times) are prose works. I am in love with them
WA: WHAT BOOK
CAN YOU RECOMMEND TO ME?
TA: Watch The Watcher by Yinka Odumakin
WA: WHEN DID YOU
LAST VISIT A LIBRARY
TA: I visit the
library every week. Sometimes for research or genuine break into the world of
some literary giants. Lawyers and students studying studying the course are
advised to always use the library.
WA: HAVE YOU
EVER HAD A CRUSH ON A BOOK CHARACTER
TA: Sure; I have
always seen the picture of a mermaid while reading about Cleopatra of Greek
mythology. I also have this enduring passion for young Nwoye of Bayo
Adebowale's "Lonely Days".
WA: HAS A BOOK
EVER MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD?
TA: Sure! So many
of them. I remember laughing so loud on reading Wole Soyinka's "Trials of
Brother Jero". I wonder how sporadic his metamorphosis was.
