CHRISTINE MAUTJANA

Christine Mautjana is the editor of two books, Interviews with effervescent writers (2012) and Throbbing SA Black Literature (2013). Here she shares a few thoughts with lovers of Writing....

You have been rather quiet over the last few years...    

CHRISTINE MAUTJANA: I have never been the loud type anyway! I think generally women love to be in the background, taking care of the children, family, grooming, nurturing... But of course we love to be appreciated for whatever we can do.

You have always paid tribute to the pioneers, African women writers like Ngcobo and Tlali...

I think they are magnificent! Imagine writing, publishing at a time blacks were suppressed, not expected to write; never mind their women! Mama Tlali is wonderful as a pioneer not only because despite all the odds she wrote the first novel by African woman; but also she is a very good writer too. Laureta Ngcobo and Sindiwe Magona perhaps had an advantage of writing overseas at the time, but this does not remove the fact that they were very much in the minority, and very talented to boot.

Nowadays we have quite a number of young or younger black women writers. You are one of them. Perhaps things are much easier now?    

On the whole yes, but one still needs to be guided and helped. Because of extraordinary advances in technology now plus internet, exposure and acknowledgement is very fast now. Look at Futhi Ntshingila; the success of her first novel, Shameless, and then, Do not go gentle. You can read about launches of such books, any reviews etc on the internet. I understand that some decades ago as regards books written by Africans, reviews were hard to come by, could take years, and were not easily available...

Let's briefly look at your own two books. Are you happy about them?

MAUTJANA: You know in the beginning you are diffident, even scared. How will literary world react to these books? But Interviews with effervescent writers in particular has been very successful, available from scores of libraries, even overseas. America and Europe. It was great giving young female writers like Nthabiseng Jah Rose Jafta even more exposure, and of course many pundits believe Mme NMM Duman (also featured in the book) is a  great female novelist already. Featuring outstanding writers like Ntate Lechesa, Chief Bolaji and Mr Aryan Kaganof in the book was a thrill... Then when other accomplished writers  refer to you, talk about the little you have done, you become very happy again. Recently Mr Mzwandile Soqaga declared that he was very inspired by the book I put together, titled Throbbing SA Black Literature. It is interesting. By the time I brought out the book, Interviews with effervescent writers a few years ago, Ntate Soqaga had  not published even one book - but now he has many! So that is evidence that our literature is flourishing (laughter)...

OMIGHT ADEBAYO

OMIGHT ADEBAYO is a serious, dapper, dignified young Nigerian. He is the man behind the blog, Latest Updates. He comes across as a perfect gentleman, and something of a role model for youth. He is currently working on “a novel for youths”    

Question: How do you feel as a very young man, having your own impressive, influential blog?   

OMIGHT: It is a dream come true, and I am very proud of it. I try to be professional and serious, post interesting stuff, and accept verifiable submissions from other sources.    

Do you think you should cater essentially for the youth? 

Because I am young, many would feel like that, and maybe rather subconsciously I do so a lot...my aim though, is to make the blog mainstream and of interest to most.  

You focus on Nigerian news, updates, sports, celebrities and the like. And I see that sometimes you write your own stories yourself...

Omight: Yes I try to do that, and garner more experience in the process. I can meet a celebrity myself - go to an occasion, and write about it myself.   

So the blog is for good?         

You mean for positive purposes? Yes I do like to write positive things, not run down people or indulge in unnecessary gossip. I think that would be petty.            

Going through your blog, it's clear that you are a creative, artistic person yourself...the clever use of photos, colours, the general design, etc...              

Omight: I am a creative person, I can design and arrange material properly. The good thing is that I am still young, and can only get better and better!!    

Are you already getting sponsors?   

Omight: That would be welcome, and I am looking into that. It would be a boost and encourage one to get better and better. But for now the blog is mainly about passion.            

Any advice for the youth?

Omight: We all know these are hard times, but youth must be focused and not resort to crime and other bad things. Hard work will always be fruitful. If I have a job, I am the type who will report early in the morning there and leave late in the evening... I love research, I love reading, getting things done. I am still working on my novel; I wanna get it right eh....

Well, good luck with your blog then.

Omight: Thanks so much, brother

MADOLYN CHUKWU

From the heartland of Igboland in Nigeria, Madolyn Chukwu has her own literary Club, and she enjoys reviewing books, especially those written by women.

Q: I have been reading some of your reviews, comments on books here and there; and they are quite impressive, if rather startling.  For the benefit of readers, let me reproduce 2 or 3 excerpts from your reviews here....

‘The first time I read a Flora Nwapa novel - this one - I was incredibly excited. I was already aware of Achebe, but my gut feeling told me that this woman was a better writer! Maybe it was a case of woman to woman...but further studies showed me that the world at large (men of course) considered Achebe to be a much better writer. For me it was like a case of "419" - West Africans would realise what I mean. Or maybe there should be a law banning men from pronouncing on, criticising works by women? Even now I do not think it is sour grapes. Nwapa did show the world in her novels of many decades ago that she is a magnificent writer. Just try to read her works and juxtapose them with how Achebe projects women in his novels...no contest at all, I think . Buchi Emecheta too and her very powerful novels...she even published more of such works than Achebe. Don't get me wrong I have the utmost respect for Achebe. But he was a literary genius, just like Nwapa and Emecheta. He might even have helped Nwapa in getting published...but my point is that Nwapa's books, characters, delineation of women should be treasured too...penned by an insider! ‘

(Her review of Nwapa’s EFURU)

It is very unfortunate that the young child, baby here, is cruelly deprived of a mother to bring it up. People, mainly men, seem carried away by the character of John in this novel, thinking he is some sort of unlucky, good person - the truth for me seems to be that he is an unserious, unfocused, immature individual. If he can bring a child to the world, why can't he go out and work? He never shows any real inclination to get things done, only to criticise and indulge in needless self-pity. Again, we have only his word for it that the mother of their child had a bad character; so what attracted him to her? If she had other boyfriend/s who could help her financially, was she not driven to it by the useless John who can not be relied upon? Don't let me start…

(Her take on Bolaji’s People of the Townships)

‘This is a very powerful novel, even after some 200 years of publication I think. It is no surprise that it is considered a classic.  What strikes me is that despite it being a conservative, restrained era, Jane 's emotions are so powerful. Consistently, we see her thinking along the lines: 'I might not be a striking beauty, I might be poor and plain, but I am a human being too, a woman with emotions, and I deserve to be loved purely' Such emotions! My mind goes to a brilliant modern African novelist like Buchi Emecheta and one sees how powerful the emotions are there too in her works.  You can even imagine the female protagonist thinking later, 'Oh these emotions are just too raw, I come across as a too passionate person, even harsh' . But of course all this is part of being a woman. Eternal woman.’

(Her comment on Bronte’s Jane Eyre)

Would you say that as a woman, you can be controversial?

CHUKWU: I prefer to say I am just being myself; trying to be candid from my own perspective.  Women are no longer afraid to express themselves, though they might be stepping on the toes of men. Take a popular woman columnist like Abimbola Adelakun eg, I have heard men say that they dislike her views, she is confrontational, rude etc ... but all agree that she is a great intellect; very well read, great vocabulary etc. I think it is her being a woman that disturbs many.

Q: To paraphrase the pioneering female novelist, Flora Nwapa, Women are different?

CHUKWU: Very much so. But deep-seated attitudes are difficult to change, so one can still see that so many men still want to suppress women and their voices. We are talking literature now, why would men want to believe they are better writers than women? Do they have the perspective to judge women's writing? Are women not better writers than men? Look at Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - she is probably the most important and most talented writer in Africa now. Will men accept that? But even globally, look at awesome female writers in the western world - like Barbara Taylor Bradford, Danielle Steele, or Anne Rice. Their achievements are phenomenal in Writing. 

Q: Africa can not compare. It appears fewer women are reading and writing (books) now. New voices are rare... 

CHUKWU: We should encourage those who are emerging in Africa. Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, SA and Zimbabwe have produced great female novelists for decades.  I am excited when I hear about younger female writers, though to get their works might not be easy. For example, MatshidisoTaleng of South Africa, after hearing about her I read about her works a bit on the internet. So, new writers will always emerge, even within Africa. It's not all gloom or doom.

ISHMAEL MZWANDILE SOQAGA

Ishmael Mzwandile Soqaga is one of Africa’s key intellectuals, thinkers, and wordsmiths. A powerful book reviewer and critic, he has published several books himself. They include Promoting Quintessential African Writing, Glimpses into African Literature, and Further Glimpses into African Literature…

Q: How did you become a publisher? Did you ever wish it to be so, or it just happened? 

SOQAGA: I became a publisher when it was not fashionable.  I mean when first thing you have a book which you believe by world standard is remarkable and you find out that none is willing to publish it.  I mean to publish it so that it can be read by the world.  This is what makes me a publisher because I cannot allow an outstanding book to be overlooked and remain unpublished. 

Yes of course, when I develop a fervent love for literature one thing that engrossed my mind was to see myself playing my role in publishing.  To accentuate, Mr Bolaji is the one who introduced me professionally to literature.  I realized that my love for Africa too-induced me to be strongly connected with Chief Bolaji.  In that short period of time which I spent with Chief Bolaji I was deeply fascinated by the way he was doing things.  Working with Chief Bolaji it simple means you must be quick and vigorous.   He is a diligent writer and when it comes to writing he avoids all indolent frivolous demeanour.  Meeting with with an African prolific writer like Chief Bolaji made me to realize my dream of being a publisher.

Q:  What do you find exciting about being a publisher?  What aspects thrill you most?

SOQAGA: In a real sense as a publisher you explore many imperative things which are pertinent to literature.  First and foremost your publishing details on the verso of a book say a lot in the world of literature.  It may sound irrelevant but the publishing details in the book gives a publisher an enormous recognition.  For example, all people who are interested in any book you publish they will first contact you and make the arrangement on how they can get the copies of the book despite that the author name can be noticed diametrical. 

Q: We know book distribution, sales in Africa, can be very frustrating. How do you cope with it?

So far inasmuch as I’ve been in the publishing industry my concentration apart from book sales is to see that important literary centres like universities and Legal Deposit centres are well provided with the books that I publish.  It must be reckoned that I publish books without being sponsored most of the time.  Therefore as a publisher I have to see that books are distributed very well in order for the world to read.  The problem with Africa especially when it comes to literature is that for you to be recognized as a writer you need first to satisfy influential people in your society.  It is trifling and it cannot work like that hence despite the challenges an independent self publisher may encountered with, one need not to be perturbed by baseless nonentity.  Some publishers promote this type of literature, you will see them enjoying to publish books that heap praises for leaders so that eventually they can have a chunk of money and fame.  With quintessential literature which early African literary pioneers used to advocate, this is nothing else but chimeral ambition which of course is repugnant in world literature. But I am happy that many copies of books I publish are stocked in illustrious international universities/literary centres.