HENRY OZOGULA

Henry Ozogula is a reviewer of books, an avid reader, and an author. He vouchsafes: "I am so passionate about African literature and love doing research on the same"

Q: With book distribution not so good these days, would you say you younger writers are frustrated and essentially ignorant?

OZOGULA: No I won’t say that! The explosion of the internet has added miracles into literary knowledge. Apart from the possibility of getting certain books to read on the internet one can learn so much from reading reviews, essays on works and writers. Even interviews can be awesome and so fruitful. Take Chinua Achebe for example: there are hundreds of commentaries on his work on the internet. We also have goodreads website where ideally one can read multiple reviews of certain books. Remember that even if one reads a book in entirety one might not even understand it well, or remember much about it; but when you read discerning reviews of such works you become so empowered. A typical review written by Mr Ishmael Soqaga eg will introduce you to so many aspects of a book, or books.

Q I know you admire Dr Soqaga and Chief Bolaji so much

OZOGULA: I have to. Almost on daily basis I learn so much from them, their works, and views via the internet. Mr. Soqaga also published my solitary book, and that will of course endear him more to me. It’s difficult to imagine anyone else with the passion for pure literature than Mr Soqaga. His company in SA, Eselby Jnr published my book, my own small efforts at examining Mr Bolaji’s literary works.

Q: Your favourite books?

OZOGULA: So many; but i can not be mentioning them off-hand. All Achebe's novels. Nwapa's Idu. Okri's The famished Road. Then of course there's Mr Bolaji's Tebogo and the Bacchae, and Mr Soqaga's Glimpses into African Literature