Kufre Ekanm is a poet and a short story writer. He is also the Corporate Affairs Advisor of Nigerian Breweries Plc. In this encounter with Edozie Udeze, he shares his thoughts on the essence of writing; how he began to write very early, his interest in literature, books generally and more.
What makes you want to write?
I think everything. Every day living. So by watching life; sometimes it comes from things I don’t even know at all. I can be watching individuals or phenomena and then it comes. The thought comes; I don’t own them and then I use them.
And when you do that what are the things you focus on?
I focus on meaning. I’ve been really interested in meaning. The words must have meaning so as to impact on the next person. And I don’t know who it is going to impact on. All I do is to say it the way it comes for the reader to make the meaning and make the deductions himself. I want the reader to enjoy what I’ve written.
In that case what genre of literature captures your essence more?
Poetry ticks my box. I like prose too. And you find that some of my poems are rather prosaic and are deliberately so. Some of them are really quaint and quick. But poetry really intrigues me and attracts me most. I am hoping however that one day I will try my hands on drama. Just may be. Then I’ll know whether or not. But I like the idea because it will be difficult; it will be exciting.
Where and when do you like to read and write?
It is easier to write in the mornings. But I write when the muse gets me. Sometimes I do it in the middle of a drive. I still remember sometime ago when I was taking a colleague that came from Australia around, when the muse struck me. It was in Accra, Ghana, where it happened. I didn’t talk to anybody. I was just scripting. When I finished, I said I am sorry I didn’t talk to you guys. I was busy writing. So that’s how it happens often. Whenever it catches me, I write it or I keep the thought so that whenever I get the chance I sit down and write it. When I do that or when I am in that mood, I don’t really talk to people around me.
When you read a book what are the important things you look out for?
There are some books you read for pleasure. Some you read for rumination. Others you read for more serious studies. I am an equal opportunity reader. I read everything and it depends on what the book itself is saying. For me it is usually for the meaning that I read a book. If it is meaningless, it won’t hold my attention for long.
In other words, what book struck you most while growing up?
I think my father was able to give me a wide areas of interest. He provided more books for me to read. But I am a collector of trivial. And trivial can be found in everything. I tend to want to read everything that comes my way. And if you are a writer, you should read everything. I am older now. I don’t want to come back from work and hold a book of philosophy to read. No, it is not that plausible now. I also will not come back from an evening of pleasure and entertainment and try to read a book of philosophy. I’d rather balance it with a book that has some kind of amusement in it.
At what point did you decide to be a writer?
I think from the time I was a little kid. I also knew I was going to write. The people I am envious of are people who have ideas; greater ideas than myself. So early enough it began for me. But it is a very funny story. I had chosen sports and writing from the beginning. If I was on a pitch playing football or any game and a newspaper flew past, I’d likely pick it up. That was the way it was for me. So, for me I knew I had always wanted to be a reader, a writer, expressing these bigger ideas. I told my wife about it, that if I die unpublished, I have then wasted all the ideas inside of me. I always knew I would do it. From school, I used to scribble down ideas. Then I saw myself more as a scribbler than a writer. But then I’d put them together later. No one who knew me then would be surprised to see me now as a writer. All those who now know me as an adult and PR and marketing executive would be surprised.
Who are your favourite authors?
For me, right now, I would say… I would now show you how broad my mind is. Malcolm Blandwell, Welboard Smith and recently Thomas Friedman. Those are the writers who trip me most. There’s this new guy I’ve found… Locally Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe. I also like Chimamanda Adichie’s writings. She also trips me with her works. I like Akachi Ezeigbo’s works. I also like a little bit of Niyi Osundare, the way he puts words together. Put all that together, you’d see that it does not speak to only one genre of literature. I find each one of them enjoyable and good for different reasons and aura.
If you met your favourite author, what would be the first question?
Oh, how do you sustain the habit; this habit of writing, with the challenges you have? Or how do you create the time to write? I envy people who have been able to create the time to write. It is not easy, but how do they do it? Writing is lonesome; it is like a grease. It frees you. There is something writing does to you that only writers can understand. Yes, it is so. When I see someone who has written five or six or more books, how does he do it? These prolific writers when I see them what intrigues me is how do they do it? What I then ask is: How do you get the discipline and comportment to write?
Of the books you’ve read, what character struck you most?
Is that keeping the Bible out of it? The Bible for me is the biggest story book in life. Yes it is! I am not talking about the Bible as a Christian, but as a writer. It is the biggest book in the world, with all the intriguing dramas in it. My five favourite people in the Bible are Joshua, David, Paul, Daniel and Joseph. If you look at any of these five very well, they have interesting personalities. Those are the characters that trip me and they work for me at all times.
How do you arrange your library?
I put my books in sizes. The books often are kept in order that I can find them when I want. My wife also helps at times to ensure that the books are well stocked. I have been able to find sense in nonsense, order in disorder.
What book are you going to read next?
Oh, it is Nonsense – The Power of Not Knowing by Jamie Holmes and Sapiens – a brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. These are the books that occupy my time today. In the next few days I’ll start reading them.