OH, ME GOD!
A new entrant on the Nigerian literary scene discusses life as a writer, her first published book, and a fervent desire to reach the skies.

Nafisah Ahmad Sulaiman may be a newly published author, but she is not entirely a new comer on the creative writing scene. A member of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja Chapter, she is the author of a play titled OH, ME! Prior to her registering as a member of ANA Abuja, she was a member of (and insist to still belong to) the Kano State chapter of the writers’ umbrella association.
A royal scion, she is the grand daughter of the Sarkin Fadan Kano, Alhaji Sule Gaya. Educated at Kano Capital School, Girls Science Secondary School Garko, and Kano State polytechnic. In 2006, she graduated with a B. A. degree in Mass Communication from Bayero university, kano. At present, she is doing her youth service with Petroleum Equalisation Fund in Abuja, which she will conclude on February 14, 2008.
Nafisah who loves reading, writing and surfing the net, describes herself as friendly, simple and down to earth. “Though I am impatient at times, I am tolerating.” She adds.
OH, ME! Is centered on life of a university campus and tackles the issues of morality on the campus. The book is being prepared for launch by the Abuja chapter of ANA under the chairmanship of Dr. Emman Usman Shehu, the branch chairman.
Ms Ahmad was interviewed recently by Ibrahim Sheme on her vocation as a writer and issues pertaining to her first published book, OH, ME! Excerpts:


LEADERSHIP: Have you always been interested in creative writing or was it something you picked up later in life?

NAFISAH: Its not just interest, call it love! I love creative writing. Reading a piece of literature gives me a sense of belonging that I easily transformed myself to blend with the content of the story as if I were a part of it. Out of this admiration I have for creative writing, I seldom have friends except those with similar interest. In fact I associate with creative friends more freely twice as I will do with ordinary people; or in their absence, I will stick to my pen and paper.


LEADERSHIP: What inspired you to become a writer?

NAFISAH: Inspiration? No! If you ask me about inspiration of becoming a writer, then definitely you would ask me why eyes can see and ears can hear. To be honest I can’t say exactly what inspired me to write. Its just an in born tendency which Allah bestowed me with, because it can only take me to hold a pen even without knowing what to write, for something to be scribbled. Probably it could also be nature because I love nature. Everything natural entices me; be it the sky, the trees, human beings, animals, river, to mention but few.


LEADERSHIP: Your first published work is a play. What made you to write a play instead of a novel or poetry which seem to be more popular with first-time authors?

NAFISAH: I believe that the aims of communication are better achieved in a dialogue but dramatic way. People easily pick interest in what is said or wrote in a dialogue and dramatic way than a straight forward narrative. And I strongly believe that OH, ME! Has a touching theme that has to do with every body; the youth, the parents, the government and the wider society. Even though it wasn’t my first literary work, I decided to go into print first with the play because of the reasons I stated.


LEADERSHIP: In "Oh, Me!" you deal with the theme of campus life and how it affects the lives of some ladies. Was this an experience you personally encountered while in school?

NAFISAH: Its not just an encounter in school; these are the things that are happening everywhere not on campuses alone. Youths of nowadays have this decided impression of wanting to feel among; they don’t want to be left out. Because of this, they go all miles to see that they made it to the top. Gone were the days when the youths cut their dresses according to their sizes and the most surprising thing is even parents are not cautioning their children the way it is expected of them to; not to talk of the kinsmen or even neighbors when indeed in those days things are not the way they are now. Children are left on their own to do what they want at no cost and no one can put a stop to what they do or say.


LEADERSHIP: The blurb says the book "challenges authorities to take proper measures in order to fight poverty." Aren't you satisfied with the poverty alleviation programmes put in place by governments in the country?

NAFISAH: The issue of being satisfied with what the government is doing or not doesn’t even arise. The government I know is putting all its efforts to see to the bottom of poverty but that isn’t enough. Let the people in the right position add more and more efforts in tackling issues of poverty in the country. Poverty, I believe is responsible for more than ninety percent of the problems we are facing now, until something is done about it fast, the situation will keep on deteriorating from bad to worst.
People on the other hand need to encourage the government’s effort. Let the rich go to the aid of the poor and the poor should be contended with the little they have. With prayers also, I believe God will see to it.


LEADERSHIP: Would you want "Oh, Me!" to be made into a movie or staged?

NAFISAH: If only it would serve a better purpose, yes. The readership level these days is terrifying that I use to imagine what will come of the books in some fifty years to come. There is a serious step back in the reading culture amongst us. People now a days wants communication with pictures and voice instead of getting it through the books. Information, Education and Entertainment acquired through the broadcast has by far been more efficient amongst the people than that acquired from books and papers; which are left only to the academicians.
If at all OH, ME! Would communicate its message efficiently and to the right people only in form of a movie or stage acting, I see no reason why I shouldn’t be thinking along that line.


LEADERSHIP: When is this book going to be released?

NAFISAH: Hmmn………… why are you so eager to know when the play is going to be released? Any way, I am going to tell you, but I don’t know if I should be specific or not, but believe me its coming out to the market sooner than you expect. In a month or so from now.

LEADERSHIP: Tell us your other engagements on the literary scene. Have you done other things apart from writing this book?

NAFISAH: Leadership, I admire your good sense of humour in presenting your questions one after the other and in a style that appeals. Let me begin by saying, you hit where it pained most.
I started with a novel titled “Hard times for the monopoly” The manuscript is still with me, but I didn’t made any effort to go into print with it then. Then I started writing “Renovate your love” I also couldn’t go to print with it for reasons I don’t even know.
Years back, I was known as a poet. My poem titled “Darling brother” does the magic. In fact it was my first public read poem at Association of Nigerian Authors, Kano chapter and was also read by me at freedom radio. The criticisms both positive and negative that I survived during the time energise my spirit to continue writing poems. Though it wasn’t my first, “Time” was. So many people that knew me as a poet were surprised when they realized I wasn’t going to publish an Anthology of my poems. They were shocked to see about one hundred and twenty poems hidden in the drawers for a play to become reality.
Later, I started to write Oh, Me! While it was out for publishing, I started to write “Not before my daughter!” a novel also. It is now on its way to the door step of the publisher. Presently, I am now working on another novel titled “Behind the curtain”.
I have published short stories in some newspapers; stories like “Is VVF worth the trauma”, “Life as an orphan of AIDS”, “What is the benefit”, “The one I secretly admired”, “A tale of betrayal” and so on.
I believe many more of my works are coming out Insha Allah.


LEADERSHIP: How difficult or easy is it for one to be published in Nigeria? Are there any special problems faced specifically by women?

NAFISAH: To a first timer, there are always gallops -but that shouldn’t be seen as some thing scary- especially if you didn’t meet the right publishers. To be honest with you, I didn’t experience any difficulty in publishing. My publisher stood by me in every aspect of the publication just to see it becoming a reality. Not just that, he is always encouraging me to continue writing. I really don’t know, if I were to pay him I can’t because all the wealth in the world can’t compensate his kindness. I will also say it boldly, if I were to write a million times and will be offered the services of one million publishers at each time, I will choose my publisher.
As for women encountering problems in publishing that I cant say because I didn’t experience any. But there is one fact that I know, there are brilliant women over there with wonderful ideas but don’t know how to get them published. Here, I would like to call the attention of the publishers to go to the aid of those women by making their publishing companies well known and accommodating to every one in need of them.


LEADERSHIP: How do you plan to advance your writing career from here?

NAFISAH:
As I have stated, I have a number of books I have been working on and I intend to have them published any way I can. Secondly, I am a member of ANA both in Abuja and in Kano; being a member of this group exposes one to the world of writing in the country and beyond. I enjoy the support of my colleagues and friends in the association, many of whom go out of their way to assist me advance my writing career. They goad me on to keep writing in spite of the heavy challenges. ANA Abuja under Dr. Emman Shehu is doing a lot to assist me. And at family level, I enjoy full support. I am grateful to them all. I’ll also count on you, the media, to give me all the necessary backing, too, for with you around, I should expect myself to keep soaring until I reach the skies (laughs).


LEADERSHIP: What is your advice to other young persons wishing to become authors?

NAFISAH: I believe that everyone is talented with a natural gift from God Almighty and I strongly believe that there are people out there that always wished to be like Zaynab Alkali, Abubakar Imam, Soyinka, Achebe, Maryama Ba or even Shakespeare. Believe me it takes courage and determination to make it even better than your role model.
Just pick your pen and start writing no matter how funny it is. One day you’ll be surprised at yourself.

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