My dad never told us about Nigeria —Adeniran, award-winning writer

YOU were sent to Nigeria from London at the age of eight to spend some time in your village in Ondo State. Why did your parents make this decision?

My dad believed that schools in Ondo were the best. So, he sent me to live with my grandmother in the village and my brother went to live with an uncle in Ado Ekiti. But I actually think it was because, as a single father, he couldn’t take care of my brother and me.

Did the things your parents tell you about your village commensurate with what you witnessed when you arrived? What was your experience like growing up in Nigeria?

My dad never told us about Nigeria. One day, he came home and said we were moving there. My brother and I were horrified. We had school and friends. We didn’t want to leave. I’ll say it took some time adjusting to live in a village. I couldn’t speak the local dialect or Yoruba. Communication was non-existent for a while, so I got teased a lot. Then when I eventually went back to Lagos, I couldn’t speak Yoruba and had to learn it. Life was not easy. While I was living that experience, I hated it. But now I can look back, with the benefit of age and time, and be grateful because it has shaped me into the person I am today.

Did your parents influence you to be a writer? Briefly tell us something about your book ‘Imagine This’.

My dad didn’t influence me to become a writer. Unfortunately, he passed away before my debut novel was published. I’d like to think he would have been proud of my accomplishments. ‘Imagine This’ follows the story of Lola Ogunwole, a young child wrenched from all she knows in London and is sent to live with her grandmother in a rural village. It’s a coming-of-age story which spans a decade and explores Lola’s struggle to integrate into her new life.

What was your initial reaction when ‘Imagine This’, which was self-published, won the 2008 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize? Would you advise writers to self-publish?

My initial reaction was shock. I didn’t actually know I’d won until several days after I received the email. It didn’t say congratulations in the subject header, like when I got shortlisted, so I ignored the email. When I eventually opened it, I was surprised, elated, flabbergasted. It was a roller coaster of emotions. Yes I would definitely advise writers to self-publish if that is the only avenue open to them. However I would caution them—it takes a lot of work they have to do or pay someone else to do, depending on their skillset. You need an editor, a typographer, a cover designer, a copyeditor and much more.

You are planning on picturising ‘Imagine This’ as an animation movie. What should we hope to expect from the movie? And, when would it be released?

Yes, I’m currently in development and adapting ‘Imagine This’ for the big screen. As in the book, it follows the journey of Lola Ogunwole from childhood to her teenage years. One thing that’s not in the book, but something I wanted to briefly touch on, is her relationship or lack of, with her mother. Readers often ask me why I never explored this. The reason was because it’s not the story I was telling. However, I want to touch on it in the film in order to give her character context. Making a film is a long arduous journey. I’m still in the development stage, which means I’m looking for finance. So, I can’t possibly give a realistic release date yet. What I’ll say, is that if there is anyone looking to invest in a feature animation, just hit me up.

You are also a filmmaker. Tell us something about your major movies? And, between writing and filmmaking, which one comes easily to you?

I like to think of myself as a storyteller. The medium I use is the vehicle for the story I want to tell. So far, I’ve made four short films. Two were live action, ‘More Cake’ and ‘A Mother’s Journey’. The other two, are what I like to call experimental animation, ‘Mrs Bolanle Benson’ and ‘My Mother’s Stew’. ‘More Cake’ is about a guy who can’t tell the difference between reality and his psychosis, and ‘A Mother’s Journey’ is the sequel to ‘Imagine This’, which continues the story of Lola Ogunwole. In the film she’s a new mother battling with postnatal depression and has to find a way to reconcile her past with her present and future. For me, writing is tough—neither writing for screen nor the page comes easy. But, it’s also very rewarding. However, I like creating in both mediums. When it comes to actual filmmaking, I’m utilising a different skillset. In that instance, I’m a conductor, a general, a programme director—pick whatever analogy works. When I’m writing, whether it’s for film or book, it’s just me and the blank page. Filmmaking on the other hand is a collaborative process and the most important decision you can make as a director or producer, is in choosing the right people who can help bring your vision to fruition.

In what way has writing and filmmaking brought meaning to your life? And, what is your greatest challenge as a creative?

Creating work that others enjoy is a humbling and gratifying experience which gives me life. That warm feeling you get when a person emails you or comes up to you and appreciates your work is second to none. As a creative, my greatest challenge is learning to ignore the huge critic that sits on my left shoulder and tells me I’m not good enough. Equally daunting, is the challenge of finding money to finance ones ventures, especially in the field of film making.

•  Beware of praise singers, charlatans ― Isaac Adebayo Adeyemi

As a Nigerian-British, what is the one thing you love about Nigeria and the one thing you love about London. Which one is truly home for you?

Both Nigeria and London are home. When I’m in London, I miss the warmth, culture and food, but not the craziness of living in Lagos. The one thing I would miss about living in London is sitting in a park or sitting in a café.

Would you recommend Nigerian parents in the diaspora to send their children home to spend their formative years?

That is a personal choice for each parent. However, I would definitely recommend taking children back home to absorb the culture and have an understanding of where they come from. It’s the best thing that happened to me.

Apart from writing and filmmaking, what else do you do for a living?

I work part-time in order to pay my bills. Like everyone else, I just have to juggle my time in order to produce content.

What are you currently working on? And, what do you love doing at your leisure?

I am working on a collection of short stories, two novels and two film scripts. I’ve not had much free time lately. But when I do, I love to curl up with a book or watch a film.

What advice do you have for young people, especially the female ones, who are aspiring to be like you?

I would say that it’s a grind. Put in the work and be persistent and tenacious. My favourite quote is from Calvin Coolidge and it goes: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”