Interviews

WayƩtu Moore

ā€˜I Gave Myself Permission to Write a Black Villainessā€™ WayĆ©tu Mooreā€™s First Draft

Liberian novelist and author of She Would Be King, WayĆ©tu Moore, wants Africans to tell their own stories: ā€˜A recent book I read portrayed Africa as a uniform experienceā€”overly simplified and stripped of nuance. It reminded me of why it is so important for Africans to tell our own stories, showing the plurality of our voices, our struggles, and our triumphs.ā€™
Abi DarƩ

ā€˜I Am Drawn to Stories That Explore the Concept of Homeā€™ā€Æā€Æ Abi DarĆ©ā€™s First Draftā€Æā€Æā€Æā€Æ

Nigerian novelist and author of The Girl with the Louding Voice, Abi DarĆ©, reveals that writing her latest novel, And So I Roar, demanded a different approach: ā€˜This time, I allowed myself to embrace the unknown and let ideas simmer between drafts. It was a journey of letting go of immediate expectations and growing comfortable with exploration.ā€™ā€Æ
Ayesha Harruna Attah

ā€˜Write What Youā€™ve Always Wanted to Writeā€™ Ayesha Harruna Attahā€™s First Draft

Ghanaian writer and author of The Hundred Wells of Salaga, Ayesha Harruna Attah, says she was inspired to write her latest novel during the COVID-19 pandemic: ā€˜The inspiration for Zainab Takes New York came from being stuck indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the uncertainty of those first months of the pandemic, I thought to myself: write what youā€™ve always wanted to writeā€”and that turned out to be a romantic comedy.ā€™
Oyindamola Shoola

ā€˜Poems That Tell Good Stories Are Hard to Forgetā€™ Oyindamola Shoolaā€™s First Draft

Author of Face Me I Face You and co-founder of Sprinng, Oyindamola Shoola, is committed to creating a space where African writers can grow, thrive, and be celebrated for their unique contributions: ā€˜Sprinng was founded in 2016, inspired by the challenges my co-founder, Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, and I faced as young African writers. We recognized the limited support and resources available for writers on the continent. This gap often forces writers to seek opportunities abroad with limited resources to support them.ā€™
Chioma Okereke

ā€˜I Never Intended to Write a Novelā€™ Chioma Okerekeā€™s First Draft

Nigerian writer and author of Water Baby, Chioma Okereke, is excited to see more Nigerian writers branching out beyond literary fiction: ā€˜More writers are emerging in genres like historical fiction, romance, science fiction, and beyond. It is encouraging, after so much pigeonholing, that we are finally witnessing more breakthroughs in other genres, which is hopefully inspiring new authors.ā€™
Tobi Eyinade

ā€˜Africans Do Readā€™ Tobi Eyinadeā€™s First DraftĀ Ā 

Co-founder of Rovingheights Bookstore, Tobi Eyinade, disagrees with the belief that Africans do not read: ā€˜Rovingheights would not be here after nine years if that sentiment holds true. People often say Africans donā€™t read, yet we have managed to build a thriving book business despite the daunting challenges. Africans do read. While the numbers may not match those of other continents, we have come a long way.ā€™