Wole Adedoyin interviews Othman Amina: I Want to be the Voice of the Voiceless

WA: WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WRITING POEM?
AMINA: In the year 2020.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE A POET?
AMINA: I am a very outspoken person and I always love to express myself , share thoughts and ideas with people, poetry happens to be one of the most beautiful ways to display that.

WA: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A POEM HAS REACHED ITS ENDING AND IS GOOD ENOUGH?
AMINA: Once my poem is complete, I always feel it inside of me, there’s this satisfactory feeling that flows through my spine because whenever I recite the poem, it would make a whole lot of sense, the lines will cohabit and connect with each other, everything will just click together.

WA: WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PERFORM YOUR POETRY?
AMINA: I have this immeasurable love for humanity and I always love to share my resolutions with people. Performing my poetry is a way for me to express myself and share my love with them.

WA: DO YOU POEMS JUST FORM IN YOUR HEAD OR DO YOU WORK ON THEM OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME?
AMINA: Yes, my poem just forms in my head in most situations . I write good poems under the duration of an hour, then the moment I get an inspiration, a topic or theme, boom! My hands are already itching to pen those words, flows and thoughts down.

WA: ON THE POEM SUBMITTED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION, TELL US THE IDEA BEHIND THE POEM?
AMINA: I am a diehard fan of my country (Nigeria) which is currently suffering from the challenges that comes with bad governance, that is why I write mostly Activism poem, the idea behind that poem is to create mental picture of the sad governmental situations in Nigeria and to also reawaken our spirits not to give up because there is hope for a total transformation.

WA:  HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE IN THE PROCESS OF THE POEM?
AMINA: 12 hours.

WA: WHAT DID THE PROCESS OF WRITING THIS POEM TEACH YOU?
AMINA: Passion and confidence births growth, because I felt the importance of believing in myself during the process, I wrote and perform this poem on this same day which was very close to the deadline and I didn’t want to miss out in the competition, I had so many work load on me at that moment but I still set up my mind to participate, which I did because I so much believed in myself.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS?
AMINA: The spirit of hope.

WA: WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM THE POEM?
AMINA: “The Government Preaches Democracy but Their Actions Speaks Hypocrisy”.

WA: ANY POEM THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU WHICH HELPED YOU IN WRITING THIS ONE?
AMINA: Yes, 80% of my works are Activism Poems. Whenever I see a poetry topic or theme that concerns governance, human rights, justice and freedom E.T.C. I am always gingered up to write.

WA: TELL US ABOUT OUR PLANS: PLANNING A NEW POEM OR COLLECTIONS OF POEM?
AMINA: Yes, I am currently working on a poem.

WA: ANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE POEM WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION?
AMINA: There is none yet.

WA: WHAT IS LITERARY SUCCESS FOR YOU?
AMINA: Literary success to me is when each and every listener or reader that comes across work are able to understand and absorb the message i am passing through, I really do not like filling my poems with lots of poetic devices, I write more of free verses because i want everyone to be able to connect with the message I am trying to pass across. A message for all readers: In whatever situations you find yourself in, always trust your guts (instincts).

WA: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO FREE EXPRESSION TODAY?
AMINA: Have there been times when your rights to free expression have been challenged? The biggest threat is the high level of manipulation, bribery and corruption. But, I have never been in a situation when my free expression was challenged.

WA: HOW DOES YOUR IDENTITY SHAPE YOUR WRITING?
AMINA: Is there such a thing as a writer's identity? - It has been shaping my identity because right now I really want to represent the people to stand and fight for the betterment of us all. I want to be the voice of the voiceless, and the way and manner in which you write your poems displays your writer’s identity.

WA: HOW ARE WRITERS USING THE CRAFT TO ADVANCE FOR THE COURSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN YOUR COUNTRY?
AMINA: Writers are using the power of their words, voice and work to reshape the mindset of people and to become better in their life pursuit.

WA: HOW WILL YOU RATE THE PERFORMANCE OF IHRAM OVER THE YEARS?
 AMINA: 80%

WA: WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR BUDDING POETS?
AMINA: Be Original.

Othman Amina, also known as The Audible Queen, is a multifaceted individual hailing from
Nigeria. Her impressive portfolio includes contributions to climate change awareness, recognition at the International Youth Day program, victories in youth challenges, and accolades such as being a finalist for the Vweta Chadwick Poetry Prize 2023. Othman continues to leave an indelible mark, performing at prestigious events like Tedx youth Gwarimpa, Abuja, and serving as an ambassador for Reset Nigeria Initiative. Her written works, including the acclaimed short story "It's Youth O'Clock," showcase her commitment to creative expression and societal advancement. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, she talks about her passion for poetry and writing.