Wole Adedoyin interviews Oyamo Richard: The Greatest Threat to Free Expression in Africa is Livelihood

WA:  WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WRITING POEMS?
OYAMO: In 2015, I was in form two then.

WA:  WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE A POET?
OYAMO: I was listening to a reggae show on radio and they played a poetry recital at the beginning of the show. The recital was so profound that I attempted to rewrite it but could not capture the exact words. I ended up writing my own things. It is after I was done writing that it struck me, I had just written a poem. It is four years later that I get to know the reciter of the poem was Mutabaruka with the poem titled Dis Poem. Since then I have generally been writing about myself and my experiences in life.

WA:  HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A POEM HAS REACHED ITS ENDING AND IS GOOD ENOUGH?
OYAMO:  About a poem reaching the end, like Sarah Kay says, ‘writing a poem is like pooping’. So I only know it has reached the end when there is nothing more to get out in regards to that particular subject. About knowing when a poem is good enough, I never really get to that point. I just keep editing. My poems keep evolving.

WA: WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PERFORM YOUR POETRY?
OYAMO: The need to amplify the written. To give it life on stage. To get to those who are more listeners than readers. Ultimately, it gives me fulfilment.

WA: DO YOUR POEMS JUST FORM IN YOUR HEAD OR DO YOU WORK ON THEM OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME?
OYAMO: Some I just write in one sitting with ease, then there are those that take ‘ages’ to be written.

WA: ON THE POEM SUBMITTED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION, TELL US ABOUT THE IDEA BEHIND THE POEM?
OYAMO: I tackled the theme of police brutality. As opposed to what everyone does, which is blame and throw fists at the police. I decided to take the persona of a police officer. Having interacted with some of the police and getting to hear their side of the story, I got to learn that not all do what they do willingly. They are just following orders from their seniors. I took on the personality of a police officer who hates what he does but has no option as those are the orders from his senior.

WA:   HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE IN THE PROCESS OF THE POEM?
OYAMO: Took about two weeks.

WA: WHAT DID THE PROCESS OF WRITING THIS POEM TEACH YOU?
OYAMO: The need for research, re- editing and thinking out of the norm.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS?
OYAMO: It is my contribution to the fight against police brutality.

WA: WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LINE FROM THE POEM?
OYAMO: I will be lying if I pinpoint a line as my favourite, I equally liked every line. Maybe to give a line that I think sums up the entire poem. “due to this brutal instructions from my seniors, you citizens I cannot see near.”

WA: ANY POEM THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU, WHICH HELPED YOU IN WRITING THIS ONE?
OYAMO: None.

WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLANS? PLANNING A NEW POEM OR COLLECTION OF POEMS?
OYAMO: My immediate next project is a poetry concept show dubbed ‘Kanga Kisses and Matatu Beats’ happening on 14th of April, 2024 at Kenya National Theatre.

WA: ANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE POEM WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION?
OYAMO: Well, there have been a number of developments but none is linked to the publication of my poem for the African Human Rights Spoken Words Competition.

WA:  WHAT IS A LITERARY SUCCESS FOR YOU?
OYAMO: To be in a position to solely live for and on my literary and artistic endeavours.

WA: A MESSAGE FOR ALL THE READERS.
OYAMO: It is for you that I write and share my poetry, and perform spoken word. Thank you for existing!

WA: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO FREE EXPRESSION TODAY? HAVE THERE BEEN TIMES WHEN YOUR RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED?
OYAMO: I think the biggest threat is livelihood. That one cannot express themselves against what feeds them even if it is an evil thing. That when you are caught between remaining silent or starving of not only food but also finances and relationships. I always try to run from such snares.

WA: HOW DOES YOUR IDENTITY SHAPE YOUR WRITING? IS THERE SUCH A THING AS “THE WRITER’S IDENTITY”?
OYAMO: Yeah, sure there is a writer’s identity. It is in the writer’s voice. It dictates a lot in terms of the thematic concerns, the tone, the approach taken, the choice of language for a specific writing etc.

WA: HOW ARE WRITERS USING THEIR CRAFTS TO ADVANCE THE COURSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN YOUR COUNTRY?
OYAMO: Largely by articulating them in their writings. Organising events and festivals aimed at not only celebrating the role of literature in advocating for human rights but also equip young writers with the necessary knowledge on how to do the same.

WA: WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR BUDDING POETS?
OYAMO: Keep writing. Keep sharing your art. Keep being you.

Oyamo Richard is a writer, a published poet, an editor and a spoken word artist. He has been published in several poetry anthologies including the Millennial Voices, Soaring Above the Pandemic and When We Speak. He recently released his solo poetry anthology titled Musings On Life. He has performed in various platforms including a poetry concept show he curated in 2023 dubbed; 2Boys1Man. He is a co-founder of Rafinki, which is a collective of writers and poets. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks about his works.