responding to my work sounds rather exaggerated to me. Obviously, these women are largely illiterate and have no access to such books as mine, much less reacting to it; and not even a more challenging mode of expression as Poetry. Nevertheless, your question once again prompts me to the need to devise strategies to further reach out to such women. But I am consoled by the fact that I have been making modest contributions through social activism via our NGO work. One of the poems, “Mama: Agony of Motherhood”, replicates some of the difficulties that these women face in fending for their families, especially in homes where the man, the supposed bread winner, is not forthcoming is perpetually AWOL in money matters. And so, you find out that women are constantly saddled with the responsibility of raising disciplined children regardless of their economic status quo. In the typical African society, a good child is always the father’s pride, even when he [the father] has no hand in his/her upbringing, and the errant child is the sole product of his/her mother.
Two poems, “Beggarly Boy” and “A Beggar’s Song”, look at the debilitating condition of the less privileged and how society continues to turn a blind eye to their plight. However, there is a gradual increase of kind-hearted citizens who are taking the initiative to care for and rehabilitate urchins and drug addicts, orphans and abandoned babies/children, physically-challenged children, those with deformities and diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS etc, and even aged people, and that in spite of the accompanying challenges. One good look at the whole scenario and one is forced to conclude that poverty is indeed the greatest weapon for the mass retrogression of any community. On the other hand, “Our Prints, Our Lives” is one poem that propels individuals to make meaningful sacrifices, no matter how little, in selfless service to humanity. Being a member of the Rotary Club of Ogba, District 9110, also affords me the opportunity to serve the less privileged in the daily course of duty. The seeds we sow in the lives of others will always bear fruits; no matter how long it takes. Mothers nurture their children simply because they believe in them; so also, we should have faith in the future of others and help them succeed, especially those outside our pedigree.
A.E.: What do you think of repressed homosexuality Nigeria?
V.K.: That’s a very interesting question considering that the issue of homosexuality/gay relationships was recently debated at the National Executive Council Meeting where the proposal for same sex marriage was condemned, and it was affirmed that Nigeria is still a conservative society, and so would not tolerate some of these clearly western influences. It is significant that this issue has attracted such level of attention, suggesting that the development is more rampant that we are generally willing to admit. More recently, gays have become bolder and have made public appearances, threatening to form associations. Also, there are indications that even among writers, those heeded to suppressed voices are beginning to advertise themselves. On the whole, it would appear that in the near future, “repressed homosexuals” would claim their rights of free expression in public. But I believe that it will be a tough one for them in the light of such recent developments, as Nigerians’ protest votes against inmates of Big Brother Nigeria House seen to be rather sexually liberated.
A.E.: One notes that your father was with you at a certain public function; that he is a military man, probably a disciplinarian – and a northerner. What does he think of your poetry?
V.K.: Interestingly, my father is an artist at heart; hence you may not be surprised to know that he is the author of two published books – non-fiction. So he respects the writer’s independence and appears opposed to any form of censorship. I am happy my father appreciates my work; though I wasn’t so sure what his reaction would be when I first sent him a copy of Hymns and Hymens shortly after it was printed. My family’s support was obvious at my book launch, and especially through all the emotional traumas I’ve experienced. Most recently in my political pursuit for the House of Representatives, my family has been even more supportive. I couldn’t be luckier to have a family and a father like this, whose works I also promote. He is well read and possesses many books on diverse subjects. He is also an intellectual, a historian and, yes of course, a disciplinarian. In his book, The March to Megiddo, he boldly intervenes in the arguments/discourse around the Nigerian Civil War. So he isn’t one to deny his daughter the right to self-expression in |
Sentinel Poetry (Online) #44 THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POETRY & GRAPHICS…since 2002 ISSN 1479-425X Editor: Amatoritsero Ede
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