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Author of ‘Banks vs Bitcoins’, Osivue Itseumah, believes that African governments underestimate the potential of cryptocurrencies: ‘I think a lot of government officials or pro-fiat folks may only see investments in cryptocurrencies as profit-gaining opportunities.’
First Draft is our interview column, featuring authors and other prominent figures on books, reading, and writing.
Our questions are italicized.
What books or kinds of books did you read growing up?
For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in reading, both for leisure and educational purposes. Growing up, I read everything from church bulletin advertisements to newspapers, but I specifically remember my mom asking me to read Gifted Hands by Ben Carson while I was in secondary school and that led to my interest in a variety of other non-fiction work.
I started reading more biographies, autobiographies, and non-fiction bodies of work, especially every summer when my mom bought me books from WHSmith. I then started regularly visiting my school library when I returned to boarding school. There, I discovered volumes of work by Enid Blyton, Anthony Horowitz, and John Grisham, all of whom’s writing style and story plots I began to imitate when I began writing my own work.
I also got introduced to books and plays written by Nigerian and other African authors such as Mother’s Choice Agbo Areo, The Incorruptible Judge by D. Olu Olagoke, and Sizwe Bansi Is Dead by Athol Fugard, in my English and literature-in-English classes in secondary school. I then discovered the works of Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Adichie years later. Alas, between required text and leisurely reading, I gained an appreciation for all types of prose, but I gravitated towards non-fiction.
What is it about non-fiction that captivates you?
The reality of it. I have often wrestled with reading or watching fiction because I lose interest when I read or watch something that is unrealistic or improbable. Additionally, something about reading about the real-life experiences of people I admire or respect appeals to me because I can gain an insight into their trains of thought, depending on how much they share, of course. I have also always enjoyed learning about history, so being able to learn from the experiences and perspectives of notable revolutionaries and world leaders is extremely valuable/interesting information to me.
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About the Author
is a freelance writer and Senior Policy Advisor at the Ontario Ministry of Infrastructure based in Toronto with a keen interest in public policy, government and sports.
Nigerian novelist, poet and author of Graceland, Chris Abani, does not believe ‘Nigerian literature’ exists as a category: ‘It is a common misconception that there is a fixed category that can be read as essentially “Nigerian literature”. Nigeria has 500 nations, 500 languages and about 2,000 dialects. While culture and language can overlap, the level of diversity is such that Nigerian literature cannot be easily narrowed down.’
For the co-founder and publishing director, of Cassava Republic Press, which marks its 20th anniversary this year, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, it is telling that African literature is often pronounced dead in recent years, when more women and queer voices are becoming more prominent: ‘The loudest obituary writers about African literature tend to be men. These elegies seem to come from a tacit sense of personal or generational displacement rather than from the actual state of the field.’
Nigerian poet, novelist and author of Madame Sosostris and the Festival for the Broken-Hearted, Ben Okri, argues that Nigerian literature doesn’t always have to be about Nigeria: ‘Nigerian literature limits itself to Nigeria and then limits even the ways in which the country can be written about. What we want is a vast literature, a great literature…that speaks to all humanity.’
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