Get ready for an exciting interview session with Nifemi Emmanuel, the talented poet who captured hearts with her award-winning piece “It Gets Lonely.” Join us as we delve into the mind of this rising star, who took home the coveted African Teen Writers Award in 2022. – PPBlessing
PPBlessing: Tell us a bit about yourself
NE: My name is Nifemi Emmanuel. I’m 14 years old, born on March 28th. I attend American Christian Academy in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. I’m a member of a family of 4
PPBlessing: When did you start writing?
NE: Since I was in 1st grade. It’s always been a hobby of mine.
PPBlessing: Wow! That’s quite early. Do any of your parents write?
NE: No, not necessarily.
PPBlessing: I don’t understand.
NE: They don’t write.
PPBlessing: Why do you write?
NE: I always come up with interesting ideas in my head whenever daydreaming or reading a book and I just feel like those ideas shouldn’t go to waste. So I turn the ideas into a story and write.
PPBlessing: That’s wonderful. How many stories have you written so far?
NE: Only 1 but I have many I’m still working on.
PPBlessing: What is the story about?
NE: It’s about a girl who stumbled across a genie bottle in her garage one day and accidentally made the wish, “I wish my life was more like my dreams” and ended up stuck in her dream world.
PPBlessing: Has this been published?
NE: No.
PPBlessing: Aside from stories and poems, what other genres do you write?
NE: I don’t write anything outside that. I mainly stick to just stories and poems.
PPBlessing: How did you feel when you were informed about winning the poetry prize for the African Teen Writers Award last year?
NE: I was very shocked and didn’t believe it but once I realised it was true I was very happy!
PPBlessing: Congratulations once again. What inspired the poem?
NE: I got about 60% of my inspiration from a classmate of mine. The other 40% I got from the high school movies I watched.
PPBlessing: Have you won other awards before this one?
NE: No not really beside the ones from school.
PPBlessing: How many have you won from school?
NE: 2
PPBlessing: When did you win these and were they for stories or poems?
NE: The first one I won in first grade was a poem and I ranked 1st from 1st-3rd, the second one I won 2nd place for a speech in 6th grade.
Nifemi with her parents and sibling
PPBlessing: What career path do you want to pursue?
NE: I aim to be a businesswoman and a writer (as a side career)
PPBlessing: Why these?
NE: I have a passion for accounts, business studies, economics, and writing so I want to pursue a career where I can act out my interests. My father is also a businessman and that inspires me.
PPBlessing: That’s wonderful. What particular line of business do you want to get into?
NE: I haven’t thought much of that yet but being a sales director sounds cool.
PPBlessing: What grade are you in currently
NE: 8th grade.
PPBlessing: Do you have a writing routine?
NE: On weekends I like to dedicate an hour at least to writing. I’m always busy on weekdays so I don’t find the time to write
PPBlessing: What keeps you busy?
NE: Homework, assignments and projects. And I always arrive home late.
PPBlessing: Do you have mentors?
NE: I have a close female friend in church whom I see as a mentor. She was the one who told me about the African Teen Writers Award.
PPBlessing: Why do you see her as a mentor and is she the only mentor you have?
NE: She has always been helping me build up my writing and encouraging me to show my work. I’m quite shy when it comes to showing others my writing and yes, she is my only mentor. She also shows me ways to improve my writing.
PPBlessing: Why are you shy about showing others your writing?
NE: I’m afraid of being judged and questioned about my work. And I’m not the most extroverted of people.
PPBlessing: Has winning the award changed this perspective in any way?
NE: I’m a bit more confident in showing my writing in class to peers!
PPBlessing: Considering the award and this, what would you tell other young writers who are sceptical about showing their writing?
NE: I would tell them that there is no point in keeping their writing hidden in the dark and they should let it out to the public. Their life could change in so many ways if they just had the confidence to show their talent to the world!
PPBlessing: How has your life changed since winning the award?
NE: People have noticed my writing skills more. Once, in class, when someone made a joke that there is no talent in Nigeria, one of my friends was quick to mention my name to show that there is still a bit of hope in our country.
PPBlessing: Do you plan on mentoring other young writers too? Or are you already mentoring others?
NE: I just might. My mother is doing an online school program and I mentor and assist her when it comes to the literature and writing parts she doesn’t understand but that’s about it.
PPBlessing: That sounds interesting. How has it been going so far?
NE: It’s going well. I’ve been able to correct her punctuation and teach her the use of sentence openers, dress-ups, and phrases
PPBlessing: That’s beautiful. Well done. Who are your top 3 favourite authors and why are they your favourites?
NE: Tahereh Mafi, Colleen Hoover, Rachel Renee Russel. Their writing styles are inspiring
PPBlessing: How?
NE: I like the way they describe the main character’s thoughts and feelings with so many difficult adjectives and phrases. It’s like I can feel what the characters are going through
PPBlessing: What are your writing plans for the next 5 years?
NE: I haven’t thought of that but I hope to publish a book before I turn 18.
PPBlessing: Godspeed on that. Do you belong to any writers or writing community?
NE: Nope.
PPBlessing: Why not?
NE: I never really thought of joining one.
PPBlessing: Why?
NE: It just never came to mind and I’m not sure what writing community I could join.
PPBlessing: Doesn’t your school have clubs for different extra curricula activities?
NE: Yeah they do. I’m not exactly sure if there’s a writing club though.
PPBlessing: Oh… Okay. Maybe you could start one if it’s permitted
NE: Maybe!
PPBlessing: What do you hope to achieve through your writing?
NE: I hope to entertain people with my stories and poems and inspire others to begin their writing journey too!
PPBlessing: May you achieve this and more. Thank you so much for being here for the interview.
Read – Ogbu Eme – The Writivist
