In an exclusive interview, I had the pleasure of conversing with none other than Blessing Amatemeso, the remarkable talent from Nigeria who secured the prestigious title of first runner-up in the esteemed Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature 2022. Get ready to be inspired by Blessing’s remarkable journey and her incredible contributions to the literary realm. This interview is a treasure trove of insights and imagination that will leave you eager to explore the power of storytelling. – PPBlessing
PPBlessing: You recently graduated from medical school, how was the journey through school and why medicine?
BA: Medical school has been partly expected but mostly unexpected. Everyone said you had to read a lot, it would be hard and lots more but those were just half-truths. Why medicine? This question was asked during our year one faculty orientation. Many people gave motivating answers, like ‘because someone dear to them died and they wanted to prevent that from happening to other people. For me, it’s not something I can pinpoint, I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but there was no doctor in my life growing up. Sometimes I feel like my dad engineered it in a way: engineer, doctor, accountant, lawyer, another engineer (second male). If he did, it was at a subconscious level so I can’t answer the why but I’ve never had a why not either, and at the time of entering University, there was nothing else I would have wanted to do.
PPBlessing: What’s the full truth about medicine and are those your siblings you are referring to?
BA: Well, my truth will be different from other people’s truth. But it’s more of consistency that gets you the ball. And really all work and no play does not do one good, not even in medical school.
Yes, that was the plan. It didn’t work out that way for all though due to jamb and other stuff.
Blessing Amatemeso at her Sponsio Academica (physicians oath-taking) on the 22nd of May, 2023
PPBlessing: How did writing get into the mix?
BA: Well, I started planning to write in secondary school. I guess it grew out of my love for stories. I did start keeping a journal but the actual public writing just kept being postponed till the Covid-19 pandemic happened.
PPBlessing: How has that been so far?
BA: Well, enlightening, exasperating, and exciting at times. I’ve learnt a lot I wouldn’t have if I didn’t actually start writing. Thinking of what to write and writing is like dream vs reality. In dream there is no time, no space, no limitations. Everything has perfect expression. But transferring that ‘dream’ to paper is well, an art and science on its own. Sometimes I look at the number of words I’ve written and get exasperated but that was before. All in all, it is exciting.
PPBlessing: How were you able to combine school, writing, and the leadership roles you have?
BA: I didn’t. It was always a choice between writing and school; one or the other at a time. If I was focused on school, I was unable to write. So, I usually write in periods where I don’t have pending things to read or exams to write. Leadership is always an ongoing process as long as I manage my time well. Both reading and writing for me are best done immediately I wake up. Any other time was a struggle or is, but I guess so is life.
PPBlessing: Tell us about your journey before being the first runner-up for the Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature last year.
BA: In 2020 my sister was 3 and apart from bible stories, I had to actively search for stories I wanted to read to her. I stumbled on Writers Space Africa (WSA) and enjoyed some of the literature. When the call came out, I submitted for it. I got longlisted but never made it to the shortlist. I joined WSA-Nigeria in 2020. In 2022, I was opportune to serve as the welfare secretary. A highlight of that year was planning the trip to Duoala. Between 2020-2022, I’ll say I learnt more of the ‘technicalities and rules’ of writing children’s literature. I applied again and voila! I joined the WSA Academy in 2022, and from there I became a mentor in 2023.
PPBlessing: Was 2020 the same year when you started your blog?
BA: Yes.
PPBlessing: What inspired your winning story, Siki and the Bicycle?
BA: I happened to be learning about finance at the time and I kept saying to myself, I wish I knew this earlier, I wish I knew this earlier. Every time I learnt something new, I’ll get that impression. There’s something John Obidi says, ‘the school of the rich and the school of the poor are different’. Their children learn different things, so I decided to write about it. I think most of my children’s story are trying to explain things I wish I knew as a child to a child.
PPBlessing: How has winning the award been for you?
BA: I was happy about it. I was doubly happy that I was there in person to receive the award. But the thing about it, and winning in general is that it comes at the end of a process. So, we savour the victory, after that we have to move on. But I enjoyed writing the story and I’m glad it came to light.
PPBlessing: That’s beautiful. Have you won other awards aside this?
BA: Not yet.
Blessing Amatemeso after receiving her Certificate of Award during the 2022 African Writers Conference in Douala, Cameroon. 5th November 2022
PPBlessing: What is your plan for writing?
BA: Well, right now I’m working on a book. I hope to have a children’s storybook later on but haven’t started working on it yet. Further plans will unfold with time.
PPBlessing: What’s your ideal day like?
BA: I do not have an answer for that at all. It depends on the priority per time and if I have any compulsory time-bound activity like school or work.
PPBlessing: What inspires your writing and what other genres do you write asides from Children’s Literature and Articles?
BA: Fiction, Creative Non-fiction and sometimes Poetry. I’m inspired by life and everything that exists.
PPBlessing: This is quite ambiguous, could you explain further?
BA: What inspires me is also very ambiguous. It could be anything. Reading a good book, watching a good movie, listening to a song, not having the courage to do something, being brave only to have it bite me in the ass, watching an interview of someone I admire. Anything that happens is a possible inspiration.
PPBlessing: Part of your headline on Twitter reads Christian medic. Why not just medic?
BA: It’s a more encompassing description of who I strive to be.
PPBlessing: Why so?
BA: Well, there is an ideal a Christian should strive for. To attain Christ-likeness even in work.
PPBlessing: What has been the most memorable event so far for you, as a doctor and a writer?
BA: For writing, I would say the African Writers Conference. It was such a wonderful experience. I hope to experience more like it. As a doctor, well… I hope to answer that after a few years of practice.
PPBlessing: Does this mean you haven’t started practising? I thought you’re supposed to go through horsemanship immediately after med school.
BA: ‘Immediately’ is relative, especially in Nigeria. Graduates are supposed to go for National Youth Service (NYSC) ‘immediately’ too. But sometimes unforeseen circumstances occur.
PPBlessing: What about the most memorable medical school event?
BA: I have a most memorable for every year. and it was not always in the classroom. But one way or the other, it had to do with meeting new people. My most memorable events were the seemingly ordinary but dramatic ways I met friends that have stayed with me till now.
PPBlessing: Who has been your greatest inspiration and influence in medicine and writing?
BA: I hardly have a best of anything but I’ll speak of the heralds. I don’t want to be cliché but Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche was the first glimpse of the possibility of writing for me. I know she has talked about something similar but even I too read books and enjoyed them but didn’t realise that I didn’t see myself in them till I read Purple Hibiscus. I could relate with Kambili being asked ‘does he have two heads?’ I could relate with the complex relationship with reverend fathers. At the time I read the book I was, in fact, in a Catholic boarding school and I remember asking someone if it’s only fine people that are allowed to be fathers and sisters. I will have to confess though that after reading her, I still didn’t read Nigerian books till recently. I also wondered if the Catholic church does voice screening too for intending reverend sisters. They have the best sopranos I have heard till date.
Arese Ugwu’s ‘Smart Money Woman’ also inspires me. The book is fun but practical. It influenced Siki and the bicycle. It is influencing my current writing. However, WSA has played a major role in my growth. From the lectures, and prompts to the mentorship. When I decided to start writing, I really didn’t know how to go about it. WSA was instrumental in that journey. It’s still very instrumental in my growth as I am still a part of the group.
In Medicine, if I don’t say Ben Carson, who else? But the dream he painted was, mehn… a dream. There are people doing good that I admire in everyday life. They are so numerous to mention.
PPBlessing: What do you hope to achieve both as a doctor and writer?
BA: As a writer, I hope that I can reflect the society that I live in and maybe even portray the society that I want to live in. I hope to write for a long time. As a doctor, I have a particular affinity to dramatic recovery. Bringing someone from dire situations to full health, so I’m looking at trauma and emergency medicine. The path I wish to take or the height I wish to attain thereof are not set in stone.
PPBlessing: If you were to choose one career path between medicine and writing, which would it be?
BA: None. I wouldn’t choose one over the other and I’m still very much open to other careers.
PPBlessing: Interesting… Such as?
BA: I’m open. Life can take us places.
PPBlessing: Smart answer but you haven’t answered.
BA: It could be anything.
PPBlessing: A lot of women have complained about facing gender-based challenges in their lives and chosen fields. Have you had any such experience?
BA: Gender-based challenges abound. I don’t think any field is spared, including the university community as a whole. I don’t think I’ll be able to answer this categorically regarding the career path in particular.
PPBlessing: How about from the life perspective generally?
BA: In secondary school, I had the opportunity to go for a five weeks boot camp in Lagos. In all honesty, I and my friends thought our parents won’t let us; I went to a single school. Surprisingly they did. But on getting there we realized that many girls had not been allowed to come and rather than the school writing to the company or organisers, boys from their school took their spot. Prior to that time, my dad was very cautious about us travelling.
I once had an opportunity that involved paired housing. Unfortunately, I was the only female. And well, you can imagine how that went. I’ve not had a particular ‘discriminatory experience’ but I’ve experienced where only males were planned for even though it wasn’t explicitly stated.
PPBlessing: What are your hobbies?
BA: my number one hobby is reading. I won’t even lie. it is the one thing I love doing any day, anytime. What I love reading is not streamlined. It began with reading Encarta kids and learning things like Tyrannosaurus rex. It was also where I fell in love with American history. When I learnt that America gained independence more than 200 years ago, I was so surprised, Nigeria wasn’t even 50 then. Then it went to novels. Romance novels, first because, for some reason which I have not discovered, it was so available in boarding school. Nora Roberts was a name then. I read so much of her till I couldn’t, moved to Dan Brown and then Sydney Sheldon. I loved the world Sidney Sheldon opened me up to. I fell in love numerous times. My most recent love is Tomorrow Died on Yesterday by Chimeka Garricks. It was set in the Niger Delta so it’s close to home.
I love watching movies. I like playing games. I love swimming even though I’m not so good at it. I like trying new food or delicacy.
PPBlessing: Are you single or dating?
BA: I am legally single.
PPBlessing: What of non-legally?
BA: I am considering forming covalent bonds with an oppositely charged entity.
PPBlessing: If you have the opportunity to change one thing in Nigeria’s medical school system based on your experience, what would it be?
BA: There are differences in medical school system even within the country. If I would change just one thing in my school system it would be to separate lectures from clinical rotations totally. Gives you more time to be available in the hospital and learn hands-on.
PPBlessing: So far, what has been your biggest challenge as a young lady and a writer?
BA: As a writer I would say getting out of my head, writing has been the challenge so far. As a lady, I would say trying to define what my values are. As a society some values are passed down, some norms. Trying to sort out my own beliefs, how I see God and things like that.
PPBlessing: You didn’t mention skating among your hobbies but I saw a picture of you skating, so where does that fall?
BA: Okay. I just began learning skating. Graciously being taught by Ogbu Eme (winner of the Wakini Kuria prize). I won’t even venture out skating on my own yet so I can’t call it a hobby. Maybe when I have mastered it. For sports I play table tennis and volley ball.
PPBlessing: Have you know him ever since or it was the awards that connected you two?
BA: The award. I don’t remember who chatted who up but we both stay in Port Harcourt so we were able to connect.
PPBlessing: What will you tell aspiring writers who are still stuck in their heads and unable to put down their ideas to paper?
BA: Just start. Someone told me that first drafts are never to be shared yesterday. Write! Nothing I learned mattered till I started writing, then it started to make more sense.
Thank you for reading through this insightful interview with the multifaceted Blessing Amatemeso. Until next month, keep reading and sharing the Writers Space Africa magazine.
