Step into the world of young literary brilliance, where words come alive and captivate the hearts and minds of readers everywhere! This edition, we shine the spotlight on the talented Testimony Odey, a Nigerian teen writer who made history as one of the winners of the inaugural African Teen Writers Awards, taking home the top prize in the story category. Join us as we delve into the mind of this gifted young wordsmith and uncover the secrets to her success.
Interview by PP Blessing
PPBlessing: Who is Testimony?
TO: I’m a writer, poet, artist and author of two award-winning novels, ‘Uloma’ and ‘Feathered,’ which were winning entries for the Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors (2021 & 2022). I write all sorts of things ranging from short stories, poems, and essays, to novels. I’m also a YouTuber – I talk about my journey as a writer, give writing tips and advice, talk about my life lessons, Christian journey and everything in between. Books are also one of my favourite things on earth – I can read all day! I love to connect with other creatives and make new friends.
PPBlessing: Such interesting activities. Congratulations on the awards. There is no mention of school here.
TO: I just gained admission into a university.
PPBlessing: Congratulations again! What are you studying?
TO: English and Literature.
PPBlessing: Why this course?
TO: I actually wanted to study Creative Writing, but the course is not available in any Nigerian university at an undergraduate level. So I didn’t really have a choice but to study something a little bit related, and I decided on English and Literature. I’ve always been interested in the art of storytelling. Literature was one of my favourite subjects in secondary school, so I think I’ll really enjoy my course.
PPBlessing: Do you want to pursue a career in writing?
TO: Definitely.
PPBlessing: You recently won the short story award in the African Writers Teens Prize. Is the story, my Juicy life, a true narrative or fiction?
TO: It’s purely fiction.
PPBlessing: What inspires your writing?
TO: Everything – from the air I breathe to the magical vastness of the blue sky, to the red roses with thorns as sharp as a needle, to the strangers on the street, to the conversations I listen to, to my relationship with God, my family, friends, and other people… Everything inspires my writing.
I’d like to tell you how my second novel, Feathered, which won the Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors (2022) came about. I was walking around the house that day and a word I had never heard of flashed into my mind. That word was ‘feathered.’ I looked up the word in the dictionary on my phone and the meaning left me in awe: covered with feathers. So, I wondered. What does it mean to be covered in feathers? What and who should be covered in feathers and for what reason? I could feel my heart racing at the realisation that this strange word could serve as a tremendous inspiration for a story. And that was how my second novel, Feathered, was birthed.
The littlest things can birth mind-blowing ideas. There’s inspiration in almost everything.
PPBlessing: How about Uloma?
TO: Writing Uloma was a wild ride. I think I thought something like, “What if death was not a barrier to love? You know how people say, the dead and the living have nothing in common? Yeah, I was like, what if death was not a barrier?’ It’s a great story, and I feel fantastic when people give kind and honest reviews of the novel.
PPBlessing: Part of your tagline on Twitter reads, redefined feminist. What does that mean?
TO: I’ve always been in love with the idea of feminism, which is the equality of both sexes. But I hear people say stuff like, “to be a feminist, you must do this and agree with this,” and basically what they’re doing is trying to make their personal opinions what everyone should follow and believe in.
Feminism is synonymous with freedom…one should not have to believe or agree or act a certain way because they’re feminist. I didn’t want to be chained to people’s ideas of what feminism should include or be, so I decided to make my own type of feminism: redefined feminism. I had these questions in mind:
Shouldn’t there be things that should be removed, added or given more recognition in feminism?
Aren’t there some ideas associated with feminism that some feminists don’t agree with or support, but feel pressured to agree with or support?
What are some changes you would make if you could redefine feminism?
These days, however, I say, “I’m a feminist.” That’s because feminism is equality, and not all feminists think the same. I mean, there are pro-life feminists, and pro-choice feminists, feminists who believe in different things. What unifies feminists is that all feminists believe in both genders being equal.
PPBlessing: Hmmm. So is redefined feminism only about the equality of the sexes?
TO: Yeah, equality of the sexes in all spheres of life, as well as the removal of restrictions on females. It means gender should not be a yardstick for who should, for example, be promoted, respected, or get the job, but rather, who has worked hard and has proved that he or she deserves it.
These days, it’s really not about the physically stronger person anymore… it’s about who is more creative and intellectually intelligent. So, redefined feminism is also about living what you believe in, and speaking out when others are oppressed, especially when it’s based on gender.
I’m a Christian, so God is a really important factor in my beliefs. I believe that in whatever movement one is engaged in, one must fear God. I mean, honour and respect Him. That’s a pretty cool factor in redefined feminism as well.
I’m still figuring ‘redefined feminism’ out. I mean, I’m only human. For now, when some people ask me, I tell them, “I’m a feminist.”
PPBlessing: Thank you for explaining. What do you do as an artist?
TO: I draw. I’m a really good artist. I’m also an aspiring singer. I write my own songs.
PPBlessing: Wow! Such embodiment of talents. Where can one listen to your songs and view/purchase your paintings?
TO: I post covers on my TikTok account @Testimony Odey. I haven’t posted any of my written songs yet. I might though…you never know. I also have not begun sharing or selling my paintings… it’s still a hobby for now, not something I’m really ready to share. I’ll certainly share it someday, by God’s grace.
PPBlessing: We wait for days to come when you share the songs and artworks with the world. What do you hope to achieve with your writing?
TO: I hope to change the world through my works – promote virtues, help people deal with grief and other emotions, entertain, and make people forget their troubles.
PPBlessing: What made you start writing?
TO: I started writing when I was 7. I wrote because I had great stories in mind, and I couldn’t keep them inside me. I wanted people to read them too.
PPBlessing: You started quite early, do any of your parents write?
TO: My mum used to write when she was younger.
PPBlessing: Ah! It’s genetic then. How many poems and stories have you published so far?
TO: When you say published, do you also mean the ones I self-published on my Instagram?
PPBlessing: Yes, published either online or in hard copy. Whether by yourself or some other person or publisher.
TO: It’s over 60!
PPBlessing: Wow! That’s awesome. What writing communities do you belong in?
TO: I belong to the HillTop Creative Arts Foundation. It’s a community of creatives: writers, poets, artists/painters, spoken word artists… so many creatives! We all inspire each other and it’s fun!
PPBlessing: How has your writing evolved with each award you’ve won?
TO: Well, it has not only made me feel honoured at the recognition my work is getting, but also motivated me to do better, to write better, to encourage people, to speak to people’s minds, and also to entertain people better. It has introduced me to other creatives who inspire and make me happy.
PPBlessing: Which authors inspire you?
TO: Authors who are not afraid to speak the truth and stand for what they believe in. So many authors inspire me but some are Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Francine Rivers, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Buchi Emecheta, Abi Dare, Peace Ado Mezie, Damilare Kuku, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Sunday Saheed, Pacella Chukwuwemeka, Abdulrazaq Salihu, Johanna Ataman, Mahmoodah Oyeleye….I have a lot, but I’ll just stop here for now.
PPBlessing: What will you tell teen writers who write but are sceptical about entering writing competitions and awards?
TO: I’d say, “there is no harm in trying.” The first time I wanted to post my poem on social media, I was scared, I thought people wouldn’t like my work…but I was wrong. People actually liked it. So I would say, it’s better to enter a competition and not win, than not enter a competition and not know if you could have won.
PPBlessing: How did you publish your award-winning books?
TO: Both of my novels were winning entries for the Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors, and the prizes included the publication of the winning entries.
PPBlessing: Tell us about the Christian girl journal, prolife Africa, and beadfro.
TO: Sure! I’m the creator of all three Instagram accounts.
Christian Girls Journal aims to speak about the Bible, truth, encourage others, and be a community to those who may or may not feel lost.
Pro-life Africa is about youth empowerment, amplifying African voices, and fighting for the defenceless.
Beadfro is dedicated to speaking about beads, and showcasing and selling my beaded works. The full meaning of Beadfro is Beads By An Afro Girl (I’m the Afro Girl by the way). I make beads, it’s fun and another way to be creative!
Thank you for reading through this interview. Make it a date next month when we bring you another awesome African writer.
Read – Scholar Akinyi: The Queen of Flash Fiction
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