Images of Nigeria, vividly etched into my head – Femi

Weekend Magazine: This year you were awarded the first Young People’s Laureate for London. Did you see it coming?   Caleb Femi:Yes, because it isn’t an award. It is a role that I applied for, so I was in contention for it. WM: How did you feel when you learned about your selection for the […]

Weekend Magazine: This year you were awarded the first Young People’s Laureate for London. Did you see it coming?  

Caleb Femi:Yes, because it isn’t an award. It is a role that I applied for, so I was in contention for it.

WM: How did you feel when you learned about your selection for the Laureate, particularly as one who has his roots in Nigeria?

Femi: It feels good as a Nigerian-British citizen to be able to be visible in the mainstream social consciousness of London, especially during a time when so much erasure is happening.

WM: You are to hold the position for a year, during which you are expected to impact Londoners aged between 13 and 25, giving them a platform to voice their concerns and experiences through poetry. How is the experience so far?

Femi: It is going well so far, I have been working with many young people and organisations that work with young people and I’ve enjoyed the experience so far.

WM: You are a teacher, although you have presently taken time off to focus on your present assignment. How relevant is your teaching career to your art?

Femi: Teaching is a two-way street. As much as I teach young people I learn many things about life from them which I then feed back into my art.

WM: Your poetry is delivered on stage and also packaged as short films. Can you narrate how it all started?

Femi: I have always been writing artistically, when I was younger I used to write songs. Then as I got to university, I delved into poetry as a way of self-expression and enjoyment during my spare time. Film was also something I was passionate about. I used to watch about 200 films per year until one day I decided to start making my own.

WM: What does it take to perform live poetry?

Femi: It’s simply, courage.

WM: In your poem titled ‘Coconut Oil’ you talked about home. How has Nigeria influenced pictures you try to paint in words?

Femi: Images of Nigeria are vividly etched into my head, whether it is the people, the busy urban landscape or the dramatic night sky of Jos, they are naturally reflected in my poetry.

WM: What was your very first experience like delivering before an audience?

Femi: It felt like an outer body experience.

WM: Your father is a Bishop. How supportive have your parents been?

Femi: Well, my parents have been quite supportive as supportive as Nigerian parents can be.

WM: You have led poetry workshops in schools in East and North London. What plans do you have for Nigeria?

Femi: I plan to come to Nigeria and learn from teachers and other scholars on how they approach teaching Nigerian students, I am sure there are things I can adopt to my own teachings.

WM: What’s your view of poetry in Nigeria and art in general?

Femi: Historically, it is wonderful and a great influence and contemporarily it is vibrant and exciting.

WM: As a filmmaker you have released two documentaries, ‘What Did Love Taste Like in the 70s?’ and ‘Heartbreak & Grime’, to international acclaim. What triggered these creations of yours?

Femi: Watch documentaries that did not reflect my own experiences.

WM: When you are not on stage or shooting a film, what do you indulge in?

Femi: Listen to or making music.

WM: You are also into photography. How significant is this part of the art for you compared to poetry and filmmaking?

Femi: Not as significant as poetry but similarly to filmmaking.

WM: Do you see yourself coming to Nigeria anytime soon to stay for a while?

Femi: Yes very soon, at the end of 2017 I hope.