Motorcycling adventures introduced me to books – Ogbonnaya Kanu

How did you go from engineering to biking and then books? Engineering was as a result of what I studied in university, and motorcycling was something I stumbled on. It was totally unplanned. I just happened to develop an interest in it after speaking with one of my clients who was and still is a […]

How did you go from engineering to biking and then books?

Engineering was as a result of what I studied in university, and motorcycling was something I stumbled on. It was totally unplanned. I just happened to develop an interest in it after speaking with one of my clients who was and still is a motorcyclist. He was the one who even taught me how to ride. As for books, those came as a result of my motorcycling adventures. I was encouraged to publish my ride diaries so to speak, and I figured why not…it would help other riders and my stories could also be used as sources of inspiration to encourage people to rise above what they perceive as limits.

How do you marry your passion for engineering, bikes, books and family, do they sometimes clash?

I wouldn’t say they clash. I am so blessed to be able to live out my passion and profession at the same time. My work requires frequent travel, which is just the perfect excuse to ride. Nothing competes with the time I spend with my family, so that’s already taken care of. 

Most people relate with you as a biker. How have they received the literary side of you?

My literary side has been received quite well, I believe. 

What sparked your interest in books?

I’ve always been the nerdy kind, and books have always been a part of my life. I was library prefect in my secondary school.

What was the motivation to write your book, ‘Breaking the Limits’ and to have it in two parts?

‘FD Breaking Limits’ is about my motorcycling adventures. The first one, ‘Road to Europe,’ was about my ride from Lagos to Europe and back. It marked my first longest solo ride, something I had never done before – I had broken a limit. The second book, ‘Road Home from The South’ chronicles my ride from South Africa to Lagos during the Ebola crisis – that also signified another limit I had broken. More than being just my adventure stories, I also see them as a means to encourage people to rise above whatever challenges they are facing, and to seek being more than just ordinary.

How easy was it putting together the contents of both books and how long did they take to complete?

I would say it was relatively easy, seeing that I always kept a journal during my rides. So all I had to do was put all my journal entries together with the corresponding pictures. Each book took about six months to complete.

What was the most challenging part of writing? 

The only thing close to a challenge was when I erroneously deleted everything I had written on my phone six days into my Lagos to Europe journey, and I had to rewrite it all from memory.

Would you say that you are a different person when you write from when you bike?  

I’m the same person all through.

What has had the most influence on you regarding your writing?

My motorcycling experiences. 

Why did you decide to embark on the journeys you undertook, by biking?

Simply for the love of adventure – see new places, discover roads uncharted. Motorcycling provides a very unique experience to tourism. Plus, the only way to become a better rider is to keep riding. So after I and some friends had done a round trip around Nigeria, it was a question of where next. Then we did West Africa, after that was done, I looked beyond Africa, and that was how it all started. 

How many such trips have you taken and how long did it take to cover each?

First was Lagos to Europe and back to Lagos in 2014. This took a total of 36 days – rest days inclusive.

Next was South Africa to Lagos in 2016. This took a total of 26 days which also includes rest days.

I also toured North America in 2016, and won the prestigious Triple Crown Award. The tour took a total of 23 days.

What countries did you cover?

On my Lagos-Europe-Lagos tour, I went through Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.

South Africa to Lagos saw me riding through Namibia, Angola, DRC, the Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cameroon. In North America, I got to Canada and the United States of America.

What’s the adrenalin like touring these countries on a bike?

It isn’t about adrenalin. With adventure motorcycling, or motorcycle touring, your endurance and riding skills are pushed to the limit. There’s a certain thrill in pushing your limits, and there’s also the sense of fulfillment that comes with breaking those limits. 

Money raised from the sale of your books are going to a foundation. Could you tell us a little about this?

The foundation is called the Fotodadi Foundation and it awards scholarships to financially disadvantaged fatherless children and orphans. In our society, we often see the pain and suffering that are caused when a family loses its leadership with the loss of the father. This loss immediately puts the family at a disadvantage. The situation is further compounded if that loss is accompanied by the loss of the mother. God put in our hearts the need to bridge this gap with the provision of educational grants, and this is what we are doing via the Fotodadi Foundation. We are convinced that with the proper knowledge/education, the future of our beneficiaries can be changed for the better.

As a riding instructor, what are the most important lessons you pass on? 

Humility. We tell our students that bikes have the capability of magnifying character. Being humble means you would never stop learning and that means you are constantly seeking to improve yourself. The moment you get too relaxed that you have covered all the bases is the moment you should stop riding.

What are three principles that guide you?

I don’t know about three principles, but I like to think of myself as being an “upright man.” I would like to consider myself dependable and a man of my word and I aim at leaving the world better than I met it through my contact and interactions with people.

There have been accidents that have in some cases been fatal. Have they discouraged you or slowed you down by any chance?

No, not at all. 

You were born in Zambia to a Nigerian father and Bulgarian mother. How have the various experiences you have had in the course of your adventure influenced or shaped you?

Riding has made me a lot more patient and has me constantly practicing humility. It also affords me the time to be alone and have my “quiet times” more often. It has also brought the reality of life closer to me –  that safety is really an illusion and that we really are not in control of anything. It has also deepened my relationship with God, whom I trust to take care of me, knowing that all is well in Him. 

I also get to experience different cultures, climates, communities, and lifestyles. Motorcycle touring is very enlightening, exciting and I always come back a better person than I was when I left. 

What’s the next challenge you are planning to conquer?

For now, and the immediate future, I would like to spend more time exploring Nigeria. There is a new group called the Tough Tourers and they have organized several events and challenges. My goal is to embark in as many challenges as possible and get the highest honor they can bestow on a rider; “The Toughest Award!”