‘Why I wrote about girls’

Ben Ubiri is a journalist, poet, writer and master of ceremonies, who has practiced for about 20 years. The author of the book, ‘Paint my face with glamour’ is also head of on-air-personalities at Nigeria Info FM, Abuja and convener of the Future of journalism Africa conference. He speaks about his latest work. Bookshelf: You […]

Ben Ubiri is a journalist, poet, writer and master of ceremonies, who has practiced for about 20 years. The author of the book, ‘Paint my face with glamour’ is also head of on-air-personalities at Nigeria Info FM, Abuja and convener of the Future of journalism Africa conference. He speaks about his latest work.

Bookshelf: You released a collection of poems not too long ago. Please tell us about it?

Ben Ubiri: My latest collection, ‘Paint my face with glamour’ is a collection of poems dedicated to the girl child. It is intended to create an atmosphere for mentorship and role models. It is a collection of poems dedicated to Osasu Igbinedion as a kind of role model to girls. However, it implies that there is need for older women to mentor younger girls and for the younger ones to seek advice and support from them. The poems carefully speak to girls on self realization and how they can overcome the challenges in life.

Bookshelf: Why write a book about girls?

Ubiri: I am a He-for-She. A kind of advocate for girls and women and I have been like that for a long time. When I was younger, I once served as the local waiter at a community gathering in my village. I was told to distribute kolanuts in a tray among those who were in the meeting. While the men picked, I was told to pick the pieces and hand over to the women in the group. It was sad, and that image never left me. I have always wanted to tell the girl child not to grow up in a subjugated system. So, I write and deliberately speak to them.  When I had my daughter, I saw a stronger need to tell her this story.

My first collection of poems, ‘The book of Chibok,’ was inspired by the kidnapped Chibok school girls. That book was an appeal of hope and for the anguish of the girls and those waiting for them. This latest one is on the girl living the life and standing tall. I believe in the girl child. I do not think man and woman are equal. I believe they are two parts of a full picture, cut along a jagged edge like pieces of a jig saw puzzle. They just help to complete the picture of humanity. My writing, therefore, is a kind of testament of hope for women and girls.

Bookshelf: Why the title ‘Paint my face with glamour’?

Ubiri: It is the call for mentorship by a young girl to a more experienced one. It is the title poem, and by it, the persona was not begging only for paint in the literal sense, she adds a deeper message that heals her wounds but also shines the scar. She wants her identity and her history of struggles to line her shelf even as she hopes to be celebrated in the future. She says, paint my face with glamour but do not wipe away my tear tracks.

‘Paint my face with glamour

But let the world see

That I dazzle from inside’

Bookshelf: You told the story of the girls like you are one of them. Was there any particular reason you chose this approach?

Ubiri:  I used the first person narrative for emphasis. I wanted the girl child who would read it to have a personal experience, and I see that with each of the girls whom I have personally seen reading the book. The language of the book is also simpler than my other poems and I feel the experiment is worth it.

Bookshelf: I find ‘Abiku’ quite an interesting piece, especially as you portrayed it. Please tell us what prompted you to write it and why you chose to reflect Abiku differently from the norm.

Ubiri:  I wanted to encourage the girl child to be hopeful. Soyinka and JP Clark had different versions portraying the girl as evil and allowing her to either die or cause pain. In my poem Abiku, I painted a different kind of girl, who deserves to live; one who wants to live. She is resolved to stay on earth and make it here. I do not derogate the other poems, I just wanted to deliberately erase the thought that the girl was in anyway responsible for the pain in her home or in the society.

“’I am the inherited anklet

Of oral reclamation

…I am the hope of every girl

I am the waiting crown

Of every queen”

Bookshelf: What was behind writing ‘I am not your type?’

Ubiri: Well, this is a funny poem, but it is a direct response to some chauvinists. I have heard men tell ladies off with languages such as ‘I have your type at home’. Here, the poet tells the man, ‘I am not your type because I am not conformed to your standards’. ‘I am not your type’ is a confidence boost for the single mature female.

Bookshelf: What experiences most shaped the poems?

Ubiri: They are mostly personal. The fact that I was master of ceremonies for many months for the #bboggroug also helped me to draw close and research into girls’ stories. I was born into a family of nine. The only male figure in my life, my father passed before I was 20 and I have had to spend a lot of time with the gang of girls.

Bookshelf: You have written poems focusing on a variety of themes. Which did you feel strongest to write about and why?

Ubiri: I have written poems about nature, the Niger Delta, love, peace and women. I believe I have a strong passion for women and girl child issues. I have lived as though I am a woman and the best people in my life are the women that I have come to know. My mother, Mrs. Rebecca Ubiri is my mentor and guide. My wife Helen has been my best friend for over 15 years and my daughter Ella is growing to be a strong influence on the stories that I will tell in the future.

I also think that the boy child needs to hear the story of how best to treat the girl. I hope to explore that also in the future.

Bookshelf: The book is void of a table of content. Was this deliberate?

Ubiri: It is a long story. A lot was removed from the book. We had an introduction, a section for analysis and word explanation, but my publishers removed it. They convinced me with the argument that the poems lead one into the other and it was important to get the reader to follow the pattern. I love the flow.

Bookshelf: Are you working on something new?

Ubiri: I have a new collection of short stories due out soon, but I am keeping that to my chest. My editor is working and draining blood out of my pen. I am also working on the Future of Journalism Africa conference with which I hope to mark my 20th anniversary as a journalist.