Dr. Geraldine Sinyuy, Director of the International Human Rights Art Movement African Secretariat, Cameroon, interviews a budding Anglophone Cameroonian writer, Aye Brandon Kiven.

Written By Human Rights Art Festival

Geraldine Sinyuy: Please tell us about yourself.
Aye Brandon Kiven: I am a Mathematics teacher from the Northwest Region of Cameroon, but currently teaching Physics in Government Bilingual High School Pitoa in the North Region of Cameroon.

GS: I understand that you are a mathematician. Can you share with us what prompted you to start writing?
ABK: I fell in love with Literature in secondary school. Nollywood movies also influenced me. After high school, I became conscious that writing is a huge inspire positive change.

GS:  As a child what did you dream to become when you grew up?
ABK I used to think a lot about engineering. But after high school teaching arrested me.

GS: What kind of books did you read in childhood?
ABK I got involved with drama, poetry and prose since I studied basic Literature for academic years. I also read magazines and some advice-driven non-fiction books.

GS: When did you start writing?
ABK: It started in 2012. BBC played a role. Through the BBC, I learnt about writing competitions like the International BBC Playwriting Competition, the Brunel University African Poetry Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.

GS: What was your first creative writing piece? A short story? A poem or a short play?
ABK: A short story.

GS: What according to you makes a good story?
ABK: A story intertwined with conflicts, twists and in which at least the protagonist is transformed. I also love a story with a good lesson.

GS: What does your typical day look like?
ABK: Preparation of lesson notes, delivery, miscellaneous activities and then writing.

GS: Describe your writing space to us.
ABK: Two chairs, a simple table with my laptop, pens, exercise books and the works of various authors.

GS:  Where do you draw your writing inspiration from?
ABK: I mostly mine from the happenings in Africa and beyond.

GS: What is the most difficult thing about writing?
ABK: Coming up with captivating writings consistently is a challenge I am yet to overcome.

GS: Do you write about real life events?
ABK: Yes, I do.

GS:  What is the most interesting book you have ever read?
ABK: No book so far has captivated me like Things Fall Apart.

GS:  How does social media influence your writing?
ABK: It has made me conscious that my writing most be engaging all the time.

GS: Are there some particular African writers who have inspired you?
ABK: So far, I am greatly inspired by Linus T. Asong and Chinua Achebe. There is no doubt that as I delve deeper into African Literature, I will come across other great authors.

GS:  How can you see yourself in the next five years as a writer?
ABK: I will be a published author of at least a book.

GS:  At what time of the day do you find writing easiest?
ABK: There is no particular time of the day I would say I find writing easiest. I think it depends on the way the ideas flow.

GS:  How do you manage your time as a writer and teacher?
ABK: Teaching takes so much of my energy. But I always find a way to create time because writing gives me joy.

GS:  Is there anything else you would like to share with us as far as writing is concerned?
ABK: Writing requires tenacious efforts and wide reading. It is worth noting that not getting the kind of reaction you want does not mean you should give up. You need to keep giving your best.

Upon graduation in 2013 from the Higher Teacher Training College Bambili, Aye Brandon Kiven was posted to Government Secondary School Mbamba in Menchum Division, Northwest Region. He served there for three years before being transferred to Government High School Guzang, Momo Division, Northwest Region. On August 27, 2024, he was transferred to Government Bilingual High School Pitoa, in North Region of Cameroon. In 2019, he was longlisted for 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He is a member of the Anglophone Cameroon Writers Association (ACWA) and was the Secretary General for the North West and West Branch from January 2020 to August 2024. He is also a motivated Peace Advocate and is involved in an initiative geared towards contributing to the resolution of the Anglophone conflict rocking the  North West and South West Regions of Cameroon since late 2016.

Human Rights Art Festival

Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books, 20-year visual artist and producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE Arts Center, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Athena Theatre Company, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others.  He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (Dixon Place, NY, 2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. For more information about his work, visit www.tomblock.com.

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Dr Sinyuy Geraldine, an IHRAM writer and one of the Directors for the IHRAM African Secretariat, converses with a young Nigerian writer, and Law student.