Wole Adedoyin interviews Adetola Eyimofe Jerry-Adesewo: The Biggest Threat to Free Expression Today is Fear -

WA: WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WRITING POEMS?
EYIMOFE: I actually started by performing other poems on occasions. But in 2018, my writing journey began. Back then, my dad told me to write a poem a day. And that's how I got to this point.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE A POET?
EYIMOFE: I was greatly inspired by my dad. Om'oba has a knack for making creativity look appealing enough.

WA: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A POEM HAS REACHED ITS ENDING AND IS GOOD ENOUGH?
EYIMOFE: Knowing when a poem has reached its ending and is "good enough" is subjective and can vary from person to person. It often depends on the poet's intention, the emotions conveyed, and the impact it has on the reader. Ultimately, it's up to the poet to decide when their poem feels complete and satisfies their artistic vision.

WA: WHAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PERFORM YOUR POETRY?
EYIMOFE: Spoken word and performance poetry has a better way of expressing the emotions of the poem. I feel it's a better way of letting my audience better resonate with the subject matter.

WA: DO YOUR POEMS JUST FORM IN YOUR HEAD OR DO YOU WORK ON THEM OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME?
EYIMOFE: I believe rushing into something won't bring out the best result. So what I usually do is think, rethink, write, rewrite and choose my words carefully before penning them down.

WA: ON THE POEM SUBMITTED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION, TELL US ABOUT THE IDEA BEHIND THE POEM?
EYIMOFE: The piece “Let's be the mender” was inspired by a real life occurrence. On that fateful evening when I was still trying to figure out what I would write about, I heard of a 4 years old girl who was assaulted. That was when I made up my mind that this is the best topic to write on.

WA: HOW MUCH TIME DID IT TAKE IN THE PROCESS OF THE POEM?
EYIMOFE: Surprisingly, it didn't take as much time as I thought it would. That would be because I drew my inspiration from a true life story. So it came very easy. Still, I had to be meticulous about it.

WA: WHAT DID THE PROCESS OF WRITING THIS POEM TEACH YOU?
EYIMOFE: If there's one thing I learnt, it's the fact that there are things that would influence one's decisions in life. So as a human, let yourself be open to new ideas and welcome them.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS?
EYIMOFE: Speaking about the 4 years old girl that was assaulted and many others. I really wish there was more I could do for them. But I realized there is little I can do. So, I decided to use the power of my voice to fight for these poor people's rights. Because I feel no one deserves to be treated any less human.

WA: WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LINE FROM THE POEM?
EYIMOFE: “Trust me, seduction was nowhere on her list of intentions but see, all she got for being a jolly kid”.

WA: ANY POEM THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON YOU, WHICH HELPED YOU IN WRITING THIS ONE?
EYIMOFE: I wrote the poem without drawing inspiration from another.

WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLANS? PLANNING A NEW POEM OR COLLECTION OF POEMS?
EYIMOFE: I'm always planning on what new poem to write about. There's no rest for a creative person.

WA: ANY POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AFTER THE POEM WAS PUBLISHED FOR THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORDS COMPETITION?
EYIMOFE: After the publication, I won several other awards and I'm looking forward to winning more.

WA:  WHAT IS A LITERARY SUCCESS FOR YOU?
EYIMOFE: Being published on an international poetry collaboration between Ireland and Nigeria. This is an achievement I would forever be proud of.

WA: A MESSAGE FOR ALL THE READERS.
EYIMOFE: JUST KEEP READING!

WA:  WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO FREE EXPRESSION TODAY? HAVE THERE BEEN TIMES WHEN YOUR RIGHT TO FREE EXPRESSION HAS BEEN CHALLENGED?
EYIMOFE: As a poet, I believe the biggest threat to free expression today is fear. When fear silences voices, creativity suffers. As for me, I'm fortunate to have the freedom to express myself through poetry without any challenges.

WA: HOW DOES YOUR IDENTITY SHAPE YOUR WRITING? IS THERE SUCH A THING AS “THE WRITER’S IDENTITY”?
EYIMOFE: I feel my identity plays a crucial role in shaping my writing. It embodies my unique experiences, perspectives, and cultural background. "The writer's identity" refers to the personal touch and individuality that writers infuse into their work. It's what sets them apart and makes their writing authentic and relatable.

WA: HOW ARE WRITERS USING THEIR CRAFTS TO ADVANCE THE COURSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN YOUR COUNTRY?
EYIMOFE: Writers in Nigeria are using their art to shed light on social issues, and advocate for human rights. Through powerful storytelling and thought-provoking narratives, they inspire change and promote equality.

WA: HOW WILL YOU RATE THE PERFORMANCE OF IHRAM OVER THE YEARS?
EYIMOFE: IHRAM plays a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting human rights, and advocating for positive change. Their impact can vary based on various factors, but their dedication to advancing human rights is commendable.

WA:  WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR BUDDING POETS?
EYIMOFE:  Dear poets, all I would say is just keep writing. You see that idea you have in your head, bring it to life with your words. The power in your words can conquer any battle. Just make sure to wield it in the right direction.

Adetola Eyimofe Jerry-Adesewo is a 19- year-old multiple award-winning Nigerian writer, essayist, spoken-word artist, and actor. She won the 2nd prize for the Women in Culture essay contest by China Cultural Centre, 3rd Prize for Abuja @37 spoken-word poetry, honorary mention for ZODML poetry challenge, Civichive essay contest, winner of Rhemapath essay contest twice in a roll, and 3rd prize winner of the African human rights spoken-word competition. Represented Nigeria in Austria for the Festival University in conjunction with Ars Electronica. She is a change agent. And as a writer and spoken word artist, being heard, being seen, and being respected for who she is, not just as a lady, but as a young person and a human being matters to her a lot. In her own little way, her writings have been channeled towards achieving these goals. She believes in the need to speak out against the many evils in the society, and in its place, promote diversity, inclusivity, and respect for humanity. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, she talks about her passion for poetry writing.