Wole Adedoyin interviews Mojeed Ajibola Adeyinkai: I Find Inspiration in the Occurrences Around Me

WA: TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR WRITING BACKGROUND- WHAT YOU’VE WRITTEN, WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY WRITING
AJIBOLA: Well, I started to fall in love with writing when I was young, say when I was in secondary school. I was able to write a literature book then titled: The Pen Friend and my Principal then tried to get the book published but it was not possible later. Thank God, I have been able to publish three books now, namely; Haleemah The Healthy Girl, The New Normal and The Breakfast. I'm working on some books at the moment though. Let's see the titles the time will give to them.

WA: WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT A PIECE OF WRITING-
AJIBOLA: The use of words, diction is what excites me most in any write-ups. And, that's exactly what I do with my writing too. With my writing, people tell me they learn new expressions. To God be the glory.

WA: WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS AND WHY?
AJIBOLA: This is a bit difficult but I will try. I have Newspaper columnists I love so much to read. Columnists like Lasisi Olagunju and Festus Adedayo of Nigerian Tribune. I love them because of their massive usage of Yoruba expressions in driving home their points. Lasisi Olagunju can be likened to Chinua Achebe and Festus to Wole Soyinka because of his flair for big words. Yes, Achebe and Soyinka are other two writers, authors that I love. Let me have a run down instantly, Farooq Kperogi, Abimbola Adelakun of Punch Newspaper, Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji, Professor Toyin Falola are other writers I love so much.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW WRITER STARTING OUT?
AJIBOLA: Like a poet(ess) once said: A real writer is the one who really writes. I will simply advise a budding writer to keep on writing and have a mentor. Such a writer should not try to copy any writers but learn from them. Like one of my lecturers in UI, Prof. Christopher once said, 'hone your writing skills and own your writing.'

WA: WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?
AJIBOLA: Most times, I find inspiration in the occurrences going on around me. My three published books have to do with issues happening in Nigeria, ranging from Coronavirus to the last 8-month ASUU Strike. My mood inspires what I write commonly on social media too. When I'm happy, sad, in love, reflective etc, I write about them.

WA: DO YOU HAVE A WRITING ROUTINE? A PLACE THAT’S SPECIAL?
AJIBOLA: I don't think I have any. I write where there's a semblance of silence, anyway. However, I know for sure that I love to be alone when I'm writing. It's, therefore, my plan to have a separate room where I write when I eventually build a house of my own. May God make it possible.

WA: HOW, WHEN AND WHY DID YOU FIRST START WRITING?
AJIBOLA: I could say I became conscious of being a writer when I was in Senior Secondary School. Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) organized a forum in Ibadan then and invited our school, Ladigbolu Grammar School in Oyo. I was inspired by one of the writers who spoke at the event, saying we could also become an author if we so wish. I don't know the name of the man anymore but I remember that the name of his book is: Man of Lagos. When I got back to school that day, I started writing a story immediately. I titled my own book " Bobo of Lagos". I have lost a part of the manuscript now.

WA: WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE YOU EVER HAD PUBLISHED?
AJIBOLA: Facebook is the first platform that gave me a voice as a writer. I started writing commentaries on Facebook after my secondary school. My first book is titled: Haleemah The Healthy Girl like I said earlier. Many other platforms have also published my articles, especially Islamic platforms like The Muslim News and The Islam Voice. If we are to talk about the book I first wrote, it's titled Pen Friend. The book is yet to be published.

WA: DO YOU ADDRESS PARTICULAR THEMES OR ISSUES IN YOUR WRITING?
AJIBOLA: Yes. Most times I address Nigeria issues. My themes always revolve around politics, academics, love, cultures, Islamic values, et al.

WA: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SENDING YOUR WRITING OUT INTO THE WORLD?
AJIBOLA: I felt fulfilled. I felt I was there already, like I had arrived. But, I know I have a long way to go when I observe that the writing has not been putting food on my table as I had expected. Smiles!

WA: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM?
AJIBOLA: I get ideas mostly from reading. Sometimes from listening to news and talking to people.

WA: HOW DID YOU GET YOUR PUBLISHER?
AJIBOLA: My first book was handled by a printer not a publisher. I co-wrote a biography with one of my masters pro bono. After the publication, I told him I had a book to publish and he gave me the contact of the 'publisher.' I later realized that he is just a printer. After that, I lamented on Facebook how I wanted to publish another book and an elderly Facebook friend who is a publisher came to my aid. I gave him a part payment and he looked for the remaining. The publisher is Elder Morufu Smith. For my third book I got another publisher in UI. His name is Midey Onikosi.

WA: TELL US WHAT KIND OF RESPONSES YOU GET FROM AUDIENCES\ERS.
AJIBOLA: Most times, I get positive responses from readers. People applaud my use of words and chain of thoughts. I have critics though. My second book, The New Normal, received a lot of criticism. Being a Muslim, many of my readers did not expect me to showcase diabolism in my work but the book just has to do that because its setting is traditional.

WA: HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU?
AJIBOLA: They can do so by reading my books and by following me on my social media. Better still, they can invite me for a talk. I train and give speeches at writing occasions, too.

WA: TIPS, TRICKS, THINGS TO PASS ON TO DEDICATED WRITE?
AJIBOLA: Like Liam Pieper said: A good book is made by what is left out, rather than what's in. Dedicated writers should know that the job of a writer is not to write but to re-write. Hence, editing and proofreading are what really make good writers.

WA: ANY TYPICAL/COMMON MISTAKES THAT NEW WRITERS TEND TO MAKE?
AJIBOLA: Anyway, I'm also new in this field. But, what I observe so far is that most of the writers in this generation are usually in a haste. Paraphrasing Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji in his book; Right Writing, Wrong Writing: if you are in a hurry to make money; consider not writing. Maybe you should consider being a footballer.

WA:. WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?
AJIBOLA: I'm laughing right now as I'm racking my brain to choose which one of them is the most enjoyable to write. I read a piece recently written by a journalist at HumAngle, Egbon Kúnlé Adébàjò wherein he said writing is not easy-peasy, I think I agree with him. If I'm to choose anyway, I will say my recent book is the most 'enjoyable' to write because I wrote it during the holiday when I had less things to do.
Permit me to talk about my second book too, The New Normal. I find it enjoyable because the Oyo state Ministry of Education has prescribed it for junior secondary school in the state to be read as a part of English literature for the 2024/2025 academic session.

WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK? WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE?
AJIBOLA: There was this man in Oyo that was invited for a meeting then. He said he had read some of my write-ups on Facebook and he believed I could write children's literature. He promised to publish the books and pay me after the publications. He gave some books to me that I should study to know what he was expecting from me. I did and I did; I mean I read the book and submitted my own stories but I couldn't really hear from him again. I had talked about co-writing a biography with a master and its printer. The first book that I published with the printer was one of the stories I sent to the Oyo man.

WA: WHAT IS THE KEY THEME AND/OR MESSAGE IN THE BOOK?
AJIBOLA: The book is about personal hygiene for young girls and being spiritual as Muslim girls.

WA: WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU ONLINE?
AJIBOLA: I'm mostly active on Facebook @Mojeed Ajibola Adeyinka and on LinkedIn @Mojeed Ajibola. My email adeyinka2219@gmail.com is always open for all.

Thank you.

Mojeed Ajibola Adeyinka is a final-year student of Communication and Language Arts at the University of Ibadan. He received his journalism training at the National Broadcast Academy in Ikeja, Lagos State. An award-winning writer and campus journalist, Mojeed has authored several books, three of which have been published. His first book, "Haleemah The Healthy Girl," was followed by "The New Normal," which has been recommended by the Oyo State Ministry of Education as a literature text for junior secondary schools in the state. His most recent book is titled "The Breakfast." In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks about his works and passion for writing.