 |
|
Interview with Dr.
Omolola Omoteso nee Famuyiwa
publisher of Just
Sharing by Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and
event organiser of TAL's Book Launch on her 75th Birthday.
|
In all you deserve commendation for pulling off such a star and media studded event.
Kindly let me into what inspired you to publish the book?
Thanks for the interest. I have read a number of media reports about the event and
only few cared to mention the publisher or event organiser. What played out on
February 3 is a script that began in 2010. Just ahead of Mama TAL's (that's
what I call Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett) 70th Birthday, I said to her, "You
need to consider writing your biography". To cut a long story short, she
approved of the idea and approved me as biographer. I felt really honoured but
somehow I felt it was a joke especially with all the top-rated people around
her. But on second thought I said why not me. I knew and interacted with her
since 2002; what started as a mentor-mentee relationship had grown into much
more. It was indeed a pleasure to have her introduce me at her 70th birthday
and at other commemorative events... "Have you met Anne?" She would
say, "Anne is my biographer!" Each time I heard that, it drove home
the fact that I had a huge assignment on my hands. Christians say money is the
vehicle of evangelism so naturally the next step was fundraising. For some
reason all my conversations with Mama TAL about her bio, my frequent visits to
get the story and draw up a list of those to speak to did not include finance.
But, to do a quality bio for someone of her calibre money is key. Perhaps I was
waiting for her to broach this topic. By 2011, I was done with interviewing her
and getting the story but I hit a wall each time we got to the issue of money.
How do I quiz someone, who had become much more than a mentor, for money. I was
researching her online one day and I stumbled on her writings one after the
other. So Mama TAL has been writing! Initially I thought of getting her to
write as a way of creating a book before the bio but with her busy schedule it
became practically impossible. So, I spoke to her about compiling her writings
to publish for the purpose of raising funds for the bio. It sounded good to her
and she approved, so that was the genesis of Just Sharing by Taiwo Ajai-Lycett.
Publishing the book is one thing, pulling off an event that had as guests the likes of
Aremo Segun Osoba, Mr. Vincent Maduka, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mrs. Francesca Emanuel,
Mr. Bayo Awala, Mr. Tunde Kelani, Mr. Taiwo Obileye, Mrs. Ireti Doyle is no
small feat, what led you to think big?
Interestingly in all the years I was busy collecting her writings online, editing and coming
up with the concept for the book, I never thought of organising the book
launch. I was focused on publishing the book and working with a foremost public
relations company or event organiser to launch the work so we can raise enough
money for the bio. This was well ahead of travel to obodo oyinbo; it just
appeared bigger than something I could handle. But by October when I returned
to the country and I realised little was being said about Mama TAL's 75th, I
began encouraging her to consider a launch. Mind you, by 2014 she had read
through the manuscript, made suggestions and corrections and approved the
review coy of the book. Unfortunately she took ill and my visits to set the
ball rolling didn't achieve much. After 3 visits and no headlight following
which Mama TAL travelled, I gave up. If in 5 years I haven't been able to raise
a kobo, why bother. About 3 weeks to the event, I visited my sister - Mrs.
Motunrayo Alaka nee Famuyiwa, who is the centre coordinator at the Wole Soyinka
Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and just as I was about to leave I
mentioned the complete manuscript and Mama's upcoming birthday and she said,
"Sister mi, you have to do something. If you dont do it now, you will have
to wait another 5 years!" A light bulb went up in my head and we quickly
put an initial draft together. But before then something divine happened. My
dad called me from the blues just as I was wondering whether to let myself off
Motun's hook and guess what my dad said, "Mama Lycett ni mo n'wo l'oju
television yi (I am watching Mama Lycett on the television right now), your
mentor is being interviewed on NTA. You should tune in." As I narrated
what my dad said to my sister, we both looked at each other and she said,
"So what more conviction do you need." She said as I left, make sure
you go and see her tonight, it is not a phone matter. I did exactly that!
Booked an appointment to see TAL that same evening. Of course she was skeptical
about whether I could swing it but I assured her of the possibility. Once she
gave the go ahead, she called a few contacts including Prof. Bayo Williams
right there and then to let them know they will be hearing from me. Then we
began the journey through her phones... By the time we were done we had over
100 names and numbers. So, 3 weeks to the 3rd of February, I had a date, the
name of a thespian, an edited manuscript still in need of this and that and
contacts of prospective guests! 2 weeks to the event, folks began to sign up to
support the event but we still had not booked a hall. I initially wanted to use
a free hall but those organising another event for TAL had been approved to use
it free at a later date. I tried to pull strings to ensure we got at least a
heavy discount. But by the time my team went to rake the proposed venue, they
gave a NO. We are all about excellence; even though there was no cash down,
quality of service and care of the subject and her guest matter. When my team
chose the high brow hall my question was where will we get the money... We had
been told the hall was booked but something led us to check again barely a week
to the event; not only was the hall available, the allowed payment a day before
(well they didn't have much choice especially when no one else showed
interest). With all the grammar I spoke, we got no discount on the hall. At the
time we were ready for full take-off to print the book and organise the book
launch, no event organiser would have signed on with zero kobo budget! But my
God did it and I was pleasantly surprised.
Particularly, I wish to thank Dame Abimbola Fashola, wife of the super minister! She is one
person who did not question my integrity and that tells me a lot about her faith.
She promptly sent in her comments abot TAL for the book (I had only a
36-72 hour window for those I reached for comments!) and offered support in a
way that gave me confidence. I thank my team at Cares Global Network (CGN) and
I am deeply grateful for the logistic support from WSCIJ.
Please tell me about the book and how you intend to draw the attention of Nigerians to
the book and issues raised in the book?
The book has been planned as a series, Mama TAL's is the second in the series. I hope
that some day we will have Just Sharing by Yemi Osinbajo, Just Sharing by
Abimbola Fashola, Just Sharing by Pat Utomi, Just Sharing by Yusuf Grillo etc.
The issues raised are everyday issues; inspirational issues that would
transform the way we think and live. As Mr. Dele Adetiba said in his comment
published in the book, "She has a point of view on any subject, which is
always an indication of deep thought." The book is her writing and her
writing is her... As you read page by page you would feel her speaking directly
to you. While editing, I actually found myself mimicking her as I read some
parts of the book. It comes alive as you read. Other things you will get to
read in the book that are not directly written by TAL include comments by few
people who know her and the vision that my team and I have for celebrating her!
The Federal or State Government can actually partner with us to make the vision
happen. Other parts of the book not directly written by her include a
well-crafted dedication to all those "reaching for the stars following a
chance meeting with tall dreams", glowing forward by Quintessential Segun
Sofowote, TAL's profile and Tribute to a Living Legend. This is a short poetic
adaptation by me of her yet to be published biography. Some say it doesn't
belong in the book but it is my way of whetting the readers' appetite. The back
page has a photo by one of her photographers. The cover page is the simplest
cover we have had to do but I am glad it came out nicely. These ideas took
months to conceptualise and execute so it was really God's icing on the cake of
our effort to see a great turn out. The media has done a lot to create a buzz
around the event and are gradually catching on to doing same for the book.
JaraTV, TV Continental, Channels TV, Radio One, Vanguard, The Nation, National
Mirror, Voice of Nigeria and a host of others including online media reporters
attended the event. To further draw attention, we intend to do a media review
soon with 10 journalists in attendance, carry out private launches in homes,
event centres, art lounges, corporate offices and schools. Journalists are also
welcome to do independent reviews via their media. Anyone out there is welcome
to contact me or the author for a book signing, private launch event or to
share your story about the book event. I am open to options as bills still need
to be paid and fund raised for her biography.
But what was it about TAL that made you take interest in such a big project?
My husband often wonder why I was so passionate about celebrating Mama TAL. In
2002 following my success at an entrepreneurship course, Mama TAL who had only
just recently met me as a stranger after being matched with her for mentoring,
threw a party for me at her residence. The event was fully sponsored by her;
all I did was to invite my family, friends and my toasters (laughs)! I have
gone ahead to do a number of things with her including giving media publicity
to her school and featuring her students in my television programmes but I
always wanted to celebrate her in a special way. February 3 2016 provided that
opportunity and despite the challenge of inadequate funds, limited time frame
and infightings targetted at cancelling the event, I am glad God made it
possible. I must commend the readers - Mr. Dele Adetiba, Mr. Akin Fatunke and
Mrs. Iretiola Doyle (they had to throw a dice to select what they would read as
time was rather short to have them read the entire book just to figure out what
to read), our able emcee - Mr. Reginald Ofodile who is launching 7 books in
Abuja come 20th of this month, the book reviewer who was ably represented, TK
Okobia who serenaded the guests with an Italian and English presentation, the
saxophonist who saved the day in the absence of the band that never made it to
the event and media practitioners especially for seeing this as a joint
celebration. Despite the initial low response, the buzz created by our company
and the media made the event almost became a jamboree.
Would you say the book launch was a success?
Are you kidding me? What do you think! Of course it was. The media and guests added so
much colour; reports are still coming in from the media and I am doing my best
to capture and archive all... In terms of money not so well. We had a lot of
promises but it would have worked better if those who chose to support did not
lump their financial support with gifts to the author. We bankrolled the event
(excluding the cost of the hall) and I am still trusting that through
donations, we would clear the bill incurred and get set to complete the
biography. If success is measured in Naira then we haven't made money yet but
we ignited a historical celebration that would very well last a lifetime. We
are expecting that those who did not get their copies of the book on the 3rd
will attend the colloquium and celebration planned for Mama TAL on the 25th at
LTV 8 Combo Hall to pick up their copies.
You haven't made money?
(Laughs) Is it expected that I should? Friendship is based on convenience but every
defined relationship is based on commitment and such commitment is bound to
have associative benefits. The benefits of being associated with Mama TAL is
what played out that day. It is why you are interviewing me now. The benefits
of a mid-age global citizen celebrating an elderly international theatre icon
is huge and immeasurable. We minimise the associative benefits when we seek to
only measure it in terms of cash at hand and at bank. Celebrities may not have
come for me but they came for her. As a former producer and presenter on
television and radio and still presently involved in analysing national and
international issues on air, my media contacts dedicatedly participated. Those
I have met through this initiative have expanded my network. Following that
event, which some of my mentees attended, two people invited me to be part of
business opportunities. In 2001 as a result of my commitment to covering and
reporting UNICEF events and child rights issues, I was sponsored to attend a
conference in Thessaloniki, Greece. On February 3, the klieg light was fully
turned on Mama TAL but right in the visible background of the radiant light was
Omolola and all that I stand for. Did you get to see Obama's photo online,
where he was in the background waiting on Mr. Bill Clinton. His assent to the
White House began then.
Tell me about your media house?
Destiny! Don't let CAC come after me o. Though registered in Nigeria as a limited
liability company and in the USA as charity, we have done more of charity
events to inspire people to excel. Money will come... In the last 20 years, I
have done more of building lives and it sure makes me sleep well every night;
the spiritual and emotional reward is gratifying. We started as a magazine for
young people but as we empowered lives, we grew. Today we have a number of
initiatives. Our events arm, ACE Events organised Mama TAL's Book Launch on her
75th Birthday while CGN Books published her writings in book form. Cares Global
Network started as a media and youth development organisation that planned
programmes for young people and published Willows Magazine quarterly but now we
are into much more including counselling those who are hurting from
relationships.
I really want to know if TAL is worth the attention you gave her because most times in
Nigeria, only politicians and well known industrialists get such attention?
It is unfortunate but this line of thought has put me in trouble with some of her
close associates questioning my intention. It is truly sad. That someone is not
a money bag does not mean the person should not be celebrated. Who has
benefited from TAL? The public, her audience, her students, those she mentored;
people like me. We need to change our mindset that the government or some money
bags should be responsible for things like this. What celebration is there in a
politician bankrolling an event like this with questionable funds especially
when it would be seen more as targeted at scoring political points? Not only
have I been questioned for doing this, I have received far less support than I
envisaged. A bank that had previously given her an award promised to support
but a day to the event, they called to say sorry we only intend to publicly
present her a cake and give her a personal gift! So the event is only good
enough as a publicity stunt! Individuals did the same. We would have had a
bigger and better event if rather than query why, many who truly wish to
celebrate this icon rose up to the occasion and supported the event. Guess what
Mrs Doyle did, a day to the event she connected me with someone at Multichoice.
On d-day Multichoice did not only visit her at home to do their own thing, Jara
TV crew arrived early and were one of the few who cared to interview me. TVC
did the same, they called to clarify time and made it there early. A woman who
has been acting for over 40 years and still rocks the stage is worthy of a
national celebration not when her eyes are closed in death but now that she can
truly see how well she is loved.
How did you acquire the skills of a biographer, were you formally trained?
Biographers are writers who use journalistic skills and research to gather information on
people of interest and translate it into intriguing work of creative
nonfiction. Information is gatherd about the subjects from primary and
secondary sources to ensure accurate representation of the subjects.
If I was asked this question on the fly, I would have looked lost, not because answers
are far fetched but because being a biographer is not something I set out to do
or formally trained for. It is an assignment that fell on me. But am I
qualified; very well so! My first formal job was with a television station as a
programme officer. With no one interested in covering children and related
issues, I added news reporting and voice opinions to my assignment. While
studying at Ohio University where I earned two masters degrees - international
affairs (majoring in communication and development) and education (majoring in
cultural studies), I worked in the prestigious Alden Library, at the department
that research and archive the history of benefactors and people of interest to
the school. By virtue of my training in development, I am a researcher. I have
also had the privilege of teaching American and Nigerian History. Writing has
been in my blood, only it took me a while to fully own it. As far back as while
I was at Federal Government College Odogbolu, I wrote a book which never got
published but remains the genesis of my journey in writing and publishing.
"Teenage Blunders" was handwritten and girls had to visit my corner
to read it. It had “Not to be taken away” inscribed on or by it. Also, I was a
member of the Press Club. It was a very picky club where you go through
interviews to join. After being admitted, my beat was to research, write and
edit news stories, present news and anchor the "Do you know that..."
column for the school magazine, Pen Point. This column was steeped in research.
While at Odogbolu, I won prizes for being the best in Literature in English.
Many thanks to Mr. Atiba and Mr. Akinola. While at Ogun State University (now
OOU, but I went to OSU), I also won an inter-versity debate by Philosophy
students which took place at UNILAG. You are really taking me down memory
lane... I should keep this interview script for when it is time to write my own
autobiography. I used to write for Vanguard, I still write commemorative
stories for Punch Newspaper. As part of my education in the field of public relations,
I was part of a group that gathered stories from the Athens community,
researched same and carried out projects. I was popular for writing rejoinders
in Athens OH. Whenever there was bad press about Nigeria, the editors were
bound to hear from me. In my hay media days I interviewed the likes of Amb.
Christopher Kolade, Mr. Dele Momodu, The Vinesong, Chief Segun Olusola...
Perhaps I haven't said this, I have written 10 books of different genres. So, I
am very qualified to take on biographies.
Critics have often described biographies as equally fictitious, a selected tale that an
author wants people to know because of his or her sense of achievement, and
thus a biographer shouldn't be relied upon because it only presents the
protagonist in a positive light, and may want to ignore the unpalatable aspect
of the protagonist's life for instance, if the protagonist has been a thief.
What would you say to this?
There is no hiding the fact that many biographies fall short which is why biographies
should not really be commissioned by the subject. If I am paying you to write
about me, even if I let you dig up the dirt, I may consider swaying the
semantics to favour me. How do you tell the story of a protagonist who was
raped and has a living child from the experience? How do you tell the story of
a protagonist who had been wrongly detained in SARS without eliciting some
error in judgement from readers... It is for a reason biographies are written
when the antagonist has advanced in age and career and have nothing to lose
from facts being written. Presently a biographer is in court for revealing too
much from a commissioned biography. Who took him to court? The protagonist who
unfortunately also commissioned the work. This is one of the reasons I was
skeptical about discussing money with Mama TAL. By raising the funds, there
would be a measure of objectivity in how the story is told. I have also asked
myself whether her story should be written as a tell-it-as-it-is biography or
adapted as a creative nonfiction fused with fictional element just to stem the
tone which is what I did with the narrative in her book.
Some have argued that it is not possible for the protagonist to remember everything that
has happened in his or her life accurately even after selecting only the
enterprising things they want the readers to know and thus, a biography cannot
be reliable or objective. What is your reaction to this?
Some of the things I have shared with you are things your questions brought to the
fore. This explains why biographies are not written in a hurry. I visited Mama
TAL again and again asking the same question in different ways. I have the
shell for her bio but I have a long list of people I still need to speak to. A
biography is not an interview where the subject tells you what is and you put
it down and publish, no. It is grounded in research, you have to talk to people
that were part of the person's life, travel to places the subject have been -
school, community, village etc. Look through the person's archive, collect letters,
documents etc. It also explains why biographies are expensive. To ensure I
didn't do a shoddy job is why I decided to compile her writings first and use
that as a bridge to her biography. I have her story as she told it to me but a
biography is much more.
What was writing the book like and did you have any spectacular experience during the
course of writing this book?
Just Sharing by TAL is a compilation of her writings. What I did with that was more
of editing. They were previously written as time bound articles to reflect
current happenings then. I had to change the language and make it relevant for
all times still you could see through the seasons she wrote them. Her biography
is yet to be published. The spectacular experience for me was digging into the
history of a high profile subject. This was a first hand experience for me. The
biographies I researched and archived at Ohio were of people who were late or I
had no connections with. This is someone I have interacted with for years...
Now I have to figure out how to plug what may appear as absences.
What books have you read and how did these books help or contribute in honing your
writing skills?
A lot of books! The day Prof. Yemi Osinbajo visited our home, he was fixated on my book
shelf. I am a reader and you know what they say about readers being leaders. My
last book was John Maxwell's TEAM, a 2-in-1 665 page book. I have audio books
on compact discs and books on my phone. When I am on long distance trips, I
listen to books when I am driving or read when I'm being driven. Secrets of
Successful Writers, How to Write a New York Times Bestseller, Writing a Novel
and Portable MFA in Creative Writing are few of the books in my library. To
give me a wider worldview, I read across genres. I have taken and continue to
take online courses in writing. To help others, I teach creative writing and
self publishing classes.
Which book would you describe as your most memorable book you've ever read and
why?
How Europe Underdeveloped Africa. It has stayed with me but I have learned to
forgive the past as a way of healing the future. However, it is sad that many
still sign up for letting the west call is underdeveloped and determine our
mode and measure of development... Let me not get into that.
What should Nigerians be expecting from you in the nearest future?
Why Nigerians? (Laughs) Do you want to box me into being a local champion? Didn't
you hear me refer to myself as a global citizen; I am globally relevant and
hope that my writings would touch the world. What to expect? Lots of content
via all mediums and many more books. I am looking at launching 10 books... I
have done small-scale family and friends book presentations of my work; my goal
has been more of sharing my work and eliciting comments and constructive
criticisms rather than raking in millions but at this point that won't be a bad
idea. I look forward to the endorsement of some of my work so they could become
required reading in schools. The book titled UNCUT, with 100 poems, was
reviewed by Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Mr. Stanley Danjuma Ighalo. I have about
10 blogs with original writings. One is for mature singles - www.dckiss.blogspot.com
and we have thousands of readers from all over the world. Another is focused on
news and issues I advocate about - www.ou-journal.blogspot.com. I have
notes on Facebook and I recently began to write on LinkedIn as well. I am
working on having a full fledged website that will archive all my writings. I
don't only write, I speak and sing. I have been invited nationally and
internationally, in and outside the church and academia, to speak on different
issues. I was recently on TV Continental to dissect President Buhari's Media
Chat. I will be speaking to singles at the RCCG Lagos Province 19 Berean Centre
in Ogudu on St. Valentine's Day. My family is now used to waking up to find me
writing or researching... I really do miss my residence in the USA; I reside in
a serene area of Englewood in New Jersey that afford me the ambience I needed
for writing.
There is a lot to expect, God giving me life and grace. My vision is to touch lives and
I continue to do it through writing, speaking, counselling and singing. I don't
do a lot of public singing these days but I was in the Church Choir for 20
years and served as Manager for 6team, a gospel band, at some point. I am
taking down many of my materials which were available free online and
translating them into handy books. There are books for everyone. I have
published two books on Kindle and hope to do more. With successfully spinning
Mama TAL's book launch I would start work on having a mega launch of my books.
But whether I do that soon or later, be sure to grab a copy of my already
published works via www.writeyos.webs.com. If you
are interested in writing, you need not look far for a guide, buzz me via this
link or @AnneMuyiwa on Twitter.
Please note that excerpt from this interview was first published in National Mirror
under Arts & Lifestyle on 12.02.2016. The full excerpt appeared first on OU Journal.
The interview was conducted online by Isiguzo Destiny, February 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment