Tisha Mohammed:
From Sociology to screen
PLUS
Bookshelf: Why I wrote ‘You Are Not a Feminist’
I think that a woman belittles and somehow limits herself when she calls herself a feminist. That is not to say I am ignorant of the challenges women face all over the world
Bookshelf: You recently released a collection of poems, ‘You Are Not a Feminist. What inspired such a title?
Pokyes Kavwam: In this collection, I add my voice to the narrative on feminism. I think that a woman belittles and somehow limits herself when she calls herself a feminist. That is not to say I am ignorant of the challenges women face all over the world. I am very aware of their challenges and I am always against any negative treatment a woman receives simply because she is a woman.
The pain of every girl-child anywhere in the world is my pain. She is not inferior. She matters just as much as the man matters. Her sex does not in any way suggest a shortcoming of any sort, but rather is a divine gift. It is upon this line of thought that I establish my discourse in the verses of my new collection. I am not an advocate of gender equality. By that, I do not mean equality of opportunities. The woman is not the same as the man and the man is not the same as the woman. That is not in any way a suggestion of one being inferior or superior to the other. All human beings, female or male, should have equal opportunities.
I am however, an incurable advocate of gender equity. There are no two human beings in the universe who are exactly the same, no matter how identical or similar they may be. The differences are a reflection of the innate roles they choose on the stage called life. No role is subservient to the other. No gender comes pre-installed with certain roles that make it superior to the other.
In this new collection, I acknowledge the challenges of the girl-child in a patriarchal society. I acknowledge as well the objectification of the female body in our corporate world. It is no longer news, the ordeals of being a woman in our clime. I also celebrate the being called woman and everything that she is. She is complete in her being and sacred in her manifestation. Every violence against her is against humanity. Her grandeur is unparalleled. What the world calls weak is a delicate creature, whose strength is disguised as weakness. Bookshelf: It is believed that poetry is less attractive to readers in Nigeria compared to other genres. What do you have to say about that? Kavwam: To an extent, that is true. Nevertheless, I am, so far, amazed by the comments I have received from my readers. Some women wrote to say how inspired they were after reading my work. I remember reading in a business conference and a lady met me later to explore possibilities of producing a video of some of the poems. I think our world is growing and enlightened minds are beginning to appreciate the beauty of our condensed pieces. It is the genre of literature that pulls out the beauty in any language. Bookshelf: Do you think the use of poetic devices causes a lack of interest among its audience? Kavwam: I am certain that without the technicalities and use of poetic devices, the beauty of poetry would have been completely lost. The technicality is key. It is the thing that distinguishes it from other kinds of literature. It is the element that determines its structure and formation. The use of literary devices, on the other hand, is the cosmetology of poetry. It is to poetry what beauty products are to a woman. It is to poetry what ingredients are to a sumptuous meal. It is to poetry what painting, landscaping and furnishing are to a building. It is so key that without it, a piece of poem would be like a full-grown man running out of his house naked. He is formed, but he is not dressed. These two, technicality and the use of poetic devices, give poetry its uniqueness and beauty. Bookshelf: For how long have you been writing and what is your motivation?
Kavwam: I started writing during my senior secondary school days, precisely in 2000. I became committed to writing when I got to college for an NCE programme in English and French.
My main motivation for writing has a lot to do with the fact that the power of wellcrafted words resonates a lot with me. I find in the pages of iconic works of literature, the realities of people from everywhere in the world. It helps me understand the world and ignites my abhorrence for societal ills. I