Lanre Alfred’s Defence of Celebrity Journalism
Lanre Alfred, Publisher of The Capital and until recently, the “Society Editor” gets this page because of his peculiar writing style and a promising future as a writer. He loves to play with words, and his introductions are heavy with proverbs, parables,
Let’s start with your genre of journalism. Why is it thriving these days?
With due respect, my genre of journalism had always been thriving. It had never suffered a lull. It had always been part of journalism in plain sight. You see, there is a lot about journalism that has to do with celebrity journalism. Celebrity Journalism I would say, represents the kernel of journalism. It projects the essence of what is widely regarded as mainstream journalism. In a nutshell, celebrity journalism had always been mainstream. There is the argument that celebrity journalism only focuses about popular people, the filthy rich and so on but isn’t mainstream journalism all about popular people? Isn’t journalism about popular people? If you take an in-depth look into the philosophy of the five Ws and H of journalism, you would find that, journalism was and is still essentially modelled to perpetuate news about celebrities, the rich, powerful and famous. Journalism basically, is about famous people and people who are extraordinary in some ways thus standing out from the middling crowd. Journalism is also about ordinary people who become famous by doing extraordinary things.
You have been in it for years. Apparently you love it.
Yes, I really do love it.
And you are called the Capone, among your colleagues?
I think that was a sobriquet I picked up along the way doing things the normal way. My normal way to be precise. (laughs) My friends and colleagues are in best position to reveal their reason for calling me ‘Capone.’
Your style of writing is particularly interesting. You start stories with proverbs, parables and commentaries. Why don’t you go straight to the point?
It’s impossible for me to simply go straight to the point. Life is a dance of seduction encompassing every living and inanimate thing into its intricate and sensual weave. So is writing. No living thing or element can live in immunity of that slow, provocative dance of wonder and intrigues that characterises life. I apply similar wisdom to my writing. But let me hold back a bit before I start waxing too esoteric for the purpose of this interview.
I can’t write just for writing sake; I believe every story offers new opportunity to titillate my readers and lure them into the world or event been reported and the artistry of the reporter or writer. It doesn’t matter if the story you read does not bear my byline. It could be a piece I am editing; I simply can’t let a good story go unburnished with the needed shine. Even the most boring happenstance or person deserves to be reported with finesse. Writing should be rapturous to the writer and to the reader, it should be equally thrilling. I write the way I do because that is who I am. Remember, the perfect window into the psyche of a writer is through his writing.
I must say that some of the intros are an interesting read. But they may not be suitable for people in a hurry.
I believe that the man or woman who is too much in a hurry to read hasn’t the temperament or the depth for good literature.
Where do you source your intros from; you read a lot? What are you reading now?
Yeah, I have a crazy reading habit. I love to read the world’s best writers. But right now, I am not reading anyone because I am writing a memoir and a novel at the same time. It’s crazy right. I am deliberately staying off other writers right now because I do not want their voices or inflections to start sneaking into mine as I write.
Can we have a short profile of Lanre Alfred?
Lanre Alfred is one of Nigeria’s most prolific society writers. He is dedicated, even obsessive, about his work even as he loathes the disappointments that at times, come with it. After spells in a variety of magazines, he pitched his tent with ThisDay Newspapers, later resigned to start his online magazine, called The Capital.
This career move marked a period of creative rebirth.
A mesmerising maestro of the written word, a formidable journalistic sleuth, an extraordinary social animal and a warm, humane visionary. Lanre is a man of immense personal generosity, lavishing kindness and affection on all who come his way without any ethnic or religious bias. Lanre is an emerald cut. He is an avid reader of biographies, travelogues and a lover of arts
Your kind of stories, don’t they get you into trouble?
Once in a while, they do. I have heard a few sad scary experiences here and there; for instance, there was a Sunday morning that one very popular and filthy rich socialite called me. The lady asked me to stretch out my hands for prayer and promptly I did but I was shocked when she started hauling heavy curses at me instead of prayer. I had to end the call. She later apologised though. In another incident, I was invited over the phone to a party on Victoria Island by one of my presumed friends in high society. When I got to the venue, I realised that it was deserted; I had been set-up. Promptly, I did a cartwheel, punching the security guard at the gate out of the way. I have received death threats from several people over stories I did. Some of them ended up being my friends while many others choose to remain enemies.
How do you source your stories? Some of your colleagues keep long nights at social events and drinking joints for their stories. How much of
sleep do you get?
Few days I get to sleep, I manage to get about three hours of sleep.
Could you have been a detective?
Perhaps. (laughs)
There seems to be proliferation of sorts in your kind of journalism, with obvious recklessness on the part of some publications.
Well, it’s a given in any field. We have quacks in every field of human endeavour but I would rather not say much about the influx of quacks into celebrity journalism lest I ruffle feathers. I do not intend to court vitriol from unsavoury quarters.
Talk briefly about The Capital. You also have a mag?
The Capital advances unbiased and fact-based journalism keeping in mind the need to satisfy the needs of Nigeria’s upscale, intelligent and sophisticated demographic. The magazine seeks to fill a void created by the dearth of news and literature markedly representative of contemporary business, industry and political titans. The Capital thus seeks to record the most incisive and fascinating happenstances while featuring media fare about highflying corporate and celebrity entities.
You look so quiet and gentle, incapable of writing the kind of explosive stories you write.
That is simply the way Lanre Alfred is cut out to be. (laughs). I am actually a very private fellow. I have a very close circuit of friends. And I think I attract like minds. On writing explosive stories? Well, we’ve all got a bit of thunder in us.
You have written books?
I have written books. And I am still writing books. I am working on my memoir at the moment. There is this novel I am working on too.
How do you write? Any rituals, habits you must indulge in before you start writing?
I have an eclectic writing habit. But I love a bit of serenity most of the time. Yet, you would be amazed to see me scribbling away in the midst of some mad noise. Well, eclectic best defines my writing culture. (grins)
Sketch the profile of Nigeria’s wealthy class in a sentence.
They are gods of small things living in a bauble. Apology to Arundhati Roy.