Eight questions for Lilo

AWAAL GATA poses eight questions to Mujaheed Ameen Lilo, a 17-year old award-winning writer, on his oeuvres and dreams

When did you start writing and how did it begin?
I wrote my first poem when I was in primary school. I read a poetry collection and was pinched by the instinct to try something like what I read.  It was titled “Nigeria’s Problems.” It took me two days to finish it because I wanted every word to rhyme.  As for stories, I can’t actually remember my first story. But I know I started with writing my own version of some of the stories from  Magana Jari Ce or folktales.
What successes have you achieved as a writer and what are your long time literary dreams?
Well, thanks be to God, I have won awards in virtually all the genres I write in: the Wole Soyinka Award (essays) ; the BUK Creative Writers’ Contest (poetry); Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors (fiction). Apart from these, my works have found home in newspapers and literary journals and anthologies. And most importantly, the biggest award which is audience. I feel It is something to write something and have people that not only read but also love them.
My literary dreams are to write works that will contribute to national and  global development.
Your chapbook is about to be published, how do you feel about it?
Indeed it is thrilling. The journey from being a  writer to being an author, to have a published work to one’s name.
How supportive have your parents been to your writing? 
I have their one hundred percent support. I have their prayers, and that is all that matters.
How often do you read?
Everyday. The thing is, I never allow a day slip into another without reading something no matter how engaged I am. Like now that I have so many things to do, I try to read from the books on my table, an essay or two from Achebe’s Hopes and Impediments or Zadie Smith’s Feel Free or Teju Cole’s Known and Strange Things. Or Gimba’s Once Upon a Reed.
Which are your favourite books and writers and why ?
All Chimamanda’s books for their descriptive prowess and lucid prose. Born on a Tuesday, because of the narrator and the fact that it is what I have  always wanted to read. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri for the elegance of the stories. Consequences Of Love, a great love story.  Favourite writers: Ben Okri and Chigozie Obioma for their poetic narrations. Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for his fine prose. Rasaq Malik for his soul-stirring poems. Achebe and Adichie for their great novels and thoughtful essays. Sada Malumfashi and Hauwa Shafii for their beautiful nonfiction. Yiyun Li and Junot Diaz, I love their short stories. Khaled Housseini, Khalil Gibran, Umar Abubakar Sidi and many others.
How has your meeting with Soyinka given a boost to your writing ?
Smiles. Meeting Soyinka has given  me more readers and that’s encouraging and it has attracted the attention of Barr. Ishmael Ahmad, senior special assistant to the president on Social investment that he gifted me a laptop with which I’m now completing my manuscripts. And most importantly, the mentorship and words of wisdom the laureate gave us.
What challenges do you have as a writer?
I just need a conducive environment to write in. I need a residency.

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