Literary prizes do not define a writer’s worth – Olarewaju

Goodness Olanrewaju Ayoola hails from Osun State, Nigeria.
His poetry has appeared in numerous poetry journals.
He has won several poetry awards.
Goodness is presently a teacher of English.
In this interview, Olarewaju talks about his poetry, his debut poetry collection ‘Meditation’ and sundry issues.Writers often find their backgrounds and experiences reflected in the subject-matter of their works.
What level of influence does yours have on your creative works, especially your new book? Often times, I tell people that it is not a mistake to say that a poet‘s life is known through his/her poetry due to these two observable factors.
A poet’s weaves dangle between the balances of both factors.
He or she is first the poetry in the poetry.
I must confess that all of my works, most especially the ones in my new book ‘Meditations’, are birthed through my every day experiences (individual or collective) and of course my background (my parents are ministers of God) input cannot also be denied not to have influenced my poetry, it is always a recurring decimal.
If I must place a percentage on the level of Olarewaju these in my works, I will say 80%.
Your poetry has been described as a crossover between the traditional and liberal poetry.
How true is this? Yes, this is very true.
I think I would rather describe it as ‘experimentation’ in the words of Sir Phunso Oris, whose mentorship has been of an immense value to my poetry in every respect.
I always learn to appreciate more of traditional poetry from Madam Brigitte Poirson whose constant encouragement is also an indelible impact.
My interest in liberal poetry fueled more when I became friends with Adewale Oreshade on Facebook.
Interestingly, with these experiences, I have come to know that poetry can be experimented through various forms or styles and of course balancing my art in both.
Aside poetry, what other genres of literature do you write? I write either poetic prose or poetic drama….
Do you have any poets or writers that you looked up to as a writer, people that influenced your craft? Yes, I have poets that have influenced my craft, talk of Prof Niyi Osundare.
Phunso Oris, Brigitte Poirson, Abani Buragohain, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, Adewale Oreshade, Eriata Orhibabor, Nana Arhin Tsiwah, Aremu Adebisi and a whole lots of other wonderful poets on my friends list.
Literary prizes are often seen as a measure of a writer’s worth, especially in Nigeria.
What is your take on this? Have you won any in the course of your long writing career? As much as this sounds as a necessary portfolio any writer would want to kind of achieve, it will be parochial to think that literary prizes are the ultimate in defining a writer’s worth.
I personally consider that participating in literary competitions is not about winning or losing (as the case may be).
I see it as an avenue to share one’s thoughts with a new audience, get one’s art challenged, most importantly, for the purpose of growth.
I am often disappointed when I see writers who lose out in literary contests slump into arms of discouragement, which is not to be so.
As for literary prizes, I will say I have been privileged to win some.
When did you start writing creatively? And what gave you the conviction to keep at it, leading to publishing a book? I started writing creatively when I was in my JSS3.
My first poem was written for an NGO, African Children Voices, (I can’t really remember what I wrote), my coordinator then, Kola Obadimu Jnr, saw it and commended me.
He was the first to call me a poet and I can say that was the beginning of my conviction.
I launched into writing since then and I kept myself assured that someday I would get published.
I have been privileged to participate in both local and international poetry platforms online and have also got to meet people (online and offline) who read my works

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