Introducing Mr. Olatubuson David, a member of Nigeria Centre of PEN
After the online annual meeting of TLRC, the Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee of International PEN, held in June 2021, Mr. Olatubuson David - David - reached out to me online. We agreed that I make a remote interview with David.
PEN Nigeria
PEN Nigeria is an affiliate of PEN International (International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists).
About David
David is 40 years old. He lives in Nigeria at the location Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. David speaks Ekiti, Yoruba and English languages. He has a Higher National Diploma (HND). David works as an Office Manager in Achievers Universiti, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
David, could you unfold a bit please: What is Achievers University, and exactly what do you do?
David: Achievers University, Owo, is one of the leading private Universities in Nigeria. Established in 2007/2008 academic session, the University is located at Idasen area of Owo in Owo Local Government, Ondo State, Nigeria.
I am presently, a Confidential Secretary (Office Manager) in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
Presently, the Governing Council of the University has approved free tuition for the first three academic sessions in the following programmes:
i. B.Sc. Accounting
ii. B.Sc. Business Administration
iii. B.Sc. Economics
iv. Political Science
v. Public Administration
vi. B.Sc. Sociology
vii. B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry
viii. B.Sc. Biochemistry
ix. B.Sc. Geology
x. B.Sc. Plant Science and Biotechnology.
More information about other Programmes and Courses offered by the University can be obtained in the University website. Read about the University here/.
David: Even though
poetry had been part of me from the childhood, I can say I started writing
poems in the year 2008. That time, I wrote few poems and stopped. Then,
sometimes around 2011 the urge to write came again and I embraced it.
Generally, my works (Drama and Poetry) are informed by my immediate environment. What I see, what I feel, what I hear, the happenings - good or bad. I don't refrain myself to a particular form of writing. I write generally as given by the wind. So my works address many areas, such as moral decadence, political corruption, oppression, needs to be altruistic, peace, etc.
Meanwhile,
there are a good number of established poets locally and internationally, whose
works influence my writings. People like Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Niyi Osundare,
Dike Chukwumerije, Mbizo Chirasha (Zimbabwean poet), Folu Agoi (the President
of PEN, Nigeria Centre), Tony Marinho (a columnist in The Nations Newspaper),
Sola Owonibi (the author of Homeless not Hopeless), Sunday Afolayan (the author
of Beyond the Silent Grave), Demola Jolayemi (the author of Ode to Winnie
Africa: Reminiscent Sonnets), etc.
David: There is nothing as good as to be in the midst of the like minds. People who share same vision - to liberate the world, through the weapons of words and truth, from the shackle oppression, suppression, hatred, and to give hope to the world because poets are angels of consolation to the sorrowing world.
I should also state that it is the dream of every writer to be heard by the larger society when speaking. There is no joy in speaking while no one is listening. There is no joy in writing to an empty audience. PEN provides that opportunities, to write, to read and be read, with the fact that, in the great Association, the right of every member is protected.
How would you in general terms describe the position or status of Nigeria PEN in the Nigerian society?
David: The Nigerian Centre of PEN International is a very active one. PEN Nigeria became affiliated to PEN International on November 21, 2001 at the congress held in London and since then, there has been a continuous and rapid development. For instance, the current Executive Council of PEN Nigeria, elected into office on Saturday, October 7, 2017, has accomplished the following within the first one and a half years in office:
- Giving PEN Nigeria an organisational structure, and bringing it closer to writers and culture enthusiasts;
- Building and sustaining a vibrant digital presence with a top-notch website, Instagram, Facebook, Periscope, Twitter, etcetera;
- Initiating regular physical and online meetings and readings to carry all members along and drive membership;
- Publishing books/anthologies;
- Participating in all PEN International events by organising seminars/workshops, conferences, et cetera, with sufficient media coverage.
Also, as it applies internationally, the Centre replicates the following Standing Committees:
1. Women Writers Committee (WWC)
2. Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee (TLRC)
3. Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC)
4. Writers for Peace Committee (WfPC)
You yourself is an active member of the TLRC (Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee) of PEN International. Why is that, what do you think about languages, what would you like to achieve?
David: Thank you. This is a cluster of two questions and sincerely, it is a burden in my heart that my folks value the use of languages--especially, local languages.
Now, to answer the first question about what I think about languages; we may need to make a brief allusion or digress a little to the history of Babel, as written the Holly Books. As a matter of fact, peace and love would rule the world if everyone understands the beauties inherent in the diversity of tongues. One of the reasons why God created man (mankind) is that He wanted them to spread upon the face of the earth; but when man rebelled against this purpose, the Holy Books made us to know that God brought diversity to their language. Meanwhile, God didn't do that to torment or harm them. He only did that to show man that nothing can stop or change His purpose in life. But also, He did that so that man could adequately appreciate the beauty of His work and fear Him. The diversity of tongues is supposed to be blessing to the world in disguise but instead of appreciating this, man has grossly abused it.
Again, the world is becoming one again through the adoption of some languages which we now use globally, as general languages, as applicable to countries. For instance; in this part of the world (Nigeria) where we have no common indigenous language to bring our diversity of tongues together, the received English Language from the Colonial rulers has become a mediator for us; hence, the need to learn it if one truly desires to excel in his/her interpersonal relationship with others tribes as citizens. We do all we can to use this general language. But here is where problem looms; the majority of parents who use the English Language no longer communicate with their wards in their own indigenous languages, with the aim of making the children versed in the use of English. Writers too don't write in their indigenous languages. The effect of this is that, non English users are left in the dust. The beauties of our many cultures and local languages as well, are gradually disappearing, and this must be prevented. Many thanks to the few writers who are actually making efforts to do that. Only the few write in indigenous languages. I am almost guilty of this; but I was able to wake up on time. I communicated with my children in English too in the past; but now, I am happy, they now speak Yorùbá, even though they speak it in the tone of a foreigner. With time, they will master it.
The second question; as Translation and Linguistic Rights Committee; we seek, among many others, to integrate non English users into reading culture. We seek to bridge the gap and stand as mediators between these groups of people by translating texts into Nigerian indigenous languages for them so that they too can access them. We are in the quest to ransom our indigenous languages from the grip of extinction. Hence we also seek to develop literacy projects in endangered languages.
David: Thank you. And lest I forget, we have the following Uniform Resource Locators (URLs): Facebook, here/. Instagram, here/. YouTube, here/. Twitter, here/. Periscope, here/. Website, here/. Email 1: here/. Email 2: here/.
Articles from my personal Danish PEN blog here/.
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