'The terrific lessons life has taught me...', Blessing Kolajo: two-time Oyo state BECE accredited author

Blessing Kolajo is a chap who believes in creating and building the world she desires with her little effort while many, sometimes casually, lament transitioning into adulthood. However, the reality of our cruel world face-slammed her when she set out as a writer in her undergraduate days. Like Nelson Mandela, she is the few that paid the price for the freedom of many. Today, she is a two-time Oyo state accredited author and Oyo state BECE accredited author, a feat many who have been in the game are yet to achieve. But how did she get past the hurdles to achieve this? Find out about it and more in this interview with Yamilenu Bamgboye. Enjoy!

How did your foray into the literary world begin?

Growing up I admired several literary stars, the likes of Niyi Osundare who inspired my first poetry anthology and Chimamanda Adichie. However, they were just feelings of admiration, authors and writers felt like small gods, and as a small girl who came from not so not-so-exposed part of the country, I never thought I could walk that path. When I gained admission into the university, I was lucky to meet people who anchored and discovered my talents and also inspired me to do more. It was all just fun until I moved from the girl who just wanted to write and get people to read her works, to the writer girl ferociously chasing literary dreams. The first poem I published on the internet was under this platform if I remember carefully sometime around 2016 and it was a huge feat for me back then. I will say that with literature, the universe gave me a little surprise, which I made very good use of and that was how it all started.

Wow, how time flies. You still remember the title?

I can't but I remember the one that made me poet of the week at some point was titled “Broken”

Yeah, you're right.  I think it was about rape if I remember correctly. Many people are yet to have your kind of break in the literary world. Would you say it's just because you're hardworking? And very pushy and deliberate?

Apart from being a writer, I have coached a lot of intending authors over the years and I have discovered a wide range of issues but I will put them under one single umbrella which is  “writers just want to write, they ignore every other thing that can make that writing a success”. Just like every other human endeavour, there are rules associated to whatever aspect of writing, a writer's desire to pursue. There is a business side of writing, marketing side of writing, negotiation side of writing, legal side of writing, distribution side of writing etc

A lot of writers are just fantastic writers: nothing else. Unfortunately, it takes more than that to get something good out of this industry. So, the small success so far for me is not because I am the most hardworking or the best writer; it is because I submitted to teachings, learnt principles and I don’t wait for opportunities to come to me. Instead, I apply and go after opportunities. The most laughable thing any writer should do right now is to stick to the belief that writers shouldn’t market or pitch, I am glad many are breaking free and putting themselves out there but we need more people to be intentional to record more success.

What issues did you encounter before your first major publishing?

Finance! Nigerian publishing houses probably think poetry books are not marketable. Even after securing a state accreditation, a publisher wasn’t forthcoming. That was when I decided to self publish my books, which also came with numerous challenges like distribution.

These are things I really want you to dwell on. You only had a manuscript before Oyo state accredited it for use in schools, how did that happen?

I had a manuscript and I printed a few which I used to run the accreditation process such as state library copies and the ones that was used for the screening process. The market availability of the book is a test that runs after accreditation so I simply pushed a few copies and worked on proper publishing when it was successful

Ooohk. You said books. Like you published more than one at once?

I published a 3 series poetry book titled Raindrops so it was three books for junior secondary school 1,2 and 3 and all were picked for the list so that was a lot of money needed to cater for a state with 33 local government.

How did you get past the finance thing? Did you get support from family and friends or something knowing too well you were still a student?

My parents supported me, I also made alot from coaching poets and selling my ebook guide which I titled The Poetic Magnate. Every month, I took in a minimum of 20 poets for coaching, I think they paid 1000 each then for 4weeks training, and the ebook was mandatory. It wasn’t so much but it went a long way. Although I didn’t start coaching to fund my publishing, I had been on that path even before I started working on Raindrops.

And were you able to supply the whole 33 local government?

Yes, for 3 years. I landed another accreditation with my recent book last year, which makes it four years in a row.

Another poetry book? You must be swimming in money right now.

(Laughs) Yes, it’s a poetry book and it's titled "Loud whispers".  I only have one prose. On the contrary, I didn't self-publish this time. After the success with Raindrops, towards the end of my last year on the state list publishing houses started reaching out to work on another book for the 2023 accreditation year so I just took one of those offers.

Also, was there anytime you looked beyond Oyo state?

Yes, I tried getting my debut novel on NECO list but I was really late for the process and accreditation is another 4years.

Imagine! It really took them that long to believe in a new voice on the block. Isn't that same reason many other writers get rejected?

That is why you cannot put your success in the hands of anyone. It’s human nature to desire proof and result before believing, and you cannot give them that by doing nothing.

Congratulations on your success.

Thank you. 

Do you still run your coaching classes? How profitable has it been?

I don’t run the coaching classes anymore, it takes a lot of time which I don’t have like I used to anymore.

It was BKPW I pressume.

Yes, Blessing kolajo Poetry workshop, a brand I started as an undergraduate. The essence was to encourage growing writers. There is something I hold very close to my heart and that is, whatever you want to see in the world just create it if it's not yet existing or work on creating it. So when I started out as a writer then, I was so confused about many things: how to monetise my work, the platforms to submit to, I mean locally-- African and Nigerian platforms. One thing that is common to up and coming writers is that they all seek validation from platforms, established writers doing well and so on. I craved but I didn't get it because there were not so much places where I could get the encouragement I sought so I thought about starting with what I didn't have and that was the inspiration behind BKPW, to create a platform where budding writers can get engaged and encouraged.

You started BKPP a while back, what birthed that?

BKPP has been existing since 2020 as Bkpw monthly contest and the winning prize was #20,000. It is a part of the things we do. We organise workshops to trainings. At first, I was the only one doing everything but later on, I started a team with volunteers. We do a lot but the contest is the most popular. It's always a two-month thing. I am the convener but I have a team that does the running and ensure every edition comes through. 

The prize (money) you give out, are they from sponsors? If not, do you hope to expand the scope of the competition in future with corporate partnerships?

I have been the sole sponsor, my team members are stakeholders too because they render all sorts of professional services such as graphics design and content writing for free. But last year December, we thought about expanding it and making it better and bigger (and increasing the winning prize to #100,000) because we felt it was time to separate the contest because it was beginning to stand on its own. We also felt it would give people the opportunity to sponsor, participate and partner with us. So yes, the plan is to seek sponsorships and partnerships but we haven't gotten anything substantial yet. Regardless, we have decided to start while we keep working on that, if it does not happen for this edition then it will for the next.

What's adulthood to you?

The great illusion of childhood is that adults have all the power and freedom but the truth is that a child is freer than an adult. Adulthood is simply responsibility, taking responsibility for every single tiny thing I do.

What's that one if-wishes-were-horses thing you have on your plate?

Hmm, if wishes were horses I’d wish to travel the world and explore different cultures, have the ability to speak and understand any language.

How has life treated you in love matters?

Well, for a long time my main priority has been on setting and achieving my goals. I’m grateful that when I finally decided to look towards this angle, I have had pleasant experiences so far. Not to say that I haven’t eaten my own share of breakfast and cold lunch but the good times have been way more than the bad experiences. I’m not married but I’m bubbling in love.

Do you see yourself living on poetry or art full-time?

I currently don’t live on art full time. I’m a practicing lawyer who is specialized in intellectual property. So, I am already living beyond literature.

Why did you choose law?

As a kid, I love the theatrics that came with the profession. Later in my junior school, I met Late Chief Gani fawehinmi on tv during his funeral and the life he had lived and testimonies of many he helped during his lifestyle further inspired me.

Ooohh...that was the turning point for you. What lessons has life taught you?

Humans are built to look after their own interest 100% of the time. When you find selfless ones, hold them tight because they are super humans.

It's also taught me that one can’t figure it all out from the beginning. If you are sure you want something, go for it. No one sees the process and the end except they begin in the first place. Another is that shortcuts are dangerous, most times you end up at the starting point. Pay your dues and follow the process.