Writers urged to please nobody

Professor Adamu Kyuka Usman has urged writers not be please anybody but themselves with their works. 

The professor of law who has authored more than 40 books said writers risk losing what they stand for if they embark on a journey of pleasing people with their works. 

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He said, “Part of Africa’s problems is that they are not themselves. Some people will rather be anybody aside from themselves so that kind of inferiority complex interferes with your thinking process and how you see the phenomenon and relate with it.”

The author said he is fearless in his writing. “Bivan’s House was banned in ABU because of some controversial things. I am courageous with my works because, eventually, you will die and when you have wrong principles, what happens to your works? If Fela had sung to please people, where will he be today after his death?”

He said he did not pick a pen name out of fear of not being able to connect with his inner genius, “when Fela decided to do away with Ransome Kuti and picked Anikulapo Kuti, it looked quite superficial but very profound. There is a way these things will connect you to your genius.”