Poets Talk: 5 Questions with Fatima Adamu

Richard Ali + Fatima Adamu. Listen to the interview here.

What is the process of writing a poem like for you? Is it a lot of hard work or easy?

Fatima Adamu: The process of writing a poem for me can be very natural. I start writing from my heart, especially when I see a topic or issue that I can relate to. When I feel connected to it, my emotions just flow and I express myself easily.

However, it goes two ways. The second way is when I’m given a topic to write about, and it doesn’t really connect with me. That’s when it becomes harder to write! For example, I once had to write a poem about road construction, and it was challenging because I couldn’t relate to it as much. But when I was given a topic about motherhood, something I could relate to more, it came easily. I’ll share the spoken word performance I wrote for road construction workers.

Please describe your sense of identity in this or any possible world in imagery or metaphor?

Fatima Adamu: When I write poetry, my sense of identity comes through the world of imagery. I like to imagine situations and feelings, and I try to connect with them deeply. Sometimes, I also use a little bit of metaphor here and there to add layers to my work.

Fatima Adamu

If any of your poems could literarily save a person’s life, which poem would it be and can you describe the person whose life you think it would have saved?

Fatima Adamu: I believe that the one of my poems that could save a life is the one I wrote about rape and its effect on women. In this poem, I talk about the pain, the trauma, and the emotional scars that come with it. By raising awareness through this poem, I believe it could save every woman’s life in one way or another. When we bring attention to such issues, it can go a long way in helping others. I have others on body-shaming, the death of a loved one, on school bully, on suicide, and more. I like to think that my poems go to the heart of social issues and can be redemptive.

What does Africa mean to you, as potential or reality?

Fatima Adamu: Africa, to me, is a place of peace and power. It’s a continent full of people with deep values and a unique identity that sets us apart from the Western world. I love the idea of Africa because it’s home. We share values that unite us no matter where we come from on the continent. Our beautiful skin color, our traditions, and our sense of community make us who we are.

Could you share with us one poem you’ve been most impressed or fascinated by? Tell us why and share favorite lines from it.

Fatima Adamu: I would to share the text of my spoken word performance, I Want To LIve. It’s centred on rape victims and is meant to be a call for justice. It is quite self-explanatory.

Do I veritably want to live?
Hearing about my sister's horrific fizzle made me very scared
She was blamed for her adversity
WHY???
"She wasn't covered enough," they say;
But I was wearing a full-length hijab
I kept wondering where I must've gone wrong

Reminiscing another sister's exploitation,
She was shamelessly accused of tempting her tormentor because she went out of her house at "night"—9:00pm
But I was in my very own home, inside my very own bedroom and on the bed that was supposed to be my solace; my sanctuary,
The very bed I find peace in and repose like a baby with no care in the world became a place I never want to remember

Some say I shouldn't tell my story
I shouldn't seek for a break
WHY???
Because the monstrous beast couldn't control his "desire"
I kept wondering if espoused women have perished into distinction or better still if the red-lipsticked punters with skimpy skirts waiting for patrons at night are no longer existing

Why an innocent toddler of just two months old?
Why any woman?
Why any human even?

The animal deserves to die in anguish, a worthless and excruciating death that will avail as a palladium to any other man/human thinking of a woman/human other than his lawfully wedded companion

I heard others whispering that it's because I was a stranger in the neighbourhood; but what happened to a father vulturine severally on his very own flesh and blood?
What happened to that undeserving uncle?
I call all that monsterism;
The most agonizing thing is he is living freely amongst us all
If you ask me, I'll say: Such a grotesquery doesn’t deserve to ever breathe!

I only want to live if fair shake lives
We want to live
We want JUSTICE
Adjudicated for that hijabi, for that baby in her diapers, for that sister in the church, for that 7-years old sent to hawk at delicate hours of the night and raped severally,
We don't want that uncle who destroyed the innocence of his innocent niece to spend two months or years in jail. We want him to suffer for the rest of his life!
That will be the only compensation for the agonizing cries, for the lifetime nightmares, for the deep wounds etched into our humanity and souls
For all the grievances, a grieve punishment that'll serve all