Stories as an Umbrella of Diversity and Ease to the Chaotic Mind: A Conversation With Chukwuebuka Ibeh

Uchenna Emelife

Chukwuebuka Ibeh is a Nigerian Writer. His short stories have appeared in McSweeneys, Charles River Journal, New England Review of Books, Clarion Review, Lolwe and elsewhere. He was longlisted for the 2017 Awele Creative Trust Award and was a finalist for the 2019 Gerald Kraak Prize.

In this conversation, Chukwuebuka talks about his "The Ache of Longing" (shortlisted for the Gerald Kraak Prize), the power of stories and writing in general with our interviewer, Uchenna Emelife.

How would you describe your discovery of the art? Did writing find you or you found it?

“I have a chaotic mind — always thinking, always observing, always imagining what could possibly be going on in the heads of people.”

I can't recall. This is probably cliche, but I have been interested in stories -listening to them and most importantly, telling them- for as long as I remember. I was the child who read newspapers and dictionaries just for want of something to read. I read the bible from cover to cover- to the delight of my parents and church leaders, whereas I was really just drawn to the human stories contained in them. I think writing for me was something I did earlier on in response to what I was reading. I vaguely remember being dissatisfied with most of the stories in the bible and crafting alternative scenarios for them. My mom tells me I used to have a notebook filled with different stories which were basically retelling of their originals. When did I come to realise writing was something I wanted to do seriously? Probably as a young teenager.

I remember reading Purple Hibiscus in junior secondary school and just knowing right there in my dusty school library, that I wouldn't rise well until the day I die if I didn't at least try to replicate something as gorgeous.

Ultimately, like the novelist Zadie Smith, I have what I like to think is a chaotic mind- always thinking, always observing, always imagining what could possibly be going on in the heads of people. Writing this down, I suppose, is how I get to retain my sanity.

Beautiful.
Why do you think stories are important and why do you tell them?

“Stories help us to understand that at the core of our existence in any part of the world, we are similar in so many ways than one.”

Because what better way to 'see' people than to hear their story? Stories help us to understand that at the core of our existence in any part of the world, we are similar in so many ways than one. Stories foster empathy, which is one quality I wish every human would embody. I couldn't agree more with the quote by Jhumpa Lahiri -whom I simply adore- about stories making you travel without moving your feet.

I tell stories for the same reason.

I mean, who better to tell my story, the story of my people than me?

And also because, as I earlier said, I'm trying not to go crazy. Haha.

Haha. I don't think anyone wants that. So keep telling your story.

What's your definition of a good prose?

Any prose that makes me forget. Any prose that makes me feel without trying too hard.

I knew I was in love with the work of Raymond Carver when I nearly missed a stop once while reading "Kindling". A good prose for me is one with all the right elements- style, plot, tone, language. I have a fondness for writing that pays attention to language.

As a fond reader of your prose, I must commend the careful attention you yourself place on language. Safe to say then it is exactly all these you replicate in your writing.

Thank you Uche.

Your Gerald Kraak Prize story retitled "The Ache of Longing" by Lolwe is such a sad, beautiful story. I particularly love the character development of the protagonist, the upatronising language, and how the plot just flows like a breath of fresh air.

Do you mind sharing the background? What was the writing process like and what inspired the story?

Thank you Uche. The idea for the story came to me in 2017. I was in my first year at the university. I think it materialized from a personal sense of longing too. For some reason, I hated the university and terribly missed my family, and because i couldn't communicate with them as much as I wanted to, I spent a lot of time thinking about them. Around the time, I had discovered the work of the American short story writer Raymond Carver, and had simply come to adore him. I think I must have read every single thing of his available on the internet at the time, but my favourite was a story called 'Kindling' about a lonely man whose wife had just left him for someone else and who rents a room in the apartment of a young couple (to create a distance with the familiar, I suppose, and slowly heal). I was moved by the story and haunted by the lead character Myers. Actually the first line of my second paragraph was culled from the first line of Carver's.

A friend of mine also joked once about making prank calls as a child for fun. Which I found funny but also interesting.

I remember just sitting in my room at the hostel and looking across me, at my lead character. He seemed so real, I could picture him, and I knew I had to at least try.

The first draft came easily, and then later drafts were more painstaking. I wanted to explore the idea of connection beyond physical meeting. I also wanted to interrogate the idea of coming out, but not in the conventional sense we're used to. And of course the concept of loneliness which I personally related to at the time.

The idea of loneliness reminds me of Adichie’s short story "Ghosts" where the lead character is a retired professor like yours who lost most of his family to the war. He faces life alone in a post-civil war Nigeria, constantly musing about his dead spouse whom he is convinced still visits him.

Did that also inspire "The Ache of Longing" in any way?

I have read the story. Certainly loved it in the way I love all things Adichie. I think it might have also inspired it- but mostly the events surrounding my lead character's life. The idea of nightly visits from a dead spouse though is actually one I sort of personally relate to (not me obviously, haha).

Haha.
What do you do when a new story idea emerges in your head? Lead me through your writing process.

Story ideas for me emerge from the oddest places- an overhead conversation, personal experience, a movie, a book.

I find that I sometimes read books and detect aspects of the story that was left unexplored, and I am curious enough to want to explore them myself. Sometimes, the story comes to me in it’s full form- plot, style, language. It’s easier to work this way. Mostly though, the ideas swirl in my head for days and all the while, I give myself one hundred reasons why the story is ridiculous and would not work, so what’s the point of trying? And then, I finally make peace with the fact that I can’t avoid it. So I type in a few sentences, and a few and a few. I love to work at night when it’s quiet, and my thoughts are more organised and I am sleepy. So I promise myself to type in a few more sentences before I go to bed, and a few more and a few more.

Do you experience writer's block? What do you do to overcome it?

“I go back to read previous stories of mine that have been doing well relatively.”

I do. There are long stretches of time when I sit there and try and try and hate myself for trying and for thinking I could do it. I wish there was something to be done to 'overcome it' (please share any tip you might have). Mostly, I let it pass. To feel better, I reach out to friends and seek comfort in the books I love. Also, this might sound self-obsessing, but I go back to read previous stories of mine that have been doing well relatively, if only to remind myself that I did this. Therefore, I can’t be that terrible.

I don't think it is self-obsessing. You're simply reminding yourself that this was you, so what's your excuse now? Haha.

You’re an alumnus of the acclaimed Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop. What effect has it had on your writing? I would like to also hear your opinion on whether or not workshops are necessities for budding creatives seeking mastery of the arts.

“Workshops are important but, like MFAs, are not the ultimate yardstick to judge a good writer or not.”

There are too many things being an alum of the workshop has done for my writing, but most significantly, it has provided me with a rewarding community of like-minds, who happen to be the one of the most brilliant people I know, who are ever willing to read your work and provide very honest, very useful feedback. It’s always a relief to know that your work is in good hands.

Workshops are important but, like MFAs, are not the ultimate yardstick to judge a good writer or not. There are quite a number of things a workshop affords one- a close-knit community, recommendations/networking etc, which are wonderful of course, but which can be done without.

No young writer should feel like a failure, or take themselves less seriously simply because they are unable, or not interested in getting into workshops.

Last sentence!
As a writer writing in Nigeria, are you satisfied with the reception of literature in Nigeria?
Or would you board the next plane leaving for abroad once an opportunity presents itself?

“It’s sad that the average Nigerian writer could sell in a year what their counterparts in other parts of the world sell in few weeks.”

No. We’re still not paying as much attention as we should to literature. It’s unfortunate that our economic and social conditions have impacted tremendously on our life, so that bookstores are filled with motivational, self-help and strictly educational texts, as anything else would be considered unnecessary and frivolous. It’s sad that the average Nigerian writer could sell in a year what their counterparts in other parts of the world sell in few weeks.

Let's just say I wouldn't say no if an opportunity presents itself to travel out of the country. I'd always want to return to Nigeria at some point though.

It's really sad. Then if you recall how recently literary artists were almost sidelined in FG's offer of palliatives in the form of research grants to the creative industry and the eventual controversy it sparked, you will further realize how very unappreciated the art is here. Can be discouraging some times.

Exactly.

Who are those African contemporary writers you think everyone should be reading now and why?

Nneoma Ike-Njoku- I read 'The Burial' in 2018 and went in search of everything Nneoma has written. She has a stunningly creative mind. Innocent Ilo made me love speculative fiction. I see him as a force to be reckoned with in no time. Roy Udeh-Ubaka writes unbearably moving prose. Olakunle Ologunro's stories make me laugh so hard, and amaze me in equal measure at how skillful and well thought-out they are. I love Wale Ayinla's poetry. Really, I could go on forever. These people give me hope.

The future of Nigerian literature is in such good hands.

Oh yes, it is.
What’s the best compliment you’ve received on any piece of your writing?

Well, at the literary evening of the Purple Hibiscus workshop, Chimamanda told a roomful of people that she had initially had vague expectations of what my writing would look like, and it was nothing at all like that- in a good way. I remember resisting the urge to do multiple somersaults right there on stage.

The best really was when a friend, a woman, read a work of mine where the protagonist was female, and said it read like something a woman would write. Apparently -and I agree with this- men are often terrible when writing about women. To not come off as terrible when writing about a woman was for me, a big compliment.

Your recent Facebook comment thread with Ebelenna on the same topic comes to mind here. Especially your response to his protest which was quite succinct and eye-opening. So I can understand how you must have felt after that applause.

Are you working on any exciting project you don't mind sharing?

Yes. I’m working on a short story about a love story that develops in the hearth of a thriving community of online scammers. Also making slow progress on the novel.

Sounds interesting. Looking forward.

Thanks so much for granting this conversation, Ebuka. I had a good time.
Thank you Uche. 😊

Check out last conversation with Nigerian writer, Joshua Chizoma. Click here.

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Uchenna Emelife is a journalist, creative writer, content creator, and a literary enthusiast. He has written for Nigeria’s Nation Newspaper, the ICIR, Opinion Nigeria, Minority Africa and Punocracy. A third year student of Literature In English, Uchenna was awarded “Rookie Journalist Of The Year” by the National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ) in 2019 and “Essayist of the year” by the local chapter of the NUCJ and “Campus Reporter of the year” by Pen Press UDUS.

In 2020, he co-pioneered a book club in his school, Book O'Clock UDUS where he reports and writes about books and currently serves as the deputy editor-in-chief of Pen Press UDUS, Programs Director of Minority Africa and the Resource Officer of the Caliphate Arts and Literary Forum.

He tweets @uc_emelife.