The Resurgence of Poetry in Northern Nigeria: A Conversation with Salihu Mahe
Uchenna Emelife
Salihu Mahe is a Nigerian writer. He is an engineer by profession and a poet at night. He writes from the deepest parts of his heart. His writing is often motivated by nature, love, the psychology of human beings, morality and philosophical principles. He believes so much in humanity, peace and unity. His first published chapbook “How to View the World from a Glass Prism”, won Words Rhymes and Rhythms’ Green Author Prize for 2019. His works have appeared in Praxis Magazine, CWC Kongo Issue, The Shade of Women Foundation Issue among others.
In this conversation, Mahe discusses his writing and poetry in Northern Nigeria with our interviewer: Uchenna Emelife.
Thanks for granting this interview. Let’s begin by finding out your writing history. When did you start writing?
Thanks for having me.
I wrote my first poem at around 11 years old. It could have been the start of a wonderful journey for me but then fate happened & for the next ten years or so I did not write much. I resumed writing late 2015.
Has it always been poetry since then?
Yes, it has always been poetry. However I dabble into a little bit of creative nonfiction, on very few occasions fiction, even then I stop at short stories.
In few poetic lines using any device of your choice, what does poetry mean to you?
A form of expression. A means for introspection. An avenue for understanding myself and my surroundings. A source of therapy.
Fine lines here.
What can you say is the highlight of your career so far?
My book How to View the World from a Glass Prism is the highlight of my writing career so far. Started as an after thought but ended up winning the WRR’s Green Author Prize for 2019.
A well deserved win. Congrats again, bard.
Thank you.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
“When you write about your feelings it is difficult not to find the right words.”
Funny you ask me this, just yesterday my friend Hauwa Saleh asked me when last I had a writer’s block & I said I don’t know but asked what prompted the question. She said it doesn’t seem like I have writer’s block. The truth is I have my downtimes. When that happens I don’t let it get to me. I hardly really force my writing. If I want to write something & it doesn’t come I leave it & come back to it later. Hauwa thinks I’m a good writer that’s why I don’t have writer’s block but I think it is because I don’t challenge myself. And also because mostly I write for myself, and when you write about your feelings it is difficult not to find the right words.
How do I overcome writer’s block? I write when there’s something to write about & I don’t force it and when the downtime prolongs, I read a page or two.
I understand Hauwa’s curiosity. Your consistent content would make one thing there is never a time you feel betrayed by your muse. Like you too, I bury my head in a book those frustrating times productivity seems out of my reach. Haha.
It always works. Somehow after reading, you find yourself anew and your works become a breath of fresh air.
In the last decade, there has been an impressive surge of poets from Northern Nigeria, what can you say is responsible for this having in mind that this was not the case some 10, 15 years ago?
“The resurgence is catalysed by the presence of poetry in our roots.”
The word you’re looking for is ‘resurgence.’ Northern Nigeria has always been an avenue for poetry. Rightly called 'Waƙe' in Hausa, is deeply engraved in our culture. Poetic offerings from the likes of Sa’adu Zungur, (Dr.) Shata, Dan Kwairo & my grand uncle Waziri Ummaru of Gwandu. He used to write poetry on political and religious issues, even in recent times his poems have been aired in radio stations in Kebbi & Sokoto. So yes poetry is part of the Hausa tradition to the extent that there used to be poetry competitions between bards, to see who has the best control over the language. Some time ago I watched a documentary video of a poetry battle between a poet from Sokoto & a poet from Kano, it was intense!
So yeah, a long the lines we somehow lost touch with our roots, or more closely to the truth, poetry as we know it 'Waƙe' metamorphosed into what we now call Hausa songs like in Kannywood movies, which are less poetic in their offerings. So with the return of poetry to our lands, our youths easily reconnected with it because it has always been there in our blood. For example I started writing a long while, before I came to know that my grand uncle was a renowned poet in his time. So the resurgence is catalysed by the presence of poetry in our roots.
Wow! This is very informing.
Do you have a favorite poem(s)? If yes, why are they your favorite?
People often ask these type of questions, the truth is I don’t think I have a favorite anything, period! Haha. I have things I like, some love, some more than others but to categorically assign a favourite, I don’t know about that.
To name a few, I like On this the 100th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Titanic… by Laura Lamb-brown Lavoie, Television by Roald Dahl, The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou, The Square-root of Three by David Feinberg, To Make Use of Water by Safia Elhillo, If Tomorrow Starts Without Me by (attributed) to David Romano. I love them for different reasons and it would be difficult to choose one.
This list is definitely worth looking up. Thanks for recommending.
What is your definition of poetic fulfilment? Writing a poem? Or it being read?
To successfully transcribe the language of my soul & try to understand it.
Who do you write for? Yourself or your reader?
I write for myself.
What are you currently working on? Any upcoming project(s) you wouldn’t mind sharing?
I’m working on the paperback version of my chapbook though the lockdown has slowed down the whole process. In the near future I hope to publish two more poetry manuscripts which I’m currently working on bit by bit. Later in the year maybe a spokenword album if the opportunity presents itself but I want to. At the moment though, I’m hosting a poetry series called Quarantine Poetry Series on Open Arts platform which airs live on their Instagram page bi-weekly. I recommend it for every lover of poetry.
Beautiful. Looking forward.
This was an interesting and informing session, Mahe. Best wishes in your career.
Thank you. You too, Uche.
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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, Punocracy and Book O’Clock. 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.
