Combining schooling with writing herculean –KK Awesome

Koyum Kolade Afolabi, famously called KK Awesome, is the author of a book of poetry and prose titled, Kul Tu Chaviva. In this interview with ABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE, he speaks about himself, his book, and his views on writers and writing.

Can you give a brief about yourself?

My name is Koyum Kolade Afolabi. I’m a student of Chemical Engineering, University of Ilorin. I’m a writer, content creator and photographer.

I had my primary and secondary school at Ad-din International School, and Ad-din International College, in Ibadan respectively.

I gained admission to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Ilorin in 2014.

How did you come about your sobriquet, KK Awesome?

KK emanated from my first name which is Koyum and my middle name, Kolade.

Awesome is from awesome things that I’ve always done. Hence, KK Awesome.

What do you write?

I write anything that people could feel and relate to, that’s why most times, I do poetry. Although I write a lot of articles too and stories.

Writing to me, is a way of changing the world, making people understand that they’re not alone and know how they feel, and possibly making them feel better.

That is why I write on love, heartbreak, motivation, depression, sadness, and every other strong feeling.

But for work purpose, I write almost everything.

Did you find the pen or your pen found you and when did this happen?

I would say my pen was walking to me and I was walking to it, so, we met in the middle of the road.

If the basic writing of secondary school days doesn’t count, I would say I started writing fully in 2014.

Although, I opened my blog in 2015. So, that’s about five years ago.

What’s Kol Tuv Chaviva about?

Kol Tuv Chaviva is Hebrew. In English, it means, “All The Best Beloved.”

Kol Tuv Chaviva, unlike other normal love books, talks about both love and heartbreak, in the realest way possible, defining both topics simultaneously and explaining them under the sub-topics that define them.

It was written in such a way that almost everyone would be able to relate to it. Yes, love is beautiful, and of course, heartbreak is real, this book shows that.

It was deliberately made a book of both prose and poetry because every potential reader was considered, as everyone has preference.

It’s about letting people who prefer prose, get the explanation, and those who prefer poetry, feel the depth!

What inspired you to write the book?

After years of writing lots of poems, stories, articles and freestyles, I finally got the strength and courage to write a book. Writing being one of my favourite things to do and to me a way of expressing myself, I decided to write a book on one of the most talked about and beautiful things in the world, love!

The inspiration was like oxygen, it was all around. Or isn’t love all around you?  And perhaps if you read the book you could get more light on it.

How did you get it published?

The book was self published. I couldn’t get a publishing firm to do it for me, so, I just did the whole work myself.

I didn’t want my inability to get a publisher kill my dream of being an author.

How was it funded and received by your audience?

I didn’t get any special funding beyond how I get my money, normally through my parents primarily.

Also, through freelancing writing jobs, editing and proofreading, content creation, among others.

On how it was received, I would say it was received well.

I published both e-book  and paperback and got reasonable sales from both.

What other works have you worked or you’re working on?

I’ve also worked on a few anthologies, and there’s this particular one, 30 – A Poetry Collection. It has over a hundred poems on 30 topics, resolving around love, heartbreak, joy, pain, personal struggles, societal problems, humour, sorrow, life and death.

It was initially supposed to be a work by my writer-friend, Khaleed Olabanji (Inkandlead_writings) and I, but six other writers joined, and they made it more beautiful.

Apart from 30, Kol Tuv Chaviva, and the few other works, I have plans to write more projects, God willing.

Is it in prose or poetry you mostly enjoy expressing yourself?

I enjoy both actually. I enjoy poetry, because it has a great level of depth and different interpretations to a single art.

I enjoy prose, because it hits the issue on the head, and sometimes, that’s what matters most.

As a writer what do you consider a good writing?

A good writing is the one that allows for a good reading. If your readers get you the way you would want them to, and the way that they should, I believe it’s a good writing.

Who is your role model?

I’m not proud to say this, but I don’t think I have any writing role model. However, I have a special love for Khalil Gibran’s works.

How do you see writers’ circle in Nigeria?

Good, united and talented circle I must say. Although, underprivileged.

What would you like to bring to the industry if you have the power?

I will make the industry have wider and bigger reach, and more create more opportunities.

What’s your ultimate goal as a writer?

It is immortality. The most important thing is not for my works to be able to live in the present time, but beyond.

What’s your projections for the next five years?

I really do not have specific plans or maybe I have too many.

I just hope that by then I would be better than everything I am today.

How do you jostle between writing and schooling?

It’s not been easy to be honest. But the truth is when you love something and you think it’s important, you’d find time for it.

How do you relax?

I sleep when I have to.

I try to spend time with my loved ones too. I also play and watch football when I can.

Also, I write.

What’s your parting words to fellow writers?

Own your art, be original, and don’t stop writing

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