Why I write about societal ills-Judaisky


Ojindu Jude Chimaobi, popularly called Judaisky is a novelist, poet, spoken word artiste, singer, and a freelancer. He is a student of University of Ilorin. In this interaction withABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE, he speaks on his books, writing, and writer’s originality, among other issues.

Brief about yourself?

My name is Ojindu Jude Chimaobi. I am a student of University of Ilorin, studying English Education. I hail from Abia state.

I am a prolific writer. I write poems, articles, prose and dramas. I’m also a singer, composer and a freelancer.

How did you come about your pen name, Judaisky?

It’s derived from my name Jude. I was just thinking one day, alone with my thought, and the inspiration came. I looked at the sky that night wondering if one can ever get there. So, I set my goals that I must reach the sky and so the name was born. JUDAISKY means Jude aiming for the sky.

Which genre of literature comes to you naturally?

Writing poems come naturally because it’s what I found myself doing and I take it as a hobby. But the rest are the product of inspiration and need to arrest matters arising in our society.

What theme does your pen bleed on effortlessly?

My pen bleeds basically on the matters arising in the society, such as deceit, heartbreaks, economy, stealing and other crimes.

It bleeds on teaching morals too.

What figures of speech do you play with more often in your poems?

I use pun, alliteration, assonance, paradox, oxymoron, sacarsm, irony, and personification a lot. This because they are the condiments to which my works are beautified. They are also the very heart of Poetry as imagery implied too. Without using these figures of speech, my work will just be like a mere article written from a dry heart.

What kind of music do you sing and compose?

I sing and compose gospel, inspirational, and motivational songs.

I am interested in this kind of songs because that’s what I am made of. When one patterns his or her life in such, then that fellow is a preacher. That’s why the recurring messages of my songs are salvation, hope, encouragement, fate, rapture and alms giving.

What’s your book, Friendly Fire, about?

The book talks about deception, jealousy, envy and pride.

It centers on young people in school who don’t like the success of their fellow students.

It talks about how evil can be eradicated in the society.

Are you working on other books?

I am working on a book titled: To My Brother Ishmael.

What inspired the title and what’s the book focusing on?

The inspiration came when I looked into tribalism and religious segregation. And so I thought of a way to at least create awareness that we are all one.

The story line is all about religion, tradition, and tribalism, trying to bring them together despite their differences.

What are the challenges you’re facing as a Nigerian writer and how have you been able to overcome them?

There are a lot of challenges, the first I think is self or internal conflict. This comes in form of inferiority complex or writer’s block. I experience writer’s block very well but I am glad I am able to overcome it.

During this period, I don’t seem to write to own taste and satisfaction, so I dropped my pen and started reading and learning. During that period, I really learnt a lot and so I was able to brace myself and come back to the field.

Another challenge is my environment. The environment I find myself isn’t too palatable for me to write as much as I want but I don’t let that kill the muse and enthusiastic spirit in me.

If I don’t get enough time to write during the day, I capture all I have seen and want to write in my mind and sometimes in paper, then at night, I write them as the spirit leads.

What’s your typical day like?

I happened to be in charge of a shop, so directly or indirectly, I was a business man before I gained admission. So, all my free time is spent in the shop during the day. Though it varies, I might be free today and tomorrow might be hectic.

How do you balance work, writing, and your academic pursuit?

It’s very easy but not also easy. Writing is what I love and so it’s like a hobby to me. Work is what I have to do and so I must do it. For academic excellence, I must study. These three things seem to be interwoven.

I write when there is no customer in sight and I study when I am done writing or before I write. I always make sure I cover these three things within a day so I won’t be cheating any.

But if the day wants to deny me these three things, I always study and work.

What does your writers’ group, The Giant, represent?

The Giant came from The Bleeding Pen which was our first name. We changed the name when we wanted to obtain our CAC (Cooperate Affairs Commission) certificate.  The Giant is an organisation that involves writers across the globe. We look into the matters that affect us and put it in writing. We promote writers, and give lectures on how to become a good writer.

What’s your advice to your fellow writers?

Know that there is no limit to what you can achieve if you work on your originality.

Determination is nothing when nothing is done to determination, because little by little says the thoughtful boy, moment by moment at a plot, learning a little everyday and not spending all time in play.

If you have a chance to have a word with President Muhammadu Buhari, what would you tell him?

If I am opportune as a writer to meet the President I will tell him to arrest the dawn before it turns dusk. To me, we the youth don’t seem to be in his agenda.

So, I will tell him to plan for the youth, give writers, budding and upcoming ones, recognition.

With that, many people will come into the field of writing; because some are scared their inks will be a waste; some say writing does not pay and many more. But, if he can give writing a slot in Nigeria, I believe there will be a turnabout.

With this as well, he won’t have many pens writing against him because those pens that will be writing against him will be busy writing about other things because he would have by then  given writing a recognition.

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