The Sun News Online | How I write

Trained as a documentarist at the university, it was not a surprise that Bankole Anthony Tukuru ended up a biographer. Although he was drafted to sustain the family legacy in the financial sector as a young graduate, his passion for writing did not wane. That explains why after a stint with the stock-broking business, he returned to his first love, writing. Today, Bankole has four published works in his name.

The writer who is also an advocate of self-publishing lampoons the publishing industry in Nigeria, describing many of the practitioners as glorified printers. Tukuru, who currently heads an outfit, Corporate Historian speaks on his writing career and many more.

Background
I hail from Lagos State. I was born into a family of seven children. My parents are both Chartered Accountants. I started my formal education at Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba. After that, I proceeded to St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. I left St. Gregory’s College in 1988. I did two years in Advance Level before I secured admission into the University of Ilorin to read History. It was at the university that my passion for recording events, arose.

I graduated from the university in 1992. During the youth service, I taught English, History and Government at Egba-Odeda High School, Ogun State. After that, I began my professional career in a stockbroking firm, Capital Bancorp Limited, 1995. In 1997, I left Bancorp for Young Street Security, which happened to be my last formal working place. It was at the point that I realized that writing is my passion.

Works
Before I left Young Security, I had written my first biography on Chief Toye Coker, entitled Ethos of a Great Egba Aristocrat. After I completed the book, it inspired me to forge ahead. I wrote the second biography, A Life of Accomplishment, on the late Air Commodore Tony Ikhazoboh. My third biography is on a Commissioner for Insurance, Chief Oladipo Bailey and entitled Habits of an Achiever. The last biography is on the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon and entitled, Nemesis to Corruption. All these while, I had always wanted to do something creative. So, I wrote Melody of the Drunken Masses. Two other plays, Tragedy of the Commons and a Christian drama entitled, Serpent on the Cross will be released hopefully next year.

Why biography
What inspired me into biographies was my firm belief that there is a lesson to learn from everyone’s life. Surprisingly if you pick someone’s biography, the lesson to be learnt might be in just a line in the book. I write family and institutional biographies. One of the shortcomings of biographical writings is that people are yet to understand its relevance. For instance, a story which deserves volumes, might be cramped into one or two pages in a funeral programme. However, lack of documentation of achievers is a disservice to them. As times go on, I think that is one area we’ll have to enlighten people more about. But lately, I have discovered that you can make money from biography from other sources aside launch.

Inspiration
I’ve always loved to arouse the consciousness of the masses to the fact that they have the power to choose their leaders.

Writing style
My language is simple because I want my writings to be accessible to everybody. The essence of writing is the ability to communicate. Of what benefit is a work that would require one to consult the dictionary always before he/she can deconstruct every sentence. I like people to relate with my writings.

Sourcing of materials
Although people may not know, many of the scenarios I paint in my plays were influenced by practical experiences. A biography entails people opening-up on their lives. But as motivating as biographies are supposed to be, they are not as popular as creative works in this part of the world. However, as much you try to make them exciting, they are not fiction. Actually, I have always loved to do something fictional but with a tinge of reality.

I tried my hands on novels, but I found out that it was not really me. After that I tried to write a couple of plays because I wanted people to come and watch what I created. Essentially, a play does not make serious impact until it is acted on stage. That explains why I staged Melody of the Drunken Masses for independence celebrations in Lagos last year. The play is a socio-political satire and it captures the malady of a society lost in self-delusion.

Fulfilled as a writer?
Creatively yes, but financially, no! To me, success is not always measured by the amount of money you make. I think writing comes to me more naturally. It’s something I enjoy and I’m not doing it for money. For example my first biography was done without financial support from elsewhere. I went about it alone. It’s not that one cannot make money from writing but if you go into it because of money, you might get disappointed.

Surviving on writing
At the rate I am going I believe that writing can sustain me. I remember that I made some money from the launch of my first biography. The subject of the book gave me a percentage of the earnings from the book launch for instance. The fact that my first play had been put on stage was enough fulfillment for me.

Feedback
In, fact, that is what gives me fulfillment most. Especially, in Monologue of the Drunken Masses. As for biographies they are prone to criticisms and belated suggestions and advice. So biographies can’t just be exhausted. The first set of responses I got, were from my directors and artistes. That has for much encouraged me to push the play to any length.

When and where I write
A writer cannot write all the time. You have to be in right frame of mind to write. If you want to write well and be in that mental state, I have to be in a quiet environment. Before I write, the story is already made up in my head and that makes it easier. Most of the time, I write at night, beginning from 11p.m downwards.

Challenges
The problems of power outages pose a big problem to creativity. The noise from the generators can be disturbing at night. Unlike when I would drive down to the beach for inspiration, and in a jiffy, I would have thought a whole chapter through. By the time I return I will be in the right mental state before the thoughts fly away.

Sourcing materials
Before I go out in search for materials, I would have thought them through in my head. When one writes, there is always a vacuum to be filled. When you recognize it, you’ll draw yourself towards the material in order to fill that vacuum.

Writers block
It happens to everybody. I wonder why people limit the experience to writers only. When it happens, I’ll just take a walk. At that moment, I’ld stop thinking about the story. There are many things that bring someone back to the right state. Some people play games, while others attend parties. Many people don’t understand that writers block results from stress.

Publishers and upcoming writers
I attempted self-publishing with my first book. At that time, I knew next to nothing about publishing. I had just learnt how to use the computers, and it turned out a flop. A lot of the materials which I stored in my computer, got lost. I ended up at the Academy Press. Since then, it has been self-publishing all the way. For upcoming writers, I recommend self-publishing because it is cheaper.

Editing
I have editors who I pay to read my work. However good you are as a writer, you can never edit yourself.

Publishing industry in Nigeria
The industry has not been enterpreneural-driven in Nigeria. They should be ready to take risk on budding writers. That is the only way the profession can grow in Nigeria. When a publisher invests in a book, he will be compelled to market such a book. At the end of the day, the book and the writer will be known, and the firm will make money. I am sorry to say that most of the so-called publishing firms are glorified printers. There is more to publishing than mere printing of books. Publishing entails marketing and promotions. Where those services are lacking, a book has not been published.

Advice to young writers
If they don’t love writing, they shouldn’t venture into it. What drives creativity is passion. You don’t need unserious people in this business of writing.