An interview with Nana Agyemang Ofosu. By Darko Antwi
Nana Agyemang Ofosu is a poet, and a
founding partner at Poetry Foundation Ghana. He was born and raised in Kumasi
and attended Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is a Civil
Engineer. He works with the Techiman Municipal Assembly as an Assistant
Engineer.
DARKO: Four years in the life of any organisation
could relatively be considered infant to the achievement of its major
objectives. But Poetry Foundation Ghana has crossed boundaries to publish a vibrant
journal, promoted literacy in high schools, developed a database of African poets,
and instituted a prize of global attention. What is the secret to your
success?
NANA: There is no secret to success than what you
have envisioned and determined to do. These years have been difficult but we
encourage ourselves each passing day. We were moved by the unavailability of
space and avenue for people to express themselves to start PFG which we know
for some time have served some purpose. It is for that same reason we keep
going.
The significant aspect of our work is the
passion and the wherewithal. The latter does not come in handy but we muddle
through the mud each passing day.
DARKO: I know by exposé that you and your founding
partner, Adjei Agyei-Baah, have been making sacrifices from your pocket. But a
thousand dollar for your maiden prize must have come partly as support from
others. If any, and if it wouldn't go against confidential pledges, can you
please mention your source of funding? How do you rally for support? How
difficult? How easy?
NANA: When we started we dreamt of help coming
along but it has not been so. Help is yet to come but we will not sit back till
that time. I am not rich neither is my friend Adjei - but we had similar vision
and therefore we walk together. Like I always say: two can walk together if they
see the same thing and I believe we see the same.
The thousand dollar prize was sponsored by
the two of us and a helping hand from Prof. Adams Bodomo. Let me put on record
that the Foundation has survived till today as a result of our commitment and
the will to support every decision we make with our own resources. Obviously
this is not the best.
Support is yet to come and we do not know
when because for the past six years we have walked to many possible avenues for
help and eyes just rolled over with a blink.
DARKO: Since its formation, PFG has done a lot,
but with little collaboration. Giving that low pact of relationship (with other
literary organisations in the local ranks), it becomes conceivable to criticize
that: you are either too self-indulgent or you do not believe in the benefits
of partnerships. If partnership is necessary to your engagements, guide us to
the truth?
NANA: People want to be kings in every corner. We
all cannot be kings- some must definitely work with others. From the beginning
we contacted people who we thought will be of help but each one of those people
turned us down. We traveled hours form Kumasi to Accra to meet people and
talked to them about PFG and what we wanted to do. They listened and offered no
help. Some did with interest and later showed apathy. People; both young and old
have all done this and we thought nothing should stop us. What we have gone
through is more of do-and-let-us-see attitude of the Ghanaian.
People are not really interested by what I
have seen. It appears everybody is interested in their own. But your own and my
own and the others will sink if we do not find a common ground. Truth is PFG
has suffered lack of support from the local groups. Some stories are really
disgusting when you hear them but I am not discouraged. Even when we fail, I
know I started something of great importance to me.
DARKO: For reasons that point
to additional objectives more than any other rational, Ghana Poetry Project
transformed to Writers Project of Ghana. If PFG hasn't a rigid constitution,
have you thought of the need to study the success story of WPG; in order to broaden
your objectives to embrace the excelling demand of the other branches of
literature? Would that be a compromise of your speciality?
NANA: We started with a vision to make poetry
important in our culture and by extension reach out to the world. I cannot
predict what will happen tomorrow but I know PFG will be around in the next ten
years with the same name or a different one. I see a different name and a
different approach. This is not PFG official position but my humble thought.
DARKO: Whether Spoken Word is poetry or not, it is
apparent that PFG disclaims the varied opinions of the debate. Since the
same organisation is the publisher of the literary journal (Kwaku Ananse Blog)
which has given space to this queue of argument, it might be against ethics to go
contrary to your official bearing. Beseeching that you step aside PFG’s neutrality, what are your
personal views?
NANA: Spoken Word is Poetry. Regardless of what
people think, spoken word has always been there. I think poets feel insecure
these days by the sudden attention and the popularity of the spoken word as a
genre. Truth is the stage has become relevant in this age and poets should
learn to adapt to this phenomenon.
DARKO: It is common knowledge
that Akwantuo, The Ghanaian Book Review and One Ghana One Voice are at the breast-tape of low
patronage; thus near collapse or abandonment. Would you endorse the revival of
an ailing electronic magazine at a time when most poets are forsaking the art on
paper for the glory of stage performance?
NANA: It is a problem that cuts across board. It
can happen to any online domain.
Not many will be able to do performance and
many more will write for the page therefore the need for the above mentioned
domains to continue to exist. But the truth is, these will only continue to do
what they do if there is support. The Ghanaian literary community is not that
big and platforms are few, hence the need to keep the little we have.
DARKO: Now, let’s go into your written works... A
study of your philosophy proves that you do not only seek balance in concrete structures,
but you go further in search of sociopolitical fairness. 18 Miles to Yeero is one significant poem that establishes your
tendency to address injustice at the highest level. In an OGOV review
of the poem, Rob Taylor wrote: "By tapping universal themes without
abandoning an honest description of these real (and remote) places, Ofosu
leaves the reader in flux between the known and the mysterious". Do you
intend as Taylor perceives? Has politics in Ghana gotten fair since the
publication of that poem?
NANA: Hahahaha, that is to say men can now see
God since they pray every day. I believe it is worse and it will not get better
anytime soon. I think most of our politicians talk with the élan of Lucifer and
do nothing. They only show us their anus and their head buried in the sands of
our gold. Of what importance are the woes of those in the hinterland to these
garrulous folks of the high table? I see nothing and don’t believe in the
unbridled tongue of little schooled crop of individuals who know nothing about
progress and the pains of the many.
I love Ghana but can’t say same for those
in positions.
DARKO: How did the first Ghana Poetry Award fare? Give a brief preview if you
will, and tell what we should expect in its future host.
NANA: Actually this is our second competition. The
first was dubbed: PFG Poetry Contest, held in 2012. The Ghana Poetry Prize is a magnified version of the first.
Indeed all these come at a great cost. We don’t have the luxury of funds and
the help of many. The competition was a success in every possible lens with
which you look at it. In retrospect, I believe we would not have made certain
decisions which put us in a very uncomfortable position.
We are working on the anthology and hope to
release it soon. That will consolidate the work we have begun. This project
that people see through the spectacle of apathy must not be so. This is not a
personal project. It is for the many and for those with interest in poetry and
therefore they must be seen to be of help.
Though considerations are being made to
ensure the successful run of the Prize, in future if we do not receive
financial support we may have to put it on the shelves till we find a good
footing. It may be once in every two years which will offer us the opportunity
to raise funds for it.
This is not the only prize we wanted to run.
There are couple of others which are more interesting and competitive but for
the obvious reasons, we may hold on till we have the means to.
I think we took on a cup which is so huge to
drink from but we are not scared. The future is for all of us to ensure the
building process is complete.
DARKO: The Street is so grateful for your
resource. We cherish your zeal and the endeavours of your vision. Thank you.
NANA: I deem it a great opportunity. Thank you too.
