An interview with Demay Alabi. By Darko Antwi.
DARKO: Being one of the
few outstanding reviewers, and a warm host of various authors, may I know the
objectives of your service?
DEMAY:
It's an honour to share my little experience with your readers and I want to
congratulate you for such an innovative advocacy to preserve and enhance works
of creativity.
The
objective of the advocacy I do is to help preserve humanity and it's development
and to ensure that society is kept alive from generation to generation because
I believe that the Arts is the bedrock of human development.
It’s
also aimed at expunging the hearts, minds and spirits of creative works and
their creators. And to outdoor, promote, and critically have conversations with
the creative minds of Africa and the world and the public, thus removing the
myth surrounding the Arts, especially books that it is boring and also the
privy of a few. As they say, no one does business in the dark, so my platform
affords all stakeholders an opportunity to sell themselves and their products,
thus also adding value to the industry.
DARKO: As an advocate of
interest in the culture of public reading, have you ever thought of the
importance of any programme that cares for children with reading difficulties?
DEMAY:
Yes, a reading clinic with therapeutic resource has always been part of the
vision. However it hasn't been tackled until this July when I got a suitable,
spacious building. So hopefully by God's grace, we are starting a Reading Club
and clinic, with specialised areas and resource personnel.
DARKO: Your television
show, Books and More, hasn’t endeavoured
to review a single children’s book. Is that deliberate?
DEMAY:
Actually, we have reviewed quite a few by Ama Atta Aidoo, A teenage writer, Dr
Cox and recently a few on Radio. Currently I have 3 books by a Ghanaian lady lined
up for review next month. Also, there aren't that many quality Ghanaian children's
books on the book shelves.
But I agree I could do more. I am open to any institution or charity that would supply my show with books for review and donation.Intact, I am about to start a children's Book Review Show.
DARKO: Geoffrey
Cotterell once said: “In America only the successful writer is important, in
France all writers are important, in England no writer is important, in
Australia you have to explain who a writer is”. If Cotterell’s statement is a
substantial clue to be followed, how worse would you say is the image of the
Ghanaian writer as a stakeholder of socio-economic development?
DEMAY:
The Ghanaian author, until I started the
Books and More Show over a decade
ago, was seen as some teacher or boring poor old man who had nothing to do. This
is from a random survey done by our organisation before we started the show.
For the average Ghanaian, African books were good for the lecture rooms. And that is where the buck stopped. But by determination to create a showbiz atmosphere,
through very vibrant sets and exciting discussions on the characters, themes and
doing both technical and content reviews with the authors, we managed to dispel
the drab perception of books and authors.
DARKO: Considering that
the book business has neither flourished at the mercy of tax relief, nor
expanded under the benevolence of the Creative Arts Grants, could you think of
other means by which the industry could contribute significantly to Gross
Domestic Product, and better the living standard of the Ghanaian publisher /
writer?
DEMAY:
This is a yeoman's question. Well, I would say, that first all the various
components and stages of publishing must be identified, from the first draft to
the end product, which is sales and reading and must be given it's requisite
value and recognition.
Secondly,
education on the industry must be embarked on both in the media space,
workshops and seminars as well as print. Thirdly, there must be concerted and
intentional effort to make the various machinery of the industry work.
Fourthly,
projects like what I am doing must be supported by the industry to create paradigm
shifts. Fifthly, Modern socio-cultural trends must be inculcated quickly into
the industry.
Lastly,
through these reviews,events and other creative ideas, standard and quality of content, research, presentations, language and
storylines must be relevant, quality and interesting to readers.Books must be
made interesting and attractive enough to make it the preferred source of
knowledge
.
DARKO: What other
factors could redeem, if the motivation of Ghana Writers Awards and Golden Baobab
is not enough morale for competitive Ghanaian literature?
DEMAY:
There should be an open recognition of authors in other aspects of social
events. Government subvention of printing materials should be priortized. We
should also encourage more attractive modes of literature vendoring, dissemination
and packaging, like the Books and More
Show, and Ghana International Book Fair
DARKO: In the heat of
Ghana’s democratic discourse, should the objective writer necessarily be
neutral to partisan politics?
DEMAY:
No. Because writing and literary works in all it's forms must capture
everything happening in the world around them
.
DARKO: Night of the Arts was noble but a
short-term project of yours. I wonder what held you back from achieving the
longevity of what would have been Ghana’s most celebrated literary event!
DEMAY:
As I stated earlier, the industry must put it's pocket where it's mouth is. The
same way we are advocating for value for works of arts, is the same way the
industry must value their advocates, partners and allies. But Night of the Arts
is coming back soon, better, bigger and greater.
DARKO: During the 8th
Presidential Inaugural Lecture of the Ghana Library Association, President
Samuel Bentil described Ghana’s dysfunctional public libraries as “an
embarrassment”. Apart from the supposed disgrace, has the poor state of the
libraries any effect on national development?
DEMAY:
Absolutely. The value we place on education, which by the way goes beyond
schooling, is a reflection of our self perception and the value we place on the
future. Can we build schools without the container or vessel of knowledge; which
is what the library is. Isn't it?
DARKO: If the state
consults you for a laureate, which three poets would be at the top of your
recommendation?
DEMAY:
I would respectfully suggest Kofi Awoonor, Abena Busia, and Atukwei Okai.
DARKO: Thank you very
much!
DEMAY:
Thank you too. I am grateful for the honour.
Pst DemayAlabi
is a broadcaster with a spanning
20 years. She holds a psychology degree from Middlesex University, UK. With 20years work in
the media and literary societies, she currently hosts the Books & More Show on Starr FM and the 360 Degree Lifetstyle on Etv-Ghana. She is the founder and CEO of
360 Degree Human Development Center.
