By Yemi Adebisi, Acting Head, Literary/Arts
One of African eminent playwrights and author of Ozidi Saga, Professor John Pepper Clark, has been a source of encouragement to a lot of young writers.
Clark
Ordinarily as a poet and literary critic, many writers would love to have his comments on their blurb.
As objective as he may be, he always insists that anyone who wants to write should “perfect his apprenticeship in writing” before he does so.
Speakin with Sunday Independent recently on what he reads at 80 Clark said.
“I read Tade Ipadeola’s poetry. Prizes bring money but they are not inspiration for the works of art.
“It gives you fame at a time when you win them. It also brings money to publishers, which you hope they will share with you fully because the book brings special marketing. Prizes were not there when the greatest were writing.
“There are more playwrights, poets out there more than the prizes. I tell you it is very rare to get a lawyer –poet like Ipadeola. He is very expressive. I am very crazy about him. I also read Obari Gomba.
“He has some voices in his stanzas. There are promising ones among them but it is not everybody that says I am a poet that is a poet.”
In his advice to upcoming writers, he said they should read others, practice the vocation well before they attempt putting their works on papers.
“What worries me about poetry today is that I don’t think many practitioners take their academic education so seriously.
“Whether it is Queen Language or Warri pidgin, you must know your language. Put lines together in your language.
“With this, we will succeed in our chosen vocation. The poet is just a poet. Deliver the poetry and let the world enjoy it,” he said.
Though he said he read other genres and foreign authors, Clark said his greatest joy was that when he is no more, he will live behind a book legacy.
“I am happy because when I am no more, my children and grand children will inherit a heap of books in my library. It is indeed a great treasure,” he said.
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