OMOSEYE BOLAJI ON MOTHEANE

Ishmael Soqaga, currently working on a comprehensive study book on Mr Kgang Motheane, spoke to distinguished writer, Mr Omoseye Bolaji, who was very close to Mr Motheane whilst he (Bolaji) was based in South Africa.

Soqaga: You played a very important role when Motheane's first book was published in 2005. He has admitted as such, always expressing his glee that you set him on the path of book publication,and even writing this on the blurb of so many of his books. You remember Mr Motheane's first book (African Night Fire Stories) don't you?

Bolaji: (smiling) It was wonderful to see how happy Ntate Motheane was when his first book was first published! In fact we celebrated the event for a long time in nigh-epicurean fashion! An author is often suffused with great delight, exhilaration and happiness when one's first book comes out - especially in this case when the author (Motheane) had waited for decades for this dream to come true! Remember that he was over 60 when his first work was formally published, and launched. For me what I did for Motheane then was quite simple - I ensured his manuscript was typed, and convinced the publisher to bring out the work. Motheane's passion for books was so palpable that a bit later on I said to him: "Maybe you'd like to become a small publisher yourself; I can show you the ropes..."Thereafter Motheane took it from there and began to bring out his books with incredible speed and elan!

Question (Soqaga):  How did you meet Mr Motheane for the first time?

BOLAJI: How did I first meet Sir Motheane? That was in late2003 when I was editing Free State News (newspaper)... I noticed that after publishing in the paper a particular letter Motheane had mailed to us, countless letters from the same gentleman suddenly began to arrive by post...every two days or so! A plethora of letters, there was no way the paper could publish them all! So I invited him(Motheane) to my office and we met. I was struck by his passion for writing, his ideas, his dynamism... I dared not tell him to his face that he was contributing too much, sending too many letters...that he'd burst the frame of our publication, as it were... Then an idea struck me. I invited him to be a columnist for us. So he'd be able to focus on a particular theme every week in his column...

Question (Soqaga): How was Pa Motheane as a columnist?

Bolaji: How was Motheane as columnist? Top-notch, professional as usual. Very hard-working, a shining example for the youth. Selfless and prolific columnist...despite not being paid! You could see it was a labour of love, passion for writing for the grand old man. There was a certain punctilio about him that invited respect.A lot of the time I would type his (Motheane's) columns for him.  He had his detractors of course, but alas a lot of it was spite,jealousy. I was so happy when he was recognised with an award for his efforts as a columnist...that would come much later, in 2012. The Mbali Awards! What a night! Pa Motheane was as usual spick and span in his suit as he received his award. Even now I still enjoy checking the event on the internet...

Question (Soqaga): Some have questioned the "quality" of many of Motheane's books. That they are rushed, too many of them etc...what do you think?         

Bolaji: I suspect it's the "phd syndrom" at work, trying to pull him down, undermine him - a very cruel thing to do. But why bother about such cynicism? You should ask those so-called critics: have they really read most or many of Motheane's dozens of books? You can be sure that these 'critics' have not done so...are they aware that thousands of copies of his books have been purchased by the libraries, including Universities? I do recall that there was a (female) critic, Rebaone who actually read many of Motheane's books, and always praised them in her own critical column. That would constitute informed comment - not the spiteful  mean-spirited fringe bent on pulling a writer like Motheane down!

Question (Soqaga): But there are some pundits who believe that if a writer writes too fast, like Ntate Motheane, the quality of what one writes might be affected...

       

Bolaji: Nonsense. Lazy writers, ignorant charlatans et al say these things. Yes it is possible that quality might be affected, but why should we dwell on negatives? Why instead can't we praise the imagination or talent of such "fast" writers? Never mind eurocentric examples for now, let's look at some illustrious African writers. Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate is famed for writing with extraordinary speed - some world class plays of his, like Death and the king's horseman, were written within a few days. The great J P Clark also wrote his famous play, Ozidi, within a few days. Cyprian Ekwensi could write 200 page great novels within ten days or so. So, who says writers can't be fast? Does it not make sense that when a writer is very passionate, committed to a particular imaginative work, such a book will flow and be even more interesting? That's something to ponder. Of course there's always revising and editing later...

Question (Soqaga): Rest assured that I have the greatest respect for Pa Motheane as an artist and as a man; these questions however have to be asked for the sake of literature, and to enlighten others. I have heard others trying to undermine the contribution of Motheane to literature; some say he's not popular or celebrated; others say there is something wrong with his vision and art...

Bolaji: Just because a few loud, spiteful people are being vicious, does not make it right. Why should a writer make noise or be flamboyant for example before they are noticed? Shakespeare died hundreds of years ago and is still being read, even much more widely now. When Achebe was alive would he have had to make "noise" about his masterpiece, Things fall apart, so that he could be celebrated?Writers would be appreciated one way or the other in the end. See how Pule Lechesa has pulled out all the stops to celebrate KPD Maphalla...now Maphalla is on Wikipedia. Whilst alive, Herman Melville (America) was not that famous - now he's regarded as a literary genius who wrote Moby Dick, with countless films and movies being made on the book now. More pertinent, this book you are writing on Motheane now will further put him on the literary map...do you think a few bad-minded people who claim to be writers would have ever conceived of honouring Motheane in this way?

* Pix above, Bolaji and Motheane

Question (Soqaga): Mr Bolaji, you famously created theTebogo Mystery series of books. Interestingly Pa Motheane published a book titled Dikgang Murder Investigation (detective story) Many believe he took a cue from you...

 

Bolaji (laughing): Mr Motheane never told me he took a cue from me! All these speculations and gossip...well. Yes, I am aware he published this book, which is just one of his numerous works in different genre. There was a time when one of the "critics" actually read the book (Dikgang) and criticised it heavily. But I had no problem with this type of criticism as it was informed, the guy had actually read the book. What I can say is that I read the book once and I enjoyed it; I was not looking for so-called flaws when I read it anyway!

Question (Soqaga): Obviously, Mr Motheane is a prodigious reader of books, for him to have published so many books, and him being a long-standing columnist for years...

Bolaji: As you have said - obviously. He has been reading books, good books for decades, and he has a superb personal library in his house. He has built up the library brilliantly over the years, and he has eclectic taste. You can see books on Shakespeare and other classical writers in his library, and many others. I remember Pa Motheane saying to me:"You know, most of our people think a library contains only books, but that is not strictly true...there are many other types of documents that I keep in my library, my sundry correspondence with bodies,including publishers, all over the world for example, my countless certificates, magazines, literary clippings and the like..." He then proceeded to show me many of such documents and it was an awesome process. Again, another time he said to me: "Any writer without a library is not a real writer...a writer must always have a library where he can consult, sift, do research and learn...". So that's the way it is!

Question (Soqaga): You and Pa Motheane were very close for quite some time, always seen around toropo (town) together - some even called you twins!   

Bolaji: (laughing) Ah well, I am not sure about twins - as Mr Motheane is old enough to be my father, and in many ways he was a father-figure for me! But yes – we were very close, you might say the world of writing and journalism brought us together. It was heady... I even used to go to his house every week, savour his wonderful cooking... Culinary delights! He is a very friendly, genial,generous man, and we went to many places together, including restaurants and general recreational centres. He might say: "Bolaji, I have discovered a place where the food is so good - nxa!" - and we'll go there together and eat. You can be sure that sooner or later in his elaborate manner, he would open his official bag or suitcase – right there at eaterie! - and bring out documents, manuscripts, books and the like. And we'll discuss them. As you remember also, we used to enjoy birthday parties at the newspaper too, and Sir Motheane would enjoy himself to the brim, together with other writers, like poet Raselebeli "Magic" Khotseng, Seleke Botsime, Mpikeleni Duma, and even the feisty ntate Qoopane...

Question (Soqaga): Mr Bolaji, you have had many individual study-books written about you and your literary work. Recently, such a book was published on Mr Flaxman Qoopane too. What do you think about such books?   

Bolaji: Such books, which are par for the course in the western world, are very fine introductions to individual writers and their work. There are so many excellent writers in the world that we benefit a lot from such books focusing on particular writers. Let's say Shakespeare, Dickens, Thomas Hardy, TS Elliot, the Bronte sisters, Herman Melville etc. Recently I read a study, a bookon William Golding, famed author of Lord of the flies, and learnt more about his background and other published works. Or to mention an SA writer, the illustrious Sindiwe Magona, and the scholar, Siphokazi's excellent study on her work. Actually the book on Mr Qoopane reminds me of Siphokazi's study as they both contain many essays contributed by many other writers. I remember the frisson of excitement I had upon visiting some libraries, and seeing 2, 3 such books focusing on my work! I think you are doing a great job putting such a book together on Pa Motheane too, and I wish you every success!

Soqaga . Many thanks....