The myths of Efemena Agadama’s writings

A scene from his classic play, Drumbeats for Darkness

History is full of geniuses who were themselves crazy in their arts or in themselves crazy of their arts, and Efemena Agadama, poet, playwright and novelist, has joined the few names in history who were not just crazy but intellectually lost in the streams of their arts.  Anthony Vander, a renowned playwright in London, actor and director, says of him, “He is a protegee of Wole Soyinka… His plays are BRILLIANT and of classical tradition.”

Recently, we caught up with Efemena Agadama in London, and decided to conduct an on the spot-interview.  It was a friendly environment over a cup of coffee in a bar in Notting Hill Gate.  We were really pleased to have him tell us the myths behind his writing styles and themes.  And his love for the present tense novel.

And from the interview, we can tell that the themes of Efemena’s writings have been within the circle of conflict resolution, love and humanitarian advocacy.  These themes have been as a result of his childhood experiences.  His parents divorced when he was still in primary school, and he, his brothers and sisters, had to live under the guardianship of an auntie, and then an uncle because his father who took them into custody was always travelling to the northen part of Nigeria for business.  They did not enjoy the love of parenthood in their teen years.  And it really affected them.  According to him, so many problems crept in and they had no choice than to bitterly cope with those painful years of parental divorce.  He said there were some he would not say for now because they will bring back “very sad memories,” which he had tried to overcome.  These memories were those of his brothers, not him, because he was lucky not to have encountered them.  He also spoke on strict parental discipline.  According to him, his parents were “too discipline, too strict” and it helped them to cope with those turbulent years.

Those childhood years made him to love charity and humanitarian works.  He feels so many children are suffering from child labour, dehumanization, torture, hatred, false accusations and destructive thinking.  As a result, these children need to be saved from such sad situations by every means.  And it is by writing, charity work, and money that he can contribute a part to such liberation.  He talked about innoncent women who were called witches because they were hated.  For those elders, calling the women witches were the only avenue to abuse and victimise them.

One thing that marvels everyone about Efemena’s writings is his use of natural imageries to evoke and describe scenes and emotions.  It makes people to liken him to Basho, Shakepeare and Soyinka.  These are the three famous writers whose styles run similar to his styles.  But his style is different from theirs.  His styles have the ironies of Soyinka, narrative imageries of Basho and nature evocation of Shakepeare.  Despite being known as a respected writer, he was never in a hurry to publish.  He said he was “sharpening his skills” and needed time.  According to him, he will be publishing some works this year, and hope to continue from there.

Basho was said to have wandered into lonely worlds, wilderness, to get inspiration; Soyinka was said to have harvested the divinations of Ifa oracle; Shakepeare, Handel and Beethoven were all said to have lived mysterious lives in the pursuit of their callings.  What about Efemena?  He was a child of the library from childhood.  And during those troubled years, he loved being in the midst of elders, and juju priests.  He said he also read much of the poetic chapters and books of the Bible.  Therefore, the myths of his writings are within his troubled childhood, juju priests, hymns and the poetic books of the Bible.  But one of his cousins, Owigho Itugbu, said: “He is strange, and read lots of mystic and spiritual books at a tender age.  He used to come to my dad’s library, president of a magistrate court, to read every philosophical and mystic books.”

We discussed a lot, and we do hope, to publish them with time.  Another interesting aspect of his works is his unconfirmed relationship with spirits and ghosts.  These will be in the next edition of his interview in the coming months, inclusive of his advocacy for the present tense novel, and his love poems.