It’s 2118 and you’ve arrived in Lagos for a book festival. When you step out of the airport, what is the first thing you see?<\/b><\/p>\n
A fast tram halting with a silent gush, ready to take me through the city, and even into neighbouring states \u2013 via its exclusive rights-of-way.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You’ve been selected for a mission to the moon. Which African author are you taking and why?<\/b><\/p>\n I once read that he has spent one-third of his lifespan [in the] air, flying through countries. So, taking Wole Soyinka to the moon would be a fun-filled travelling experience he can add to his journal. And of course, if we get there we would share animistic verses and a bottle of vintage wine. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What invention do you think would change the lives of Africans today?<\/b><\/p>\n I\u2019m thinking of a service retail app. This is an app that presents unique features for buying, selling, payment and delivery of services \u2013 all in one app. This would cut off the everyday market hustling experience typical within Africa. Then Africans can conveniently work from home and render their services to anyone across the globe. This also cuts down unemployment to a reasonable number. This invention would do this, and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Two things you\u2019re doing when not reading or writing?<\/b><\/p>\n I take long walks. It helps me to fall into myself, as I see new meanings to life through the people I meet and activities I experience. The air also has a good effect on my mind \u2013 it seems to pass through me. When I\u2019m not taking a walk, I\u2019m listening to music. It\u2019s not a clich\u00e9 when I say \u2018music uplifts my soul,\u2019 but beyond all that, music offers different elements of truth and culture via musical sounds and voices.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n To what extent has African literature envisioned an African future?<\/b><\/p>\n To see a future filled with arts, science and technology, through a black lens is not yet an everyday narrative in African literature. Nnedi Okorafor definitely lends a bold voice to this narrative, but I guess, <\/span>the world is about to experience the Afrofuturism wave in the coming decade. We are coming.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What book do you think best captures Afrofuturism?<\/b><\/p>\n The term \u2018best\u2019 might make it a bit difficult to lay affirmations on the question, because it\u2019s an ongoing discussion, just as the era of Afrofuturism is here, and new writers are expressing their voices through this form. But so far, Black Panther comics, does it for me. But I know there are more to come soon.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You wake up one morning to find that you’ve grown a pair\u00a0of wings. What do you do?<\/b><\/p>\n Like \u2018Maleficent\u2019? That would be super-cool. I could easily hide under my wings while reading or writing. It would keep me warm and safe. But if I choose to fly with it, then I\u2019ll fly so high, till I give the translucent moon a big hug. Mind over matter \u2013 you say?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Name one book that made you think differently about the world.<\/b><\/p>\n