Excerpt from Y! Issue 4

Modestus Diko’s work is directly targeted at young people.

How many books have you written?
I have written two books, titled The Philosopher’s Grief and The Enslaved Virgin Girl, published in 2010, but I have written a number of articles for different media.

What are the books about?
The Enslaved Virgin Girl is a book I wrote to elevate the mindset of the youths in the society especially for young ladies; it contains
gems for today’s young ladies, and all that is good about our much-maligned culture. The book is a tale in verse form of the pressure of conformity with great insight on the moral decadence of modern western society, which specifically talks about the value of the ladies’ pride.

The Philosopher’s Grief talks about the human nature, taking a critical look at the social-economical, spiritual, and political aspect of our human life, the evils affecting human nature, and it challenges us to rise and address lots of pressing issues affecting the human nature.

What inspires you to write?
I am inspired by what I see around me, by emotions, the past, present and the future also inspired by great personalities.

What do you like to write most about?
Dramatic poetry, because while the reader reads, his whole body, soul and mind will flow and act to the rhythm of the verses that is being read. If it not a dramatic poetry, the write up must have rhythm, be it an article or a story.

What piece have you written that is closest to your heart?
Unspoken desire (published in National Mirror in 2009). It really had impact in so many people lives, it ran for four weeks after which I was surprised by the comments I received.

What do you think people look forward to in your books?
They should look forward to positive impact, strictly to imbibe morals in our young girls because the rate at which teenagers most especially wanders about with unwanted pregnancies, unidentified babies, abortions and deaths as a result of emotional heart breaks is becoming rampant and also to correct the evils affecting the human nature.

Who are your favourite all time writers?
William Shakespeare, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie, John Mason. Y!

Oluwapelumi