In Conversation

This week we spoke to Chukwuebuka Ibeh about his creative journey and the story behind his debut novel, Blessings.

Interviewed by Zulaikhah Agoro.

ZA: Could you share the origins of your interest in writing? When did the initial spark ignite, and what was it about writing that captivated you during that time?

CI: I’m tempted to come up with an interesting story, but the truth, alas, is that I’m really like many writers I know who just can’t recall the ‘origins’ because, as far back as I can recall, I have been telling stories in some form. I think the magic for me back then was the response of the audience - either my siblings when I told stories in verbal form, or my classmates, when I wrote and distributed stories by hand. And, at the risk of sounding obnoxious, I was also occasionally surprised by the things I could come up with creatively in very little time, on the spot.

ZA: You seem to have experienced a simply inexplicable pull to the art of storytelling and we are very glad you followed the call. Still on the subject of origins, there is usually a transition that occurs between “I just want to write” to “I want to be an author”. How did that transpire for you? What was the hardest part of your publishing journey?

CI: That’s such a brilliant question, because it’s true indeed that I always thought of writing as some fun thing to do on the side while I actually made a living with something else. I think the earliest I recall of wanting to be an author was getting my first paycheck from writing (in a foreign currency, I might add), and also after being selected and attending Adichie’s workshop. It suddenly seemed possible - that I could, in fact, make a living from this and didn’t have to approach it as a side hobby. The hardest part of the publishing journey would always be the rejections. Those consistent early nos that make you doubt yourself and question your right to do what you’re doing. It gets better, thankfully.

ZA: Thankfully, it indeed gets better because today you are officially publishing your debut novel! I’d like to talk about your book, Blessings. Why did you want to write this story, and what is it really about?

CI: I’ve always wanted to write a story about boarding school in Nigeria. It is such a fascinating place with so many stories, and yet doesn’t get half the attention it deserves, in my opinion. I also have always wanted to understand the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which I think is one of the strangest legislations to have been passed by the Nigerian parliament, especially around the time it was passed. The book is really interrogating what it means to grow up queer in Nigeria, and how that experience affects not just the main character but his family too.

ZA: That is a very engaging premise, especially for a debut and it seems to have paid off since Blessings is being simultaneously released in six different territories and three languages; English, German and Spanish. How does this make you feel, considering this is your debut work?

CI: It’s such a dream. It’s one of those things you quietly hope for because saying it out loud feels silly. I have the best agent in the world, who’s such an advocate for this novel and will pitch it to the ends of the earth if need be. It’s just heartwarming to know that an ordinary story of an ordinary boy in Port Harcourt can be received as relatable to readers around the world.

ZA: You also recently secured a film agent for Blessings, congratulations on that also by the way. What are you most excited about in the screen adaptation process? How do you think a film or tv adaptation will impact the story and the characters?

CI: Thank you so much. I’m just as curious as you are to see! It was a delightful surprise, to tell you the truth, because I wasn’t thinking at all about the cinematic potential of the book from the onset. I’m excited to know how different the plot might be (for convenience of a screenplay) and what the casting would be. I already have crazy ideas on who I would like to portray each character, and really just curious to see what that would look like.

ZA: Hopefully we will start to see some spoilers on that through your social media very soon (wink wink). Now, I want to touch on the technical side of matters. You are currently studying for an MFA at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. MFA programs are notoriously rigorous so I would like to know, how do you balance writing with school and other life commitments? What was your routine like while writing Blessings?

CI: I was lucky, I think, to have written most of Blessings before enrolling in my MFA program. Still, I did a lot of edits on the novel around the time I moved to the US and it was pretty tasking. I pulled a lot of late nights trying to meet deadlines. It was a kind of labor of love though, so I didn’t mind it very much. Plus, I was very fortunate to have a very kind and accommodating community - both my editors and my writing professors were patient and understanding when I needed extensions.

ZA: I believe that’s one of the biggest perks of doing an MFA- the inbuilt community and support. That brings me to my next question. For a writer, the work never stops so what are you working on at the moment, if you can talk about it? When can we expect another book from you?

CI: I am putting together a short story collection for my MFA thesis, but that’s really just about it, and it’s still too early for me to know or talk about it.

ZA: Right let’s not jinx it just yet. Last question, what would you say to a young writer who wants to tell a story that hasn’t been told before?

CI: Tell it. You are all the permission you need to do whatever you want, however you want.

Chukwuebuka Ibeh is is a writer from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, born in 2000. His writing has appeared in McSweeneys, The New England Review of Books and Lolwe, amongst others. He was the Runner-up for the 2021 J.F Powers Prize for Fiction, a finalist for the Gerald Kraak Award and Morland Foundation Scholarship and was profiled as one of the "Most Promising New Voices of Nigerian Fiction" in Electric Literature.

You can read an excerpt of Blessings here.