HCAF STAR SERIES, April 2025: INTERVIEW – Sa’ada Isa Yahaya

QUESTION: The Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation is known for her central role of nurturing creativity in youths across the country. How has being its member contributed to your growth as an artist, and what opportunities or experiences have been most impactful for you?

ANSWER: Holla to the curators of the HCAF Stars Series. Thank you so much for having me.

When you speak of the Hilltop Creative Art Foundation (HCAF), you speak of greatness. You speak of a vibrant community of teenage artists trying to carve their niche in the literary world. Being a member of HCAF is one of the most beautiful things that have shaped my literary journey. The platform has helped in enhancing my growth through shared opportunities and unending encouragement from the founder, Sir BM Dzukogi. HCAf gave me a sense of belonging; you know there’s just this different feeling that comes when you’re in the midst of like-minded people. Talking about experiences and opportunities, the Hadiza Ibrahim Aliyu Schools Festival (HIASFEST) would be the first on my list. The first time I attended the festival, I was mesmerised by young creatives’ beautiful display of various talents. And ever since then, HIASFEST has remained an experience I’d never want to miss out on because of the effect it has on me. It always leaves me with an urge to just do more. I know I’m blessed to partake in the mentorship programme by HCAF. I am a proud mentee of Mr Blessing Omeiza Ojo, and he has impacted me in so many ways. So yeah, I’m just grateful to be a member of HCAF.

QUESTION: What themes and experiences push the creativity behind your work, and what part of the creative process poses a challenge to you?

ANSWER: Most of my works are themed around grief, loss, uncertainty and other contemporary issues. I’ll say hurtful experiences push me to write the most. When I have a bad experience or hear people’s narration of their own bad experience, I am always tempted to lessen it, perhaps by putting it on paper through words. The creative process as a whole is a challenge, but I feel like what’s even more challenging is to stop being creative. So yeah, not being creative is a challenge for me in the creative process.

QUESTION: As a renowned creative, what advice would you give to emerging artists who are looking to balance the pursuit of artistic excellence with the desire for recognition and validation?

ANSWER: Okay! I’ll keep this as short as possible. Don’t do it to get praised by someone, no. Do it because you want to and because you derive joy from it. Be very intentional about your art and just go for it! Go for the name first, and then the fame and money will follow.

QUESTION: What purpose fuels your creativity?

ANSWER: The need to continuously express myself, to tell my story and other people’s own.

QUESTION: Fifty years away from now, what do you want the literary world to perceive of your art?

ANSWER: I want someone to pick up my work fifty years from now and conceive hope. I want the world to look at my work as open arms ready for healing. They should find solace in it.

QUESTION: Is representation a priority for you, and do you see a need for your writing to reflect your background or ancestral links?

ANSWER: As much as I want the world to know where I’m from, I don’t force it into my works. I try to put it there, but if it doesn’t work, then I take it off, and if it does, then it’s all good.