HCAF STARS SERIES INTERVIEW—J. L. MAIKAHO
Question :
The Hilltop Creative Arts Foundation is recognised for its pivotal role in fostering creativity among young people across the country. How has being a member contributed to your growth as an artist, and what opportunities or experiences have been most impactful for you?
Answer:
My HCAF membership has contributed immensely to my growth in many ways. I joined in November 2024 when I was accepted for the Muktar Aligu Art Residency and since then, I have been exposed to more opportunities for improvement including the Ebedi International Writers Residency. The most impactful experience I’ll say, is the sense of community. Members urge each other to grow, make submissions, and put out their work. They volunteer to support each other in editing and critiquing. And when anyone wins anything, they celebrate them with genuine joy. That has stood out for me.
Question:
What themes and experiences push the creativity behind your work, and what part of the creative process poses a challenge to you?
Answer:
Honestly, I don’t write with themes in mind. I simply write what I’m passionate about, what I believe must be written and by me. It is only after I’ve written that I realize there are themes after all. Most of my published works have themes of women’s rights, peace, conflict and mental health. But I also have works with themes of romance, spirituality, culture, identity, animal rights, history and science. The most challenging part of the creative process for me is editing. I don’t like to go back to my poems or stories once I reach the finish line. But it’s something I’ve had to manage.
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:
I don’t know if I’ll call myself a renowned creative, but my advice in this regard is to focus on the beauty of the art itself. It’s okay to desire recognition and validation but you don’t have to let that desire control your art.
Question:
What purpose fuels your creativity ?
Answer:
Stories shape the world and our perception of it. There’s a reason I have a flair for storytelling, for an art that shapes worldview. I write because I was meant to and would find the deepest fulfillment through storytelling.
Question:
Fifty years away from now, what do you want the literary world to perceive of your art?
Answer:
I did what I could, when I could. It’s what I had.
Question:
Is representation a priority for you, and do you see a need for your writing to reflect your background, or ancestral links?
Answer:
It’s not something I can escape even if I want to. I don’t set out writing to represent but I often do and it’s fine.
