Artist interview: Poet & storyteller Leeza Awojobi
"I have the opportunity to go back to basics." Poet & storyteller Leeza Awojobi talks about her creative practice in lockdown and the driving force behind her work.
How are you coping with the impact of COVID-19?
Since we’re in a period of isolation, quite a few of my projects and plans have been postponed or put on hold. So I just want to take this time to strip back, focus on my main aims and values more and study more for my M.A. Sometimes when you’re on a roll with things, you can lose the broader vision, and when things went on lockdown, I realised that I was starting to do that a bit...So even though it was frustrating that things had to be postponed, I have the opportunity to go back to basics. For me that looks like taking a step back from social media, reconnecting with God in a deeper way through prayer and bible meditation, journaling more, and building up my exercise regimen again.
How do you describe what you do?
My work is about using poetic language and storytelling to raise questions about who we are at the most basic level. I love to think about the universal traits which are common to all societies and times by using ordinary settings to show how we cope with thoughts of fear, creative impulse and our need for acceptance. I do this through writing and performance, running workshops, and being involved with projects which foster human interaction and understanding.
What's on your desk ATM?
I’m working from home today, but I sometimes work at the Spike Associate space. Right now I have my bullet journal, some coloured pens for noting different things down, some procrastination prevention cards, my poetry notebook and a fruit bowl.
Who has impacted your work?
I have been influenced by all sorts! Music has definitely played an important part: I really appreciate artists such as Stevie Wonder and Ms. Lauryn Hill. They use images and words in such a way which transports you out of where you are, to where they want you to be. As well as this from a young age, I was exposed to a lot of old school Calypso music which has a strong tradition of storytelling and philosophising in their songs. It’s not just about the percussive tempo, but about the characters they portray- most of whom are HILARIOUS!
Outside of music, I have been impacted by spoken word platforms such as Def Jam Poetry and UK poets Francesca Beard and Cecilia Knapp. But the main impact for me is just real life experiences and encounters with people and trying to make sense of these. Most of what I write has some origin in normal situations. I like to use everyday scenarios to make a deeper point about who we are as human beings.
What piece are you most proud of?
Can I be cheeky and have two? The first one I am most proud of my work ‘A Meal around Bristol’ because this allowed me to create a poetic storytelling piece based my experiences of eating food around the city. This took 6 months to create with the commissioning support of the Creative Youth Network. I got to record conversations around the table and respond in poetic form to the many aspects of sharing a meal. I really enjoyed getting to know the people I encountered.
I also really enjoyed writing ‘Held in Pockets’ and working with other creatives to produce this film. When asked if I would write a poem on youth services in our city, I was excited, mainly because I have directly benefited from organisations such as Creative Youth Network and Rising Arts Agency to kick-start my career. I had the opportunity to write this not only from my perspective, but to learn about and include the opinions of other young people in Bristol. I attended a workshop as a ‘fly on the wall’ and got to chat to some amazing young people about what they thought about their youth centres and how they’ve benefitted from them. I was then glad to find out that an abridged version of the piece was awarded the Our City 2019 prize. It’s great to see other patrons in the city recognising my work.
How do you seek out opportunities?
I seek out opportunities in many ways. Whether that is keeping an eye out on networking events or approaching organisations directly. I have learnt that one of the most valuable things is to keep in touch with organisations I have worked with before and simply update them if I have a new idea.
I think the best way to focus on your practice is to understand that not everything out there is necessarily for you and that it only takes a few key and meaningful opportunities to get you on your way. I have become more settled in understanding my strengths and limitations.
Leeza Awojobi is a poet and storyteller based in Bristol.
Follow her work at Eyes & Oath.