Chris Abani was arrested as a teen when his first book Masters of the Board was released. The Nigerian Government was not amused by the political thriller about a foiled Nigerian coup. Chris was arrested again two more times for his writing. He endured horrific torture while imprisoned. He escaped to London and eventually moved to Los Angeles. His best-selling novel GraceLand was personally picked by Walter Mosley to be the Today Show book club pick in 2005. Chris is a Professor at the University of California, Riverside and the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the Prince Claus Award, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award & the PEN Hemingway Book Prize. His latest book, Song For Night was recently released to more critical acclaim. Jamati Online caught up with this best-selling author to learn more about the man, the musician, and yes, the funny guy.

Jamati: You grew up pretty privileged in Nigeria. Tell us about your memories of growing up in Nigeria. What was the young Chris Abani like?

I spent a lot of time playing with my brothers, reading, watching television and just being a regular child. We traveled a lot and lived in lots of places because my father’s job took us all over Eastern Nigeria.

Jamati: Where does your love for words come from? What is your earliest memory of writing?

My earliest memory of words comes from reading. My mother says I was reading by 4. But my first attempt at writing was a short story for school at 6, and then a short story at 10 which got published. I never looked back from then.

Jamati: It was the words in your first book, Masters of the Board that ultimately got you in trouble and landed you in prison the first time and the other two times after that for Sirocco and Song For A Broken Flute . Was there ever a time that you were too afraid to write because of the power and consequences of your words?

Of course. I am still afraid, in a way. Not necessarily of what will happen to me but of the ways in which my works can be misconstrued and used for wrong. But I am compelled to write to the deepest level of humanity that I know. So I guess I won’t be stopping any time soon.

Jamati: Your books seem to have young main characters like Abigail in Becoming Abigail, My Luck in Song For Night, and Elvis in Graceland. Is this intentional?

I guess it is. I am very interested in how we become who we become, not necessarily what they become, just the how. So I guess it makes sense to look at the point in our lives when we are most vulnerable to change, to transformation, which I guess is early to late teens. Black in The Virgin of Flames is 36 though, so not all my characters are that young.

Jamati: There are bits and pieces about your prison experience in your works but will you ever write your memoirs about that horrific time?

No memoirs of that time. I wrote a book of poetry to try and hold all the complexity of the time. That’s my final word on it.

Jamati: You escaped Nigeria and went to London before finding your home in Los Angeles. You were in exile but now you can officially return to Nigeria. What made this possible?

The change from a military regime to a civilian democracy means that Nigeria is a much freer place. I am planning on going back soon.

Jamati: Sonia Sanchez, a wonderful warrior woman who I have had the pleasure of meeting talks a lot about what it means to be human in the 21st century. I see this theme, what it means to be human throughout your work. What does being human and redemption mean to you?

All my novels are an attempt to put my humanity to the test, to see what I am capable of and if I am capable of redemption. I am always humbled when others come along on the journey with me. As for what it means, I don’t know. I know that it requires a ferocious belief in an ethical life, in compassion, in the acknowledgement that we are nothing without others, that greed is stupid, that the idea of enjoying your life when others are not is unacceptable. It means that in every way, in small acts of kindness, we seek to transform ourselves and that hopefully will express itself more and more in the world. I am still searching. One day, I will be able to call myself human. For now, I am still seeking.

Jamati: And being an African man, what does that mean to you? Many of us in the Diaspora are frustrated when we are told, “you don’t look African.” What exactly does ‘looking African’ entail and is this something you have heard on your journey?

I have been confused as Maori, Dominican, Arab, Indian, and on everything but African. In fact other Nigerians often don’t believe I am Nigerian. We live in a world that has been so racialized and we all operate out of stereotypes that have often been foisted on us. To fight it is to lose. I concentrate on the idea of humanity, what does it mean? Who calls it? Who determines what it is and can mean and how it changes for all of us? In this way, I try to avoid the limitations of race or the surface without necessarily ignoring it. A paradox but then it works. I don’t know what it means to be or look African. I know what it means to be Chris Abani.

Jamati: You’re an accomplished jazz musician as well. You play the saxophone. Tell us about Chris the musician.

Accomplished is hardly the word! I taught myself to play the horn and I enjoy it. The saxophone is an art form that I am not judged on so it is in many ways a deeper and freer expression for me. I don’t get that much time to play anymore, so I don’t know if I think of myself as Chris the musician.

Jamati: I have listened and watched some of your interviews and you are very funny! If the writing thing doesn’t work out (lol), definitely try stand up. Is your funny side because you always try to see the bright side of things?

Funny? Me? Surely not. I don’t know. As with anyone, I am a complex contradiction. I try not to overanalyze myself. I don’t get paid to do that (lol)

Jamati: I have to ask you this….where do you find time to write all these novels, novellas, and poetry? I, I mean someone I know (lol) is having a hard time just writing one book and you write so many. Any advice for me, I mean her? LOL

Tell your friend that if she mixes one part milk, one part honey and a little black tea, puts it in the microwave and drinks it, the creativity will pour out! No, I don’t know why. I think I am just going through a prolific period right now and it may very well slow down in a couple of years. We all write at the pace we do. It doesn’t matter how many books you write, but how good they are.

Jamati: You’re working on several things; a book length poem called Sanctificum, an Anthology called Lagos Noir and a book called Fire & His Brother about Nigeria circus freaks. Tell us about these works and when we can expect to see them in our bookstores.

Sanctificum is nearly done and will begin to go out to publishers soon. Lagos Noir is in the works and we hope late this year and Fire and His Brother is a few years away from being done.

Jamati: Can you tell us a little more about “Black Goat” poetry series and how can up and coming writers submit their work?

Black Goat, as my website says, was created by me and curated by me, as a way to give voice to other poets who might fall through the gaps of traditional publishing. It is a very small operation and at the moment we are not accepting submissions. The schedule is full through 2010.

Jamati: Thank you Chris for taking time out of your hectic schedule to speak to us at Jamati Online. We wish you nothing but continued success.

Thank you, thank you. And many bright moments to you too.

Visit Chris Abani’s website to find out more about him.