Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!
I received commendation from a group for my philosophical and frequent write-ups. This caught me by surprise as I never saw it coming. Of course, I was excited beyond words. Something to cheer about as I kick start Year 2020.
I was however asked two questions rolled into one: Isreal, why do you write, and what are the factors that influence the tone of your write ups. Honestly, the questions took me unawares.
I made a commitment to answer the two questions as much as I can in a long way round. I really do like telling true life stories!
To be a writer is to be dedicated and be prepared if need be for a rough ride depending on the revelations that come through the writings. I use many of my writings to explore and reveal the mysteries of life that often weigh people down; and, or produce an extraordinary personality.
My writings are largely influenced by the family and the home I was born into and raised in.
The controversial and complex nature of my early years of development both in the UK and Nigeria has (now) fortunately given me the philosophical grounding of the complex world we live in which often provokes my rhetorics.
In spite of the genetic make up a baby is born with, the baby arrives in the world clueless of what awaits him or her. Once the child is born, other factors and or events spring into action which the child starts to contend with.
For instance, the society into which the child is born particularly if it is one of conflict, trauma, instability, lies, deception, injustice, betrayal, strife, war, and violence conditions can shape the child and largely influences his or her perspective and predestination. These factors are largely amplified through many of my writings, and the career path I find myself in.
We are all shaped by circumstances of life which gradually translate into who we become one way or the other.
For a starter: Living and growing up (for 19 years) under my late father’s supervision was a mixture of dichotomies. It was a classical regime of no retreat, no surrender. It was a question of survival of the fittest; not for the faint hearted!
The stages of my development were invaded by different kinds of sitcoms, dramas and intolerable circumstances all of which, now in my mid-50s, are influencing my life and the life of people around me probably positively.
My sagacious mind influenced by my childhood experiences has taken a new hold, and turn in my life to the point that I am gradually becoming a fearless and prolific writer. My writings are so down to earth that they even challenge my own hypocrisy!
Some of the situations I had to endure are beyond words. I write essentially to convey my childhood experiences since I did not want them to escape me. I also feel called to speak through my writings ofmy own weaknesses as a child, young man, brother, father, or husband respectively. Sometimes I intentionally expose my weaknesses (through writings) thus opening the door of antagonism and disclosing some level of vulnerability. The primary objective for me is to, through writing amplify warnings and send messages that lay solid foundation for children regardless of the background they come from.
Early foundation precepts and structures in the life of children could simply be a make or break in the nearest future for the children and society at large.
Brokenness in spirit can be perpetrated from one generation to the next. The challenges behind my educational struggles (learning difficulties) nearly sent me to an early grave on so many occasions. My spirit was constantly broken as I struggled through my primary and secondary school education in Nigeria: I could hardly read, write legibly, spell, and construct simple sentences without catalogues of grammatical errors. I had no understanding why I was lay back educationally; and the intolerable domestic environment I found myself contributed to my brokenness. I managed to complete secondary school education (in Nigeria) at the alarming age of 21 years with very poor results!
There were times, believe me or not, I was compelled into solitary confinement due to poor academic performance and to prevent people from seeing scars sustained from beatings meant to correct my academic deficiencies. It was a regular episode of shame and drama in the environment I was brought up. I can still remember vividly a peculiar song of shame I was often compelled to dance to.
Children within neighbourhood would be called upon and asked to form a circle round me as I stood half naked in my underpants. Then the children would be ordered to start clapping simultaneously while singing songs that spoke of my deficiencies as I danced along with tears trickling down my cheeks!
Countless of public and private derogations dominated my education and up bringing in Nigeria particularly from those who were meant to help shape my journey through life.
It was not until age 29 in the UK that I was finally diagnosed with different layers of learning difficulties.
My writings are largely influenced by those painful events. Through my writings I have, quite expectedly made friends and a lot more critics mainly because I dare to reveal sensitive issues that are best kept secret.
I have come to realise over the years that excruciating pains and adversity of life can produce resilience and enormous strength for human survival. Where I find the strength and intuition to write as much as I have written (particularly in the last 40 months) in recent times continues to astonish me. I simply put it down to God’s grace and a determined spirit.
As fate would have it, I am a motivational speaker, bridge builder, advocate, writer, poet, actor, animal lover, and sports enthusiast, a die-hard Arsenal supporter, (the best football team on the planet) no apologies please!
As a human being, I have some shortcomings as well as complex personalities all of which make me unique!
Beyond my belief, I do receive stipends for my philosophical write-ups, and speak at events on special invitations. I speak predominantly on issues to do with learning difficulties: autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder - ADHD, coming out of the wilderness, there is no place like home, challenging slave mentality, irony of the classroom, notion of 2 dogs, building the person you want to become, managing communication and conflict, how to develop a competent and confident child, reflection on black history, make your place in history count, other educational and social related issues.
To God alone be all the glory. Out of imprisonment, the biblical Joseph became much more relevant!
Israel Ayodele E. A. Lazarus Oshunremi
Bachelor of Arts, Honours In Education and Community Studies, University of East London;
Mentor/Educationalist/Public Speaker/Human Rights Activist/Author;
Founder and CEO of Lazarus Ayo Oshunremi Ventures.
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- 4 Jun, 2022
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