Author of the Month, Kefen Budji

We are delighted to begin featuring the work of our authors in our Author of the Month campaigns, where we showcase the voices of debut novelists, poets, seasoned academics and emerging scholars who have collaborated with us on their books.

This month, we feature Kefen Budji, author of Boundless (2015), a historical romance set in colonial German Kamerun, described by literary critic, Valentine N. Tameh as a “commendable coalescence of history and art.”

Kefen holds a BA in English, a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Journalism and Mass Communication, an MSc in Anthropology from the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC) Bamenda, and an MA in Cross-cultural Communication and Media Studies from Newcastle University, UK. She is passionate about building communities especially through the empowerment of their vulnerable members like women, children, and youth. As a result, when not teaching English and Literature to secondary and high school students, Kefen volunteers as a peer educator/facilitator, artistic director, editorialist/journalist, trainer and resource person for several organisations which aim to foster holistic growth and capacity-building especially in the areas of education, media, reproductive health, mentorship, talent development and creativity. She is also the co-host of a monthly poetry show that uses poetry to discuss topical societal issues, and for the past three years, has been one of the international judges for Write Liberia, Liberia’s national essay and poetry writing competition. Her other interests include ethnographic research, reading, dancing, acting, and documentary film-making.

In the interview below, learn more about how Kefen wrote her first novel, her favourite authors, hobbies, advice to young African writers and many more fascinating insights that will thrill fans and new readers alike.

To celebrate Kefen Budji’s work, we’re offering a 30% discount on the paperback edition of her novel, Boundless for the month of February.

SPM: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

KB: I guess when I was about 4 years old. When my mum read stories from the Bible especially the book of Exodus to us, while listening, I knew I wanted to one day write stories too. I knew I wanted to get children to be as fascinated as I was with these stories.

SPM: How long did it take you to write your novel, Boundless?

KB: It took longer to research than to write it. I first thought of writing a historical novel when I was in high school and believe it or not, that was actually when I first conceived the plot of Boundless (albeit a very limited plot) and came up with the names of four of my main characters: Samarah, Mayne, Lucy and Bintum. Then after I left university, I did research for about two years, and then wrote the story in a couple of months.

SPM: Where did you get information or ideas for your book?

KB: The idea was born out of my love for historicals. I had been an avid reader right from the time I could spell, and this has remained with me all these years. So, I came to realise that novels were a fun way of learning about history and other topical issues in society. I started thinking about what it would be like if I also wrote about my history, about my reality as a black woman. Then I wondered how it would have been like being a black woman during the colonial period in Cameroon. From these musings the idea of the novel was born.

Now to write a historical novel, I had to at least get my facts straight, even if I played with some of them quite a bit (writer’s license I guess!) Anyway, I consulted history books, online platforms, older people who, even though had not been alive at the time the novel is set in, at least had parents who had been alive then and relayed information to them. I explored, and I read also about contemporary issues, about present-day realities. From all these sources, and from my daily experiences, I got the content which I moulded with the creativity of my mind to write the book.

SPM: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

KB: Uhm… research work, teaching, community empowerment programs especially things related to the media, mentorship, facilitation/peer education, reproductive health, talent development and creativity. I am usually interested in so many things. I love exploring, discovering and trying out new things. I also believe in doing my best to making the community I live in better, no matter how small the contribution.

SPM: What does your family think of your writing?

KB: They have always believed in me, always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, reminding me that the only person who can limit me is me. I think none of them was surprised when I followed my passion for writing. They probably expected it, as I used to gather them together and practically blackmail them into listening to the stories I made up or reading the stories I had written. They are my biggest fans …lol.

SPM: Who’s your favourite African writer?

KB: Actually, there are two; Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

SPM: What is your favourite childhood book?

KB: Pride and Prejudice (my favourite book of all time!), Things Fall Apart

SPM: What advice do you have for aspiring young African writers?

KB: Never be discouraged. It is important to listen to others of course but remember to be true to yourself. Everyone has their unique song to sing, you have your song to sing, and no one can ever sing it for you. Writing is a talent, yes, but it is also a skill, and because it is a skill, it gets better with practice. Remember, the only one who can limit you is you.

SPM: Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

KB: I do! I was actually humbled and elated the first time I read from a reader. They are very encouraging, they boost my self-confidence, they make me feel like I really am contributing to this world. I remember one reader who asked if I could please refer her to some (in fact to all!) of my other published stuff. Most times they have questions too: Why did this happen to this character? How did you go about conceiving this? I thought since you are a woman it would be a love story but oh goodness the bloodshed (this one actually made me laugh out loud!) In effect, they are a great source of inspiration for me.

SPM: Tell us one last thing readers don’t know about you.

KB: Just one? (Laughs). Ok, in secondary school I was in the science class where my favourite subjects were Maths and Literature and my teachers thought I would become a medical doctor.