A writer. A poet. A filmmaker. Lanaire Aderemi is doing it all. Through her powerful storytelling and creative ventures, Lanaire uses words to reshape the stories of women in the past, present and future. Her work delves into the untold stories of Nigerian women and creates a space for which their voices can be celebrated and amplified. Her artistry serves as a beacon of inspiration for many, as her craft challenges social norms and encourages change. Keep reading to discover Lanaire's story.
Where did your love for writing start?
Lanaire described to me an outspoken and expressive young girl, as she spoke of how her passion for writing has been present ever since she was a child. During her teenage years, she gravitated towards journalling and later blogging, which she mentioned provided her with a sense of community. At 13, Lanaire embarked on her poetry journey, amid the turbulence of teenage angst.
How does your heritage and Nigerian history influence your work?
Moving from Nigeria to the UK at the age of 15, Lanaire faced a significant transition that was not just geographical but also deeply cultural. She shared with how this experience ignited a desire within her to maintain a connection to her native country, as she didn't wanted to be removed from her heritage. Her work serves as a powerful medium through which she brings pieces of Nigeria to UK, despite the physical distance. Lanaire's journey is a testament to the resilience of identity in the face of change. She embodies the spirit of carrying one's culture into new spaces, making it a part of the dialogue in her adopted home. Something that stood out to me in our conversation was her passion for cultural preservation.
"In the case of my film, it's oral histories. In the case of my theatres, it's preserving our songs and dances. With poetry, it's me trying to recreate and reimagine what life is like and doing that through orality and performance"
Lanaire mentioned how her use of 'call-and-response', which is a part of Yoruba oral tradition, not only recognises her heritage but allows her to heavily interact with her audience through songs and rhythm in her poetry performances.
"Because I was living in Nigeria, I couldn't write about anything else the time. And even when I left, my mind was still so preoccupied with Nigeria's affairs"
Another key insight I took from our conversation was the power that art holds to express one's political views. While her work, celebrates Nigeria rich history, Lanaire has also used it to critique some of its injustices, such as the killing of the #ENDSars protesters on Lekki bridge on 20th October 2020. Her pieces reflect the volatility of politics in Nigeria.
How do you think your writing is changing the narrative of women?
Lanaire's writing and play explore the Egba Women's Revolt and its implications, an event that tends to be overlooked in history. Through this, she provides a critical lens on historical events, inserting women into existence and remembering the key roles they have played in creating meaningful change. One thing she highlights is the use of community amongst women to stand against iniquity. Her work attempts to emphasise the fact that women have never been silent in the face of injustice, but their experiences have been simply forgotten.
What limits did you find that writing presented for your work and how do you think the use of different mediums solved this?
"Writing is the foundation of everything"
During our talk, Lanaire revealed that she starts all her work as a poem. For her, poetry is the simplest and most comfortable way for her to express herself; the rhythm allowing her to play around with ideas. Lanaire believes writing is important as it allows people to cite and quote you.
Theatre has also been a big part of Lanaire's life, with her family being avid attenders of the Muson Centre and Terra Kulture theatres back in Nigeria. She described to me her awe of the theatre's ability to bring movements, dance, music and drama altogether on the stage. Equally, theatre is also powerful for her as it allows an audience to engage with her work in real time, granting her the chance to see and hear their reactions in the present.
"I love the immediacy of theatre"
When it comes to film, what sticks out to Lanaire is its legacy. While other mediums can still be accessed throughout the years, none allow their witnesses to actually see the characters in the same way that film does.
"The way it travels is unique"
Film allows Lanaire's audience to still be able to see the women that took part in the Egba Women's Revolt, no matter what year they are in. This is important to her as she believes that people connect more with something when they can see another person's gestures, rather than simply hearing or reading about their perspective. Further to this, Lanaire also loves film's ability to bring people together.
Her future plan for her work is to leverage on what she has already done. She hopes for more people to see the art she has produced and to work with people that are passionate about the work that she does.
What piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
"Done is better than perfect"
Wrapping up our conversation, I asked Lanaire to give some advice to young writers, however, I believe this insight can be useful to everyone. While it is important to create something that you're proud of, you must also recognise that it can be refined and improved over time. Nowadays we are taught, black women especially, to pursue perfection. This can often lead to a state where the desire prevents us from producing anything at all. Embracing Lanaire's advice can help us grow in our pursuits as it fosters a healthier and more productive creative process.
"Document EVERYTHING"
The second piece of advice Lanaire gave to me was to document absolutely everything. Whatever you do can be resourceful in some way. She cites this as the reason for her being able to receive multiple grants to aid her work. For instance, she used the footage of a poetry performance, with an audience of 30 people, for a successful application of hers.
If you're interested and want to learn more about Lanaire Aderemi's work, check out her social media handles for more:
Instagram and Twitter: @lanaire_aderemi
Tiktok: @lanaireaderemi
Youtube: @LanaAderemi
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