Author Profile - Reginald Asangba Taluah

Biography:

Reginald Asangba Taluah is the first child of three. He was born on the 14th of April, 1984 to Mr. Charles Taluah and Mrs. Victoria Navro Taluah. He hails from Navrongo in the Upper East Region of Ghana and is a kassena Nankane by tribe. He is currently a final year student in the University of Ghana offering English and Sociology as a combined major.

Quite apart from his tertiary education in the capital of Ghana, all his previous education has been in the north, with both senior and secondary school education at Notre Dame Minor Seminary Secondary in Navrongo. He currently lives with his parents in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

Five Questions with Reginald Asangba Taluah:

1.How long have you been writing poetry?

I started writing poetry way back in secondary school. From 1999 when I made contributions in poetry and article writing to the "Notre Dame News Letter" and I have since been glued to my pen in expressing myself in poetry.

2. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired you and informed your work?

As a budding poet, I owe my sincerest gratitude to the supreme being for his inspiration. I would not be complete without acknowledging Prof. Kofi Awoonor, my friend and lecturer, for his inspiration in the Creative writing class. He enkindled my desire to write and gave me hope when I thought there was none. "You can do it" he said; and today, I am doing it. Others include, Prof. Kofi Anyidohoh, Mutabaruka, Wole Soyinka, Atukwei Okai and John Milton.

3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?

What I hope to accomplish with my poetry is to teach and entertain any good and critical reader who sees my work. This is mainly by representing the reality in an educative but entertaining manner that will catch the attention of readers to what has really been represented.

4. What is your opinion about the state of poetry in Ghana today? The state of poetry on the campus at the University of Ghana, Legon?

I must confess in my candid opinion that the state of poetry in Ghana is nothing to write home about. Most Ghanaians have lost their priorities such that reading has become a far secondary issue in their lives. Most Ghanaians seldom read novels and the like, and for poetry, forget it. However, though the situation is also quite glaring in the University of Ghana, Legon, it is better as compared to the nation as a whole. Quite recently, competitions on poetry and poetry recitals are being organised by mostly young writers and poets to raise the awareness of poetry.

5. What do you think is the role of poetry in the daily lives and politics of Ghanaians?

In my motherland: Africa, power gets into reasonable people and they begin to do unreasonable things. I personally believe the role of poetry is to reveal the concealed, unite the ununited, remind and inform Ghanaians, and Africans for that matter, of their rich cultural heritage and to bring to light human follies and the need for a positive change in societies.

Contact Reginald:

cantankerousdj(at)yahoo.co.uk