Kodjo Deynoo grew up in Dansoman, then moved to St. Johns near Achimota. He left Ghana in his early twenties and since then has been living in the UK. He just completed an MSc in construction project management and now works with an interior fit out construction company in Bristol, UK. He sees himself as more of a Dansoman guy, as he spent his first decade there.
He blogs at http://poetrysoundbites.blogspot.com/ and tweets at @Kodjo_Poetry.
Five Questions with Kodjo:
1. How long have you been writing poetry?
I have been writing poetry since my teenage years. I would scribble things on paper and then lose them. Then a friend bought me a little green book on my birthday, with a few of my own quotes she had written in. From then on I only wrote in that book. My elder sister then encouraged me to open up a blog a year later. That was in 2009, so I guess I would say 2008.
2. Who are your favourite poets? Which poets have most informed and inspired your work?
I will first mention Pablo Neruda. I could add a few more names, but I am going to only add Phillis Wheatley. Hers is an inspiring story that I feel a lot more people should get to know.
3. What do you hope to accomplish with your poetry?
When I write poetry, it is more to do with the underlying message it conveys, which is mostly defined in a social sense. I like to challenge conceptions and encourage others to think and not just accept the status quo. I hope to, in my little way, help change what needs changing for a better future.
4. You run a blog where you publish your own poetry. What inspired you to set this up? Are you satisfied with your poems being published on your own blog, or do you have a desire to see them published in magazines, journals, other websites, etc., as well?
I needed a platform to share my work. I felt that the more I shared my work and the more people read my work, the more inspired I would become to write further. And with 250 hits a day on the blog I was proved right.
Like every up and coming artist I want my work to be recognised for its worth, and there is no better way than to have it published, and hopefully used in schools. That is my ambition for my work.
5. A visit to your blog reveals that you are constantly publishing new poems. Do you write every day? How many hours a week do you devote to writing poetry?
Those around me suffer the most, because not only do I write everyday, I have to have reading sessions with anyone who will listen. My mind works on overdrive, fueled by my passion for poetry. As of writing up this interview, this day I have written three poems which will feature on my blog in the coming days.
Contact Kodjo:
Email: kodjodeynoo(at)gmail.com
Blog: http://poetrysoundbites.blogspot.com/
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