Reading has always been a deeply personal experience for me—a sanctuary where I can retreat, reflect, and rejuvenate my creative spirit. Whether it’s the dusty pages of an old Nigerian classic or the crisp, newly printed lines of a Western novel, books have a way of weaving themselves into the very fabric of my life. They are more than just stories or information; they are fuel for my imagination, a wellspring of inspiration that continuously nourishes my artistic soul.

A Journey Across Cultures

Growing up in Nigeria, my love for reading was sparked early on by the rich stories of my homeland. Authors like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, and Buchi Emecheta opened up worlds that were both familiar and profoundly enlightening. Their words painted pictures of the Nigeria I knew and the Nigeria I was still discovering. These books spoke to me in a way that felt deeply personal, resonating with the sounds, smells, and colors of home. They made me proud of my heritage, and more importantly, they showed me the power of storytelling.

When I moved to Türkiye, my reading journey expanded to include Turkish literature, a world that is both ancient and contemporary, steeped in history and modernity. Authors like Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak offered me a window into the soul of this new country, with its rich tapestry of cultures and traditions. The juxtaposition of my Nigerian roots with Turkish influences created a unique blend of ideas, emotions, and perspectives that have greatly enriched my creative work.

Books as a Creative Catalyst

Books do more than entertain or educate me; they act as a catalyst for my creativity. Each time I open a book, I am entering a dialogue with the author, engaging with their ideas, and allowing their words to stir something within me. This process of engagement often leads to new ideas, fresh perspectives, and innovative ways of thinking.

When I’m writing a new song or crafting a narrative, I find myself drawing upon the themes, emotions, and imagery that I have absorbed from my reading. A powerful metaphor in a poem can spark a new lyrical idea; a complex character in a novel can inspire the persona of a song; a vivid description of a landscape can find its way into the backdrop of a story. Books provide me with the raw material that I need to shape my artistic expressions, adding depth and dimension to my work.

The Emotional Connection

There is also a deeply emotional component to my love for reading. Books have the power to connect us to our deepest feelings, to articulate emotions we didn’t even know we had. When I read, I often find myself experiencing a range of emotions—joy, sorrow, nostalgia, excitement—that mirror the emotional journey I want to take my audience on through my music and writing.

In Nigeria, storytelling is an integral part of our culture, a way of passing down wisdom, preserving history, and fostering community. This cultural connection to storytelling has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the emotional power of a well-told story. Similarly, in Türkiye, the tradition of oral storytelling and poetry, from ancient epics to contemporary novels, has further deepened my understanding of how stories can move us, shape us, and inspire us to create.

Balancing Nigerian and Turkish Flavors

My creative work often reflects the dual influences of Nigerian and Turkish cultures, and reading plays a crucial role in this blending of flavors. The themes of resilience, community, and identity that are prevalent in Nigerian literature find a counterpart in Turkish stories of longing, struggle, and love. These overlapping themes allow me to explore universal human experiences while staying true to my roots and embracing my new home.

For instance, when I read Nigerian literature, I am reminded of the vibrant, resilient spirit of my people, a spirit that I strive to embody in my music and writing. On the other hand, Turkish literature, with its intricate narratives and deep emotional currents, challenges me to explore new dimensions of storytelling and expression. Together, these influences create a rich tapestry of ideas that I draw upon in my creative work, ensuring that my art remains authentic, relevant, and deeply connected to the cultures that have shaped me.

Conclusion: The Unending Journey

Reading is not just a pastime for me; it is an essential part of my creative process. It fuels my imagination, challenges my thinking, and provides me with the inspiration I need to create art that is meaningful and impactful. Whether I’m drawing from the rich storytelling traditions of Nigeria or the deep emotional currents of Turkish literature, books remain my constant companions on this creative journey.

As I continue to explore new stories and discover new authors, I know that reading will remain a vital source of inspiration, helping me to grow as an artist and a storyteller. The joy of reading is, in many ways, the joy of creation—the joy of taking the words, ideas, and emotions that books provide and transforming them into something new, something uniquely my own.

And so, I keep reading, keep creating, and keep sharing the stories that matter most to me—stories that are born from the pages of the books I love and shaped by the cultures that define me.