A Day in the Life of Caleb Femi
Hiiii, welcome to my new series, A Day in the Life of... where I have chat and rub shoulders with some of the uber talented, inspirational, super creatives of this world. Regardless of their artistic discipline, I want to share a bit about them with you. You can thank me later.
*cough cough. Ordella takes to the stage* I would like to share that I have interviewed poet, Young People's Laureate for London, photographer and director Caleb Femi. His talents truly know no bounds. Do you think I'm exaggerating? No, I am being completely serious.
WHO IS CALEB FEMI?
Caleb Femi is the son of Esy and Joel. Do you know what, I’m a really chilled out person, yet I hate when people say ‘I’m chilled out’. I’m not chilled out, let me not lie. I’m actually someone who is introverted and someone who is in love with anything artistic and I’m drawn to looking at and experiencing wonderful art. Yeah – Caleb Femi is poetry and poetry is Caleb Femi – we’re just the same. Poetry is the heartbeat of anything that I do.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALISE THAT YOU WERE IN LOVE WITH POETRY?
When people used to say things and it really struck a chord with me but I didn’t know why. So when I was younger I remember just listening to old rap songs. Not even old rap songs, current rap songs – well at the time it was current – listening to Jay Z’s The Black album or PDC and they just used to say some stuff and it really resonated with me. And it was never like the guns bit or the violence or the women. It was always when they were being vulnerable. And said something really honest about themselves and it really struck a chord with me and I had no idea why. Then I read T.S. Elliot and he had phrases like “I will show you fear in a hand full of dust” and I was like WOW! This has blown my mind! I then became obsessed with reading more and just listening to the wonderful words that people had and that’s when I knew okay, I’m in.
WHEN DID YOU WRITE YOUR FIRST POEM?
I think I wrote my first poem, outside of academic circles, when I was 22.
REFLECTING BACK ON YOUR EARLIER STATEMENT THAT THERE'S AN EXTRICABLE LINK BETWEEN YOURSELF AND POETRY, SO DO YOU THINK THAT THIS CREATIVE FLAIR THAT YOU HAVE CAN BE LEARNT OR IS IT AN INNATE NATURAL GIFT?
I think it can be honed. I think everyone has an element of creativity, it may not always be with words but if there is an inkling of poetic proficiency then it's a good start point and you just have to work on it. Sort of like the gym, you have to work your poetic muscles. It’s something that can be nurtured.
"It was always when they were being vulnerable. And said something really honest about themselves and it really struck a chord with me and I had no idea why."
DO YOU NEED A CERTAIN PERSONALITY TRAITS TO BE A SPOKEN WORD ARTIST?
No you don’t. People think you do, but you don’t. You just need to be someone who’s ready to read poetry out loud.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A SUBJECT OR A FOCAL POINT FOR YOUR POETRY? OR IS IT A FEELING?
Sometimes it’s a feeling coming out and sometimes I think about the essence of my being and I think about a particular subject that matters to me or that is currently at the forefront of my consciousness and I just write a poem. Essentially this is therapy for me so whatever’s urksing me at the time I just put it down in to poetry.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POET?
I don’t have a favourite poet. I think that it’s like incredibly difficult to choose one. I have a lot of poets that I do like. Umm, Nate Marshall, he’s a Chicago based poet. I like Warsan. I like Kayo Chingonyi. I like a lot of my friends work – Zia Ahmed. I like Claudia Rankine. I like T.S. Elliot, I mean, not the personality, not the person but the poetry. I like Robert Frost. The list can go on.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SHARE THEIR POETRY OR BREAK INTO THE POETRY SCENE?
Their first step should be … don’t talk to poets. If you’re trying to get into it [the poetry scene] try and speak to the gate keepers. That’s a tough question, I’m not sure how to answer that. My advice is come and talk to me.
TELL ME ABOUT SOMETHING EXCITING THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON
I’m currently working on a short film, but I can't say too much about it yet. I am working on a theatre show. I am working on being the Young People's Laureate, which is working with lots of young people and encouraging the conversation of poetry. I am working with brands on various things. I am working on photography. All good stuff.
WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CREATIVE RISK THAT YOU'VE EVER TAKEN AND DID IT PAY OFF?
The biggest creative risk that I ever took was being honest and showing my true self to the world and it did pay off.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME WHERE YOU WERE MOST SATISFIED IN LIFE?
When I am most satisfied in life, it is the moment when I write a good poem. Whenever I write a poem, I look at it and I think this is good. So yesterday – I wrote a good poem yesterday.
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A SUPER POWER WHAT SUPER POWER WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Ohhhh that’s a really cool question! If I had to choose a super power, it would be the power to know everything about someone just by looking at them. I know, I know it’s very intrusive. It’s terrible, it’s a terrible power to have. It’s a terrible affliction to have too but I think I’d need it because I don’t think a power should necessarily be something that assists you. It should be something that teaches you to be a better you or challenges you to be a better you. I think having the ability to fly or, I don’t know, manipulate weather or things like that, that’s all good and wonderful but I think they’re selfish and the only power that you should have are powers that are always conflicting your natural state of being. I’m someone who doesn’t mind if I don’t know much about you, yes I will just find out later on and whatever is revealed, is revealed but what if I did have this power? What does that say about me and how would I then approach that? Interesting…
WHAT SONG BEST DESCRIBES YOU?
Oh my days! I can’t answer that. There’s like a million and one songs. Empire of the Sun, Walking on a Dream, I love that song and I think that describes me when I’m happy and silly and bubbly. Giggs ft Dubbs, Pain is the Essence ‘cause obviously I grew up in the ends, I grew up in the hood, that describes me well. And a song by Fela Kuti called Yellow Fever or Water no get Enemy. Ohhh but then there’s Boney Ver, yeah let’s squeeze in Boney, Holla Scene.
Caleb Femi is amazing. *drops mic and leaves stage*
Were you inspired? I was. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
See you in the future
O x