Nathaniel Bivan, a seasoned solutions and conflict journalist, has reported from conflict zones across northern Nigeria, including Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, and Borno states. With editorial stints at Daily Trust Newspapers and HumAngle Media under his belt, Bivan has now ventured into fiction with his debut novel, “Boys, Girls and Beasts”, released on November 15, 2024. He shares with NewsNGR, the inspiration behind his novel.
Your debut novel Boys, Girls and Beasts is set in 2068 and beyond. What inspired this forecast into the future?
I needed the freedom to explore a lot of issues in Nigeria and Africa, and I felt that situating it in the future would give me a kind of omniscient view. Additionally, I also wanted the power to be able to speculate a prosperous future for Nigeria and Africa while staying true to the reality of an imperfect world. I knew I couldn’t draw that power from historical or contemporary fiction. But again, I must say that BGB taps into West African and Nigerian history and a lot of what is currently happening today in its attempt to deliver a well-rounded story that Africans and non-Africans can relate to, after all, terrorism and wars is ongoing now beyond the continent as we speak.
Why did you choose to take the speculative fiction route?
I never planned to write speculative fiction. But in my search for answers to questions such as, what would it be like to commit evil that appears unforgivable in the eyes of many? I was intrigued by the possibility of an actual beast that manifests in a human being who continuously commits atrocities that are totally inhuman.
You explored shape shifting in a remarkable way. Was there a particular trigger for this?
Like I said, and I will elaborate, I wanted to explore what it would be like for us humans to manifest the evil that’s in our hearts, not only in our deeds, but as a physical mark on us. Imagine if every time a man or woman does something evil, that he or she begins to resemble that beast externally. After all, we all have an invisible beast inside of us, and this is why sometimes we may do something that goes against our moral compass and begin to question if we were the ones who did it or if there was a force behind it. But to answer your question directly, the main trigger to apply this in my novel came from a story a neighbour of mine who is from Adamawa State told me about a certain tribe where its people replicate the powers of different beasts.
What role would you say Nigeria’s terrorist situation, especially the atrocities of Boko Haram, play in your story?
It plays a huge role. The terror unleashed by Boko Haram for over a decade is a core inspiration for my book. I wanted to make meaning out of a lot of happenings when I started writing. I craved answers and also experienced some level of trauma as a Nigerian and also as a reporter in the field. But, most of all, I wanted to re-imagine a future that’s filled with hope and yet has all the necessary ingredients that makes the world I build realistic.
How long did it take you to write and why?
I started writing Boys, Girls and Beasts in 2018 and concluded major work on the manuscript in 2021. Now that’s besides the editing process that began sometime around 2021 and 2022. It took me that long to write because writing the first draft, which I did in a year, is usually just the beginning of any writer’s journey to completing a book project.
Did you have any challenges or setbacks while writing this book? If so, how did you overcome them?
After the first draft, I struggled a lot. It wasn’t easy reworking the entire manuscript. I think having beta readers who motivated me was an indispensable tool to my finishing strong.
One of your minor characters, Tabitha, was instrumental to the work’s major plot. Was she inspired by any real event or person?
Without giving away too much, I would say yes she was. I will really like readers to enjoy the discovery that comes with reading the book, so I will leave it at that.
How do you see your novel fairing in the book market?
It’s already selling pretty well and I am very optimistic that it will continue to go far.
What message do you hope readers take away from the book?
If readers miss out on the metaphor of the beast, they should at least get this: that we all have a certain dose of evil inside of us and that the journey towards crushing that evil is beyond our human capabilities.
What motivated you to become a writer, and what keeps you going?
I have always wanted to pour out my heart in a profound manner, be it in poetry or prose. But I think prose won. What keeps me going is the fact that writing has never been just a hobby for me. I have always approached it as a career. But, most of all, it’s a calling. The moment God helped me realise that; it changed everything. Money was the least of my motivation, although I must confess, every writer deserves monetary reward if he’s going into it for the long haul like I have. And, yes, as the Bible says, and I paraphrase, “a worker deserves his wages.”
How do you balance your writing life with other responsibilities?
I simply do what I need to do per time. Sometimes I create strict boundaries and say, this period of time is for my writing, this other time is for journalism. My philosophy of life is that if something is important to you, you will always create time for it. Excuses are for people who haven’t made up their mind or who haven’t discovered their purpose.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are just starting out?
They must learn to be patient. There’s a period of time where you would need to pay your dues and put in the work. That would determine whether you would become a voice tomorrow or disappear into oblivion.
It is said that the reading culture has declined in Nigeria. What is your opinion about that?
I would prefer not to give a yes or no answer. Sometimes you may hold that view depending on the kind of people you have around you. I’m surrounded by bookworms so I can hardly relate. However, I must admit that life’s struggles due to Nigeria’s economic crises tends to give people little time for acts of leisure, which is what reading is supposed to be.
What are your plans for future writing projects?
I’m already working on something. Time will tell.