Write On! interviews author Dami Edun.

Dami says, “I’m a London-born Nigerian author, rapper and podcaster. I write superhero novels set in dystopian realities combined with African spirituality and mythology. In 2019, I was shortlisted for the Pen to Print Book Challenge for my debut novel Ogaman: The Birth Of A New King. I also have extensive professional experience in B2B sales and marketing and in my spare time, I enjoy watching live Arsenal FC matches and salsa dancing.

WO: How would you describe your writing to someone new to it?

DE: My writing would best be described as Top Boy meets Black Panther with a dollop of Spiderman… and a sprinkle of James Bond!

 Jokes aside, what makes my debut novel Ogaman: The Birth Of A New King special is how it captures the unique blend of the London, Black British and Yorùbá cultures & experiences. All while exploring the themes of power, morality, coming of age and the reclamation of heritage.

Hopefully plenty of depth to get your teeth into if that interests you!

WO: Can you tell us a bit about your latest book, Ogaman: The Birth Of A New King?

DE: Sure. Ogaman: The Birth Of A New King follows the journey of a British Nigerian teenager, Tundé Adeyemi, navigating a dystopian London infused with Yorùbá mythology as he transitions from adolescence to adulthood.

In chaotic circumstances, he acquires superpowers and uses them to fulfil his own selfish desires. That is, until tragedy strikes, unveiling a darker force that threatens the lives of London’s citizens. Despite his internal battles, Tundé must decide whether to stop the enemy, or look on as his fellow Londoners perish. Which path will he choose?

WO: What inspired you to write in the first place and what inspires you now?

DE: As a kid, my mum gifted me books such as Famous Five, Secret Seven and Animorphs. After getting lost in those amazing new worlds, I told myself I wanted to write my own book one day. Life went in a slightly different direction, but that passion never died. After being inspired by the incredible Black Panther film, my mum advised me to write my own superhero story for Black British Londoners and I never looked back. Given that she’s an author too, Mum is obviously one of my biggest inspirations!

Now, my writing inspiration very much aligns with my Pan-African mission: to restore the continent and its diaspora to its former glory and dignity, after our dark ages. Hopefully, my writing can inspire the next generation to continue telling our own African-centred stories full of richness, depth and imagination.

WO: Recently, Write On! explored the theme of ‘Mindset.’ What helps you get into the right frame of mind to write? Do you have any tips to prevent your mindset from being disrupted?

DE: My writing mindset is to remember my deeper why, which is to fulfil my creative potential while also reconnecting with my inner Self. For me, there’s no greater avenue to achieve this than to collect, organise and crystallise my thoughts, ideas and imagination into words on a page.

To stop my mindset from being disrupted, I do my best to write anything I can that comes to mind, regardless of the quality or coherence. Because the true magic is in the editing anyway!

WO: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?

DE: Aspiring writers could think of writing with an analogy of sculpting a masterpiece from a huge slab of rock. The rock represents your thoughts, ideas and fantasies. The sculpting of the rock represents the writing process of unearthing the basic structure of your story from your consciousness. Chiselling represents the editing process, where you refine your story endlessly until you reach a beautiful piece of artwork.

I think this mantra is important to keep in mind as the writing process requires constant, long-term chiselling and sculpting (hard work and dedication) before you reach a finished body of work. Hopefully, this really grounds you to stay the course and, when you complete your final manuscript, it will be well worth it!

WO: Question from Instagram user: @madeleinefwhite What drives you to keep creating through difficult times?

DE: It’s a little bit dark, but I think a lot about what lifetime regret would look like in my twilight years.

I always ask myself: ‘If I’m fortunate enough to reach an old age, how would I feel if I wasted all my creative potential and didn’t share my work with the world? Would I be happy I didn’t take the risks while I still had energy?’

This is my driving force, even in tough times. I want to know that I squeezed out every last bit of juice from my creative potential. And for my work to be documented in history. Expressing my creativity also feels like a deep, personal calling that would feel disastrous to ignore.

WO: Can you tell us anything about future projects?

DE: The Ogaman sequel is currently in progress — hopefully in time for a 2026 release! I’m also working to release a comic book and other creative works around Ogaman, so follow my journey on social media if you’d like to see more.

WO: Lastly, if you could choose one fictional animal/creature to be a pet or companion, who would it be and why?

DE: I would choose to have Appa from Avatar: The Last Airbender, because I’d never have to pay for transport or flights again!

You can find out more about Dami Edun here: damiedun.com and connect with him on Instagram: @damiedun, TikTok: @damiedun, YouTube: @TheGardenofEdun and X: @dami_edun

Ogaman: The Birth Of A New King is available to buy from https://books2read.com/ogaman-novel

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Issue 25, featuring Sheila O’Flanagan, is out now. You will find it in libraries and other outlets. Alternatively, all current and previous editions can be found on our magazines page here. 

You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.

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