I would like to introduce you all to Maranatha Abutu! She is an author, podcaster, and brilliant storyteller. Her passions lie in feminism and gender equality. Through her works, she shines a necessary light on women’s health and cultural prejudices in Nigeria. Maranatha is also a graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the University of llorin, Nigeria. She landed a role as a team lead for a leading company, BPO. She started writing for a publishing company in 2020. She is the host of “Rave with Mara”, which entails discussions revolving around societal issues. Learn more and check out her interview below!

Where are you from? 

I am from Nigeria.

At what moment in your life did you begin writing? When did you realize that writing was one of your gifts that you could evolve into storytelling? 

I believe I started writing after secondary school, or what you would refer to as high school. I would write poetry or short stories in a few lines in a small diary my father gifted me. I remember I used to like reading stories as far back as primary school, and I would gather a bunch of my friends to retell the stories I had read. I think back now, and it makes me smile that storytelling has always been deep within me. But I didn’t start creating and publishing stories until 2019. Even then, it was for fun on social media, until I started writing to advocate for women’s and girls’ issues. However, it was during the Covid-19 lockdown that I discovered my stories were interesting and good enough for publication. So, you could say, that staying locked-in made me find out this gift that had been lying dormant all through my university days.

Let’s talk books!! I am so proud of you for publishing your books! That’s amazing! Being a fellow author, I know how challenging it can be. But it’s so rewarding! How would you describe your style of writing? 

Thank you very much. Writing and pre-publication require a significant amount of effort, but holding your finished work is extremely rewarding, I can’t lie. I don’t have a specific style; with each book, I try a different one. With my first novel, Leila Khalid, I opened my laptop and let the story flow; I did not stop until it was finished. With At Eight, however, I brainstormed for a few weeks, conducted research, and wrote my climax and ending, before I began writing. Meanwhile, for Friendship Illusion, I wrote seven chapters before I outlined what was expected in the remaining chapters.

Tell us about some of your books. “Friendship Illusion” and “At Eight”. What was the inspiration behind these books, and what do they entail? 

In the COVID-19 era, it became apparent that so many women were locked in with their abusers because of the increase in cases of domestic violence and patriarchalism that was recorded in 2020. There were several videos of these abuses and FGM that were prevalent in many African nations, including Nigeria. It picked up my interest, and I started to study more about it. I wanted to write a story about the plethora of women’s health difficulties that may arise as a result of their exposure to this horrific act, such as lack of pleasure from sex, infertility issues, stillbirths, and longer postnatal depression. I began writing “Friendship Illusion” to address these issues, and I was publicly speaking out against the act when an NGO in Nigeria asked me to write “At Eight” for their website. So, I wrote more in-depth research on FGM in At Eight, as this book grew out of that interaction. 

Where can your books be found? 

My books are accessible on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, so they may be purchased and read from anywhere in the world. The paperback is available in Nigeria at the Rovingheights bookshop. 

I know that you are very passionate about feminism and gender equality. Where do these passions stem from? 

I grew up in a community where abuse was nearly normalised, almost being accepted as a form of affection. Seeing my mother suffer through domestic abuse impacted my desire to constantly speak out against it so that individuals who were unaware of the true impact of domestic violence would make informed decisions to save themselves and their children from such a household. 

When you’re not busy, how are you practising self-care?

Self-care for me is being in a quiet space, with a bottle of wine (sometimes), with lots of food, either reading a book or watching a movie of choice. I also try to fit in home exercises and sleep a lot, lol.

Before you go, drop a gem or some great advice for our readers. Feel free to say whatever compels you. I like to call this section Unpacking HerThoughts. Let them know, Queen!

The world is already difficult enough; do all you can to be kind to everyone you meet on your journey through life. Above all, be gentle to yourself, even when your aspirations do not come to be. Give yourself grace; if you do one thing every day that helps you get closer to your goal, pat yourself on the back and keep going. 

My Newsletter page:  https://maraanathaabutu.substack.com/

Microsite:  https://maranatha.curious.page/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maraabutu/

Podcast page: https://www.instagram.com/ravewithmara/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maranathaabutu

Thank you so much, Maranatha!