Rongo Art Residency: A Conversation with Onyinyechi Favour
- How did you feel when you got accepted for the Rongo Art Residency?
I felt excited, grateful, and a little anxious. It was truly a wonderful opportunity that I didn’t take for granted.
- What’s your favorite moment at the residency?
Every moment held meaning for me, but I especially loved the evening session discussions, games, and our movie night. Those moments stood out as both fun and deeply connective.
- What is the most important thing you learned from your facilitator during the residency?
I learnt so much from the facilitator, but one statement stuck with me: “Go into the experience, into the soul. You bore your readers when nothing is happening.”
- After this residency, what next?
After this residency, I hope to intentionally work on my writing by implementing everything I’ve learnt and pushing myself to grow further.
- How has the residency impacted you as a writer?
The residency was a journey of unlearning and relearning. It taught me to be comfortable writing from my subconscious, because that’s when the work becomes raw and bare. I’ve also learnt to embrace my unique voice, to open up more, and to never box myself as a writer.
BIO:
Igbokwe Onyinyechi Favour is a Nigerian writer, storyteller, and poet studying English language and literature at the University of Benin, Nigeria. She explores themes of love, self-discovery, and more. She enjoys blending lyrical language and personal reflection to capture the complexities of human emotion.
She is a pioneering resident at the Rongo Artist Residency (Writers), organized by Benin Arts and Books Festival.
