Ma, it’s an honor having you grace this episode of, “Streetspiring Moments” I’m certain the insight you will share with us will be noteworthy.
The honor is mine, thank you.
So please tell us who is Gotname Bitrus Ibrahim?
Gotname is a daughter of the most High God, a wife, mother, a poet, Author, relationship coach and much more.
Tell us about your background, childhood, family and education.
I am from a humble family of four, the first born. A Holy Spirit filled family. Have a diploma in mass communication and a BA in English. I have taken short courses on leadership, copywriting, computer, Entrepreneurship etc. Will soon start a Masters.
About writing. Tell us how you started. Was it from childhood or a skill they learned?
How I started writing is hard to tell but writing loved me the day I was born. I am a natural, I have been writing poems in particular from when I didn’t know that was what I was writing.
Your blog is a reservoir of knowledge in niches such poetry, relationship, faith and selfgrowth. Plus, it has been of great impact in the lives of people. Tell us what inspires your writings?
Indeed selfgrowth has something to do with, and I am also inspired by this imputed gift of seeing to the needs of others met. Love inspires me to write, I see through it and persevere in love. The need to become a comforting place and an answer to questions, also the vision to solve the problem of all forms of poverty. So I wake up to write each day unfailingly because I believe my gift will open a lot of prison doors for the victims of all forms of evil…
Check Gotname's blog via
Or connect with her on WhatsApp
You are an Entrepreneur, Poet, Freelancer, Women and Child Advocate, Evangelist, Journalist, Mentor, Wife and a Mom. How do you live up to these responsibilities amazingly?
Listing them that way sounds cumbersome. What I do is actually one. Well, I take a day at a time. I am a woman who relies, on the Holy Spirit for all I do. He makes it worthwhile and possible. I say it is one thing because what ever gift I have was given to me by God to fulfil His purpose , one expression at a time. I am so thrilled about learning one new skill or another. Yes, the Holy Spirit helps me be a submissive wife and a loving mother too, there is no way I could know to do these without His help. Glory to God.
Also read:
3 Epic Hacks To Being Productive In Life
How to deal with negative opinions.
How to become more effective in life.
Poetry: A Generation Dreamt of.
Is there anyone you are looking up to or you've looked up to, or still do in your niche as a writer?
I don’t limit myself to one genre, I am adventurous by nature. Yes! The first I look up to is the Holy Spirit, He inspired the forever best selling book, the Bible. The writings of Shakespeare, King Solomon, David and Deborah. In Nigeria I follow closely writers such as, Richard Ali, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chinua Achebe, Aisha Umar, etc, English writers, T.S Eliot, John Milton, Tony Marisson, Maya Angelo etc, and the likes of TD Jakes, Joyce Mayer, Myles Munroe etc…. As I said I read…
Tell us how you go through tough phases of your journey, to reach this feat and how you have been handling criticisms?
I keep my head up high and confident in the one who lives and dines inside of me, “God”. I believe tough time never last, these times come to shape me and push me towards greatness. People criticize what they fail to understand, we all need a little bit of positive and negative criticism now and then it has a way of keeping us humble and confident. I stay faith focused, on the truth that I need to play my part, which is to improve in my writings and expression while God does His part of making the journey worthwhile by bringing about each dream a success.
Angel if Mine,'' ''The Victor, a Victim,'' ''I Dare to dream, the African Dream.'' These three are your wonderful works. Tell us about them.
Angel if mine, is an anthology of poems, which has themes around education, love, religion etc. It is a miracle. The teamed poem talks about an individual enquiry about where they stand in their relationship, as distrust and uncertainties seems to be the order of the day. Using the relationship between a man and a woman as an example, I use it as a symbolical of how the government and the peoples relationship has been and the church or the religious sects are with their congregants. You will find I write a lot of stires.
‘The victor a victim' is a novel, telling a story set in Nigeria and with characters, we all can relate to. This book addresses terrorism, morality, and extremism.
“I Dare to Dream the African Dream” is an academic poem book. I took my time to write historical themes, one that young people can always refer to.
I also co authored my first academic publication on the topic: EXPLORING THE TRAUMA OF SOCIAL CRISES IN ADAMU KYUKA USMAN'S "THE DEATH OF ETERNITY", which was published with other great authors titled; Tradition, and Society: A Festschrift on Kyuka Lilymjok.
Few months ago on the world poetry day I was given an award for my contribution to promote poetry as a means of communication and recognized as a Nigerian poet. It is so humbling and an honor to be awarded amongst other well respected Authors and poet by the Institute of Author Headed by Dr. Haruna Penni.
You can download any of my books on my blog gotnamewrites.org or on Amazon.
You will find links below
In your interview with Daily Trust, you commented; ‘’They (people, especially those going through trauma) need to look inside of them for the courage to thrive using their various talents.’’ Can you please shed more insight on that?
It is not enough to rely on others to understand your traumas and help you do something about them, the victim must act courageously and search from the reservoir of capabilities and qualities imbedded in them to excel in this space called earth. Talents are different expressions of graces that help us thrive in a competitive world. A victim has no control of his oppressor but they have control of who they would be hence forth, defeated or triumphant, healed or bitter the choice is always there. No one can take you to your destiny that’s your decision to make. In addition, no one can make you relevant that is your journey to make, so also the healing process can only be when you decide to never to be defined as a victim but a victor who went through hell and did not stop in hell but over came and now gives hope to others by showing them a way out of their predicament.
You have been in the creative writing industry for a while. How would you rate the growth of the Industry in present times and it impart in the younger generation?
The creative industry has grown tremendously with the help of the social media and modern technology. There is a far more profitable avenue for the youth for profit and expression in recent years.
See Gotname's interview with Daily Trust in the link below
What are your growth/success habits?
Stay in Him and His word. Love perfectly. Forgive quickly, express yourself through art, read, write, learn, correct, stay focused and don’t stop reaching out for a better world through compassion. Stay humble. Remain faithful to God's purpose, to your spouse and be that righteous role model for your children and the world. Take trips, learn from different cultures and people.
What’s your take on this statement by Nora Ephron; ''Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.?”
As I said earlier on, each of us was created capable and with all that is needed to succeed we just need to believe and act out in faith. There is only so much that people can do for you, you make the turns and decisions, you encourage yourself knowing that you are that Hero you need and the world waits for, not the victim. Nora Ephron is wise.
In a piece, what will you like to tell young ladies and women out there?
You can have it all. Education, professional career, marriage, children and still save the world. Stay focused, wake up ready to conquer your foe and that’s procrastination, ignorance, failure, fear and poverty.
After all is said and done, what does Gotname Bitrus-Ibrahim want to be known for?
First that I love my family, and I good mother and mentor. That Gotname is a lover of humanity, who wants to see that children go to school, that women thrive, that she healed, build the ruined places, alleviate poverty, reconcile humans with their creator and that she came, saw, and conquered with her love-inspired pen.
Thanks a lot, ma for honoring the invitation to share words of insight and some amazing facts about yourself.
Always my pleasure.
Thank you Darling.
ReplyDelete