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An Interview with first time author of “An Ordinary Wonder”, Buki Papillion.

The Rising Star Series.

By Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh Published 2 years ago 5 min read
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We're all building this world as we go along, and to say ‘this is how it has always been’ in response to calls for change is one of the greatest injuries that we do to ourselves as a species.

BUKI PAPILLON

An Ordinary Wonder is the first Nigerian novel to center an intersex character. It tells the story of Otolorin, a girl who stands up against a world that refuses her humanity.

“My name is Otolorin. I’ve been called a monster” is how the story begins. Otolorin is born intersex to a Nigerian family living in Ibadan. Even though she insists that she is female, her family believes she is male and will stop at nothing to force her into that identity. Everything from physical abuse, psychological manipulation, religious intervention, to parental neglect. Thankfully, though, the story is powerfully affirming. The drama rides on Otolorin’s brutal experience with bigotry as much as it does on her relentless fight for survival.

When Buki Papillon’s An Ordinary Wonder was released in the UK in March 2021, it was met with wide acclaim — and for good reason.

Now, a year later, I catch up with her to find out what she has been up to and what we can expect from her in the future.

Cathy Ben-Ameh: It’s been a year since you released your debut novel “An Ordinary Wonder” and it has received such wide acclaim; What has been the highlight of the feedback received from your fans, publishers, and the media so far?

Buki Papillon: Thank you so much! The response has been overwhelming and incredibly heart-warming! I would have to say my favourite so far has been having people who see themselves represented, or who identify with the story or main character, tell me how it has moved them and also encouraged them. It has also been amazing to hear so many people say how reading An Ordinary Wonder has opened their eyes or broadened their thinking. That was the ultimate hope in addition, of course, to it being a great reading experience. And to that I always add an ask: that people also seek out and read books by intersex authors, and follow and support intersex advocacy groups like the ILGA and InterAct.

Cathy Ben-Ameh: You have mentioned in other interviews that a good amount of what is in your book, “An Ordinary Wonder” is informed by personal experience and other people’s experiences. In what way do you believe that telling this story has succeeded (Or can succeed) in introducing the potential of a cultural shift by way of the general social orientation and existing societal gender biases in the Nigerian Society?

Buki Papillon: I believe that what makes it so easy to create an “other” and to stoke the belief that this “other” is somehow less than oneself, is the unfortunate human tendency to attack what we don’t understand. It was important to me that Otolorin is experienced by readers as a whole human being. Someone who could be anyone’s family member. And it was also important that readers are brought to the point of asking themselves, what do I believe? In a similar situation, who would I be? A Mojisola or A Mr. Dickson? I think this story creates a safe and intriguing space for readers to examine those possibilities. This is the magic of what books can achieve; that we sort of get to test-drive situations and maybe ask ourselves questions we might not consider in the everyday course of life. In so many of the situations that Oto (also called Lori) finds herself, people who have perpetuated the kind of hurt that she experiences have always found reasons to justify their actions; sometimes because there hasn’t been room created (usually within the general societal orientation) for their own self-examination. The belief in child witches in Nigeria, for example. If you have not witnessed a loving parent turn against their own child and allow others to subject her to horrors, you would not believe such a thing possible. And yet I’ve known it to happen. We are evolving worldwide as a species, and as the world gets more and more connected, I believe books like An Ordinary Wonder will help all societies, including within Nigeria, to further realize that we had better make space for all of us to peacefully co-exist, because people who do not fit into whoever’s narrow concept of humanity; be it in terms of gender, sexuality, etc, are not going anywhere. And the sooner we just let others simply be their whole selves, the better off we all will be.

Cathy Ben-Ameh: You have previously mentioned that you are working on a second novel and your fan readers are itching to get a little hint as to what to expect. Could you please share a little something on that and on any other projects we can look forward to?

Buki Papillon: I am working on a number of exciting projects, but the immediate follow up to my first book will, I think (knock on wood), have a wide appeal and make readers of An Ordinary Wonder happy. It is set mostly between Nigeria and the UK, and is about family secrets, and questions how well do you really know your loved ones or even yourself? It has so many twists, I feel like one of those jugglers keeping several plates spinning in the air as I write! I think readers will fall in love with the characters and their shocking predicament!

Cathy Ben-Ameh: Sounds exciting! We look forward to it! Thank you so much Buki, for spending time with me. Your book is a real ground breaker and I can hardly wait to read your future stories.

An Ordinary Wonder is available on Amazon as an Audiobook , narrated by Adjoa Andoh whose many film and TV roles include Doctor Who, Adulthood and most recently Lady Danbury in the Netflix drama Bridgerton. Adjoa directed and starred in Richard II, the first-ever company of women of colour in a Shakespeare play on a major UK stage.

Humanity
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About the Creator

Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh

Bio:

Cathy Ben-Ameh has published two books; "The Impact of Music Streaming on The Music Industry: Case study-Spotify" and "'13- A Chapbook of 13 Short Poems". https://linktr.ee/cathybenameh

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