Q&A | NEEMA KOMBA: Poet, Writer & Researcher

Compiled by Hawa Sesay on behalf of the Finnish-African Society

Photo Credit: Dirk Skiba

Author’s Portrait, Photo Credit: Dirk Skiba

Briefly introduce yourself and the type of art you create

I am a Tanzanian poet, writer and researcher living in Finland. I write literature (poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction) and academic output (in entrepreneurship, management and organization).

When do you feel most creative? And what activities do you enjoy when you’re not feeling creative?

When I create something authentic to me and manage to express it in my voice. When I dare to try something new. When I string along some weird ideas that might not fit in the conventional sense, but they somehow make sense. Although I don’t know if I think of myself as a wildly creative individual, I am more of a keen observer, and the world is my ultimate teacher and inspiration. I notice things and dare to describe them, especially in my poetry. When I write fiction, though, I get to use my imagination a lot more to create characters and build the world they inhabit.

What activities do you enjoy when you’re not feeling creative?

I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, spending time in nature, swimming, reading, watching documentaries, movies or series, eating good food, a nice massage, travelling…I could go on forever.

If you could go back in time, what would you change about your creative journey?

Nothing. Every hardship, every failure, every success has taught me something valuable, and I am a better writer because of it. I am who I am because of this journey.

What has been your biggest challenge as a BIPOC artist in Finland?

Visibility and access. There is a feeling that you have to constantly prove your worth and value, and even then, they still don’t see you or value you. This is especially the case if you don’t write in Finnish or Swedish. Only if you are a mega global success, like Chimamanda, will they see and value you. Then there is access to opportunities and support as a writer. I have better access to financial support for my academic work than I do for my creative work.

If you had a “Creative Genie,” what are your top three wishes?

I am writing a novel, and this is my first attempt at it. I have the first draft done, thanks to the scholarship from the Miles Morland Foundation. And now, I am in the revision stage, which is so much harder than I ever thought. So, if I had a genie, I would tell them:

  1. Make my revisions go faster
  2. Help me get out of my head so I can trust myself more and just write without restriction
  3. Give me some money (decent enough to live on)

Where do you find your inspiration?

God, nature, history, books, and other works of art.

What are your top three tips for emerging creatives in Finland?

  1. Know your worth, even when it takes a while for others to see it. 
  2. Have faith/hope that your dreams will come true.
  3. Do not limit yourself to a singular context unless you want to and are celebrated/rewarded for it. Remember, the world is bigger than Finland.

What’s your motto in life?

Write one word at a time, take one step at a time.

Visit Komba’s website www.neemakomba.com for more of her work.