Is a writer born or made?

Article by Momodou Dudu Touray, Gambian writer

A Writer Is Born! The age-old debate over writing rages on. Is a writer born or made? It has become like the philosophical question of the hen-or-the-egg. My own path will try to shed light on this dichotomy. It started in 1978 and I was a primary five pupil in Serekunda school (The Gambia). My class-teacher, Mrs. Jainaba Jaye, a conscientious, intelligent and caring woman, took great interest in my writing skill. After the end of term exams that was to determine which class we would to to for the Common Entrance examinations, she commended me for my composition and essay, read it to the class and showed it to the staff. I went to primary 6a to be prepared for the common entrance and the class-teacher was Mam Balla Njie, a specially gifted and talented teacher with a great flair for writing. I passed and went to Nusrat High school where we were lucky to have good teachers both Gambians and non-Gambians including Mrs Patience Godwin-Sonko, Mr Badara Joof and Mr A. K. Savage. Mrs Patience Godwin-Sonko, a historian and writer, was a big influence to me. Mr. Abdou Karim Savage (AK 47) taught me literature and prepared by for the O levels, and he was so fond of my essays and writings that, on several occasions, he read some of the works not only to my class but also to other students he was teaching. I had previously written a poem and an article for the school magazine, but had never considered myself specially talented. Another turning point to my literary life was in 1985 when I was at the sixth form in Saint Augustine's High. I was awarded the first prize in a national essay competition for sixth form students as part of Gambia's celebration of the International Youth Year. It gave me some confidence and a boost to my writing ability. I got a job at the information department as a trainee reporter with the Gambia News Bulletin. The director at the time, Mr. Marcel Thomasi, a veteran broadcast journalist, and Mr. Cherno Jallow, the then editor, both praised and encouraged my writing. I learned the basics of the profession there and later did some freelancing while working for the Kanifing Municipal Council. I finally wrote a novel and read it with Mr Bora Mboge on Radio Gambia's literary corner, but never published it. I have been influenced by Dr. Lenrie Peters, Florence Mahoney, Ebou Dibba, Swaebou Conateh, Modou F. Singhateh and Nana-Grey Johnson, to name but a few. When I came to Finland, I took part in an essay competition for foreigners organized by the university of Tampere and the Finnish Writers Association, for which I was awarded a runner-up prize. My contribution was also included in an anthology published by WSOY 2000 (Sama Taivas Eri Maa, Laura Huttunen). In March 2011, I launched The Outcast published by Trittum Oy, Helsinki. For the first time, it occurred to me that I am becoming a writer after all. Though I have always known that I have the disposition and the basic ability to be a writer, I could not get myself to believe it before I produced a work I have written over two decades. In my opinion therefore, a writer is born, as it makes it possible to share also other works such as poems and short stories. To be a writer, one must write. Alternatively, a writer may or may not be born, there then a writer is surely made by writing.

About the author

Dudu Touray studied at Nusrat High School and then Saint Augustine´s High (where he won the first prize in a national essay competition for sixth form students in 1985). He worked briefly as trainee reporter on the Gambia News Bulletin. From 1987-1994 worked at the Kanifing municipal council as court clerk and revenue collector before traveling to Finland. The rest of profile follows:

1996-1997 Tampere Institute of social work.

1998-2000 Higher National diploma programme (caring services) - Helsinki Polytechnic.

2004-2005 Diaconia College (supervising services for Immigrant Elderly).

2007-2009 Professional diploma (migration & refugee studies, Helsinki Christian college).

2008-2010 Helsinki Metropolitan University of applied sciences for a degree programme in social services. Abandoned the studies before completing the degree.

Was awarded a runner-up prize in an essay competition for immigrants organized by Tampere University and The Finnish Writers Association, published as part of anthology by WSOY 2000.

Contributed to the research of Sirkku Varjonen, Helsinki University (department of social psychology) 2006.

Substantial experience working with children & elderly care in Finland.

Hobbies soccer, fitness, literature, music and movies.