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In a class of his own
Writer Russell Soaba talks to MALUM NALU about PNG literature,
attitudes and identity.
Russell Soaba is arguably one of the
greatest writers in Papua New Guinea.
He is the portrait of the odd man out, an individual and a great
thinker.
His works, particularly novels Maiba and Wanpis, are studied in
universities all over the world by students of literature and
philosophy.
Followers of the existentialism philosophy the world over dote on
the writings of Russell Soaba.
It is, however, a paradox that he is not recognised in his own
country Papua New Guinea for his great contribution to the
country's literature.
Only recently, he was awarded a Papua New Guinea Independence
medal, an honour supposed to have been given in 2000 but deferred
because of troubles on the University of PNG campus.
For this Russell, 56, is grateful, adding that it is something for
all PNG writers, young and old.
"I think it's about time," he tells me in a rare interview.
"The only writers we have honoured, but in that matter for some
other reason, is Sir Paulias Matane, with Michael Somare, Rabbie
Namaliu, these people.
"But they are being honoured for some other reason than writing,
and that's the saddest thing.
"What these men must realise is that we deserve the same type of
recognition as they do, even though they may think that the work
they do differs from us.
"If you look at it closely, it all boils down to one important
aspect of our society, and that is 'communal service'.
"Every other journalist or scribe does exactly the same thing. So
we must all be recognised on an equal footing.
"Ultimately, there is no denying that we all serve our community
with the same amount of determination, commitment and dedication.
"What's the difference between a good accountant who gets all his
figures correct at the end of the day, and a writer who records
the same sort of events in our lives, but in a different form?"
Soaba believes that a writer is an unofficial ombudsman of the
country adding their duty lies more in the area of human
relationship.
"By that, I mean that as an ombudsman, or as an unofficial
ombudsman, he does not set out to correct his neighbour, rather,
what he is doing as that type of ombudsman, is lightly tapping a
colleague on the shoulder and saying 'listen brother, let's no
overdo this. It might have some negative results for both of us'.
"A writer is an ombudsman in that sense.
"I see all of our writers as unofficial ombudsman of our society.
"It comes back to the age-old slogan that 'the pen is mightier
than the sword'.
"Its might is seen when there's so much of small detail faithfully
recorded without any grudges, put with a great amount of
passionate zeal.
"Because of its sense of simplicity, it lasts forever."
Soaba then speaks three parables to me - that of the girl who does
not serve him at Big Rooster, Asian efficiency as compared to his
own beloved country, and Alotau laziness - to point out the very
serious attitude problem Papua New Guinea has.
"We as Papua New Guineans have this very bad attitude," he says.
"If we change these bad attitudes, how much more easier, better
and happier it would be?
"Looking at the way a writer looks at the society he lives in, and
how he feels about certain things, why are things suddenly so
wrong?
"We can't blame the politicians too much. The real wrong lies
within our attitudes.
"I could write a long, long book about these bad attitudes we have
as Papua New Guineans.
Soaba, Australian-educated high school student from Cape Vogel in
the Milne Bay Province, talks fondly about his schooling days
including the visit of Prince Charles to Martyrs Memorial High
School in 1967.
"We were able to push him and given him a nudge. It was quite an
experience."
In 1968 and 1969, this precociously-talented Papua New Guinean was
awarded an Anglican Church Scholarship to Australia to do year 11
and 12 at Baldwyn High School in Melbourne.
"Around that time I read in the Melbourne Age about 10,000 Years
in a Lifetime (by Albert Maori Kiki) and I became excited about a
Papua New Guinean writing a book," Soaba tells me with emotion.
"And then I read a bit in Melbourne about Ulli Beier (literature
lecturer) influence on (UPNG) campus.
"Even when I qualified to enter any Australian university then, I
decided that it would be far more exciting if I came back to UPNG.
"I was able to terminate the church scholarship, come back, and
apply for government scholarship at the university.
"In 1970, I became so excited meeting Leo Hannett, Ulli Beier,
Arthur Jawodimbari, Rabbie Namaliu, a certain angry student
politician called John Kasaipwalova, and a certain angry young man
from outside called Michael Somare.
"And of course, the personality who really thrilled me most was
Vincent Eri, author of the first Papua New Guinean novel called
The Crocodile.
"There was another quiet personality I felt proud to meet: that
was the poet Kumalau Tawali, and another poet called Jack Lahui.
"In a way, I felt proud to be among this famous group of PNG
writers.
"Since then I attended Ulli Beier's creative writing classes.
"He exercised that same sort of influence he had in Nigeria.
"His presence merely motivated PNG writers to emerge into
worldwide recognition like Vincent Eri, Albert Maori Kiki, and the
plays of Leo Hannett, Arthur Jawodimbari and John Kasaipwalova.
"Writing flourished at that time.
"Since then, of course, I consider myself as a writer.
"But whether or not a successful or great writer, that is highly
questionable."
Soaba's greatest works are Wanpis (1977) and Maiba 1986 - studied
all over the world - and poem anthologies Naked Thoughts (1978)
and Kwamra (2000), among various others.
"Since then, I sort of became lazy, not really lazy, just too much
teaching commitments," he laughs.
The government, Soaba feels, must give more support to writers.
"What the government of Papua New Guinea must do is
institutionalise a writers' and artists' endowment fund, a grant
programme," he tells me.
"There is a place where this can be housed and this is the
National Cultural Commission.
"The National Cultural Commission does have a Literature Board.
"What the government needs to do is use the literature board as
the clearing house for this grant programme.
"It's only honourable that they entertain it, support it in the
best way possible.
"Consider the percentage of tax that government solicits out from
business houses, companies, corporations.
"What I would ask for is 2 per cent tax money to go towards the
writers' grant scheme.
"The government can enjoy its 98 per cent.
"We have been ignored for too long."
How does Soaba describe his writing, which I, personally, would
describe as way beyond its time.
"My writing is highly personal, very intimate," he replies,
"It addresses the individual man than the community as a whole. I
believe that this is where things start.
"Everything starts off with an individual and progresses to two
people, on to three and then the community.
"Also, the characters that I create are these Papua New Guinean
individuals.
"So really, if I concentrate on an individual, that doesn't mean
that I am working alone.
"In fact I'm speaking for the whole population.
"Each of these individuals gets born, cries to be heard, becomes
an individual, and becomes a Papua New Guineans man or woman.
"Their fears, the hardships that they go through, their romantic
experiences, tragedies, and all these things that is most human to
us."
How does he feel about his books being studied all over the world
by students of literature and philosophy?
"The books themselves are studied not only in literature out
there, but also in philosophy, social work and cultural studies.
"There are a great number of universities throughout the world who
use the novel Maiba as a textbook.
"There is a women's university in the USA who use the book Maiba
every now and then as a textbook.
"I recall how pleased I felt with that school at one time.
"The principal wrote to me about the book, and that they were
happy to teach the book at the school, they regarded me as an
up-and-coming African woman writer.
"I replied and said 'thank you'," Soaba laughs.
His future
"I am really anxious to publish one more novel before I call it
quits.
"I have had an offer from an Italian publisher who wants to
translate Maiba and Wanpis into Italian.
"I also have recently selected a biographer to write my biography.
"The other thing I would like to add is to encourage our young
writers of today to write seriously about us as Papua New
Guineans.
"Give ourselves some kind of identity on the face of the world."
 
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