By Michael Conally
If the word “eclectic” was a prized trophy Manchester-based poet, novelist, playwright and script writer Peter Kalu would have one permanently dangling around his neck.
His trans-creative industry career is so impressively dizzying there is danger of vertigo when you look down at it.
He started writing as a member of Manchester’s Moss Side Write black writers workshop and has had six novels, two film scripts and three theatre plays produced to date. In 2002 he won the Kodak/Liverpool Film Festival Award for his script, “No Trace”. In March 2003 he won the BBC/Contact Theatre’s Dangeorus Comedy Script Award for his play, “Pants”.
He has lived in Hulme/Moss Side/Didsbury, Manchester; Edinburgh, Scotland; Leeds, Yorkshire; Lagos and Abia State (briefly), Nigeria and San Francisco, USA. He trained in kung fu, regularly practising at the Wu Shu Kwan kung fu centre on the corner of Princess Rd and Alexander Rd, Manchester. He has four children.
Before turning to writing he worked as a translator (of French and Spanish into English), a glass collector in a Leeds pub called the Shoulder of Mutton, and as a street busker around the North West. He has a degree in Law and further qualifications in software programming, Internet coding (HTML) and Marketing.
He runs a Hulme based Carnival Band called Moko Jumbi (Ghosts of the Gods) which takes to the streets at Manchester Carnival every year in July on three feet high stilts! He is learning to tightrope walk.
With all this activity we really wondered how he finds time to breathe, let alone to answer our inevitable 20 Questions.
Name
Peter Kalu
Place
Manchester
Why Featured
His strong work ethic, prolific body of work and the fact that he looks good with an imaginary eclectic mediallion around his neck.
- Profession
Novelist
- Age Region
40s
- Birthday
August 7.
- Right or left handed?
Right handed.
- Philosophy on family life
Marxist: It takes a village to raise a child. Everyone is or can be family.
- Who's been your greatest inspiration in life?
My mother: for keeping on keeping on.
- What current world issue are you most unhappy with? And why?
Energy scarcity - it's caused wars eg Iraq. And environmental destruction eg Ogoni lands, Nigeria.
- If you could how would you bring about world peace?
Consign to history the term 'collateral damage' and the thinking that creates such terms. Figuring out universal provision of plentiful, green energy.
- Which one piece (or series) of creative works (past or present) are you most impressed with? And why?
Lazarillo De Tormes: the first true novel.
- How much does your religion (or way of life) influence the kind projects you do or will consider doing?
I try to go with my intuitive - spiritual flow on projects.
- Are there any topics you would definitely not consider doing a project on? If so which? If no, why not?
Idiosyncrasies of sewer pipe installations in Slough 1970-2000.
- What percentage (100%, 50%, 25%, etc.) of your soul would you be willing to sell in order to be successful?
I do not own my soul and therefore am unable to sell it. Those wishing to purchase my soul should take a ticket and see the Office Upstairs.
- What personal sacrifices have you had to make it to where you are today?
When writing I often forget to bathe and cook. This loses me friends and makes me unwell. Also, I probably choose to write rather than socialise too often for healthy friendships and relationships. I don't do weddings, funerals, christenings, parties etc if I am working on a book.
- What's the best advice you would give to anyone wanting to make it in their chosen career?
Choose a career in an area that you are passionate about. If the reward is in the doing of the thing rather than acknowledgement (financial or social) then you are in a good place to succeed in the long run.
- What's your favourite overseas holiday destination? Or, which overseas destination would you really love to visit for holiday? And why?
Aba, Nigeria. It is so not a holiday resort that it goes beyond ugly and becomes beautiful. (OK, I have family there too!)
- When you leave this planet how would you like to be remembered?
He didn’t realise certain projects were impossible until he had done them.
- What do you admire most in a partner?
Grace – of soul and intellect.
- Would you stay with a partner who hits you? If so, why? If no, why not?
Strategically no. But to have arrived at that situation means it would take careful planning to leave.
- Female circumcision, for or against?
It’s abhorrent, an attack on an individual’s human rights. This argument overrides all counter-principles eg freedom of expression, cultural & moral relativism etc.
- Who would play you in a film of your life?
Some unknown from the provinces.
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