Olukemi Amala
Ethnic Background: Black African (Nigerian), UK born in 1963 – the Chinese year of the rabbit.
I grew up in London and currently live on Scotland’s east coast because I love nature, coastal scenery and space. I have many typical Sagittarian traits: Freedom loving, idealist, unfettered by “small thinking”; interested in philosophy; enthusiastic, gregarious, generous; loves abstract, theoretical ideas, sees the big picture, ignores the details; in love with an ideal; foreign travel, liberating experiences.
I completed a Degree in Biology, a Diploma in social work, and a Masters Degree in Psychotherapy and currently work as a psychotherapist in private practice. I have been employed within mental health services for over 20 years.
Political activism filled my life from adolescence – campaigns, rallies, rebel yells and marching feet. My ability to contribute in these various ways changed since becoming physically disabled. My marching feet are now literary fingers, tapping on my keyboard.
One day soon, when I get the practical support I need and funds allow, I want to begin my PhD in the field of modern psychoanalysis.
My many interests include:
Performance poetry/ spoken word. Apples and Snakes events inspired my creativity throughout the 90s, when I lived in London. Studio Ghibli films. Personal and spiritual development/ Theravada Buddhism. Music loves are the MCees: KRS 1; Talib Kweli; Mos Def. Feloni; Tracy Chapman; Meshell Ndegeocello. 1950 – 80 jazz especially Miles Davis; Thelonious Monk; Herbie Hancock and Maceo Parker.
Favourite novel is Astonishing the Gods by Ben Okri 1999.
Under an Emerald Sky (2011), my debut novel, explores themes of: Power and oppression. Reality and perception. Truth and accepted knowledge. When held up to scrutiny, truth is often nothing more than an interpretation. I am interested in examining these accepted common truths: Who are the definers of accepted truth and who are the ones defined?