Interview on Collaboration with Uchechukwu Onyedikam and Christina Chin

Sometimes the hardest part of collaborating is getting started. Here are some tips from creators that have collaborated—sometimes with an absolute stranger—and made something wonderful!

Did you know your partner in collaboration beforehand? Explain how you got together. 

Indeed we didn't know each other beforehand — but today, I'd say we are more connected beyond words & poetry, and we seem to get along the line of collaboration without friction. Many thanks to Lothlorien Poetry Journal; that was the sacred place of our meeting, and the spark of collaboration got ignited — then turned into flame, burning with fiery desire — an unabated poetic ordinance ensued, that sits at the throne of our heart till this holy day.

How did you collaborate? What was your process?

I don't think there's a process to consider as we hone our craft via poetry collaboration — we simply flow through the spirit of tan-renga and abide by words to bring our unconventional thoughts to fruition.

What were some challenges you faced during the collaborative process, and what did you learn?

Sincerely we don't record challenges in spite of my partner being 7 hours ahead of me; our work ethic and shared-passion for poetry has individually influenced our mindscape at how we see callings to write and submit. I have learned (and am still learning) from my partner; her wealth of knowledge has improved how I see the noble face of poetry, and she has introduced me to other great genres of poetry that have shaped the arc of my pen.

Any final words of advice for future collaborators?

—always be on time for poetry, write in there with someone who's ready to magnify the calling…

Read Uchechukwu Onyedikam & Christina Chin’s piece, “Untitled”

Uchechukwu Onyedikam is a Nigerian creative artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. His poems have appeared in Amsterdam Quarterly, Brittle Paper, Poetic Africa, Hood Communists and in print anthologies. Christina Chin and he have co-published Pouring Light on the Hills (2022).

Christina Chin is a painter and haiku poet from Malaysia. She is a four-time recipient of top 100 in the mDAC Summit Contests, exhibited at the Palo Alto Art Center, California. She is 1st prize winner of the 34th Annual Cherry Blossom Sakura Festival 2020 Haiku Contest and 1st prize winner in the 8th Setouchi Matsuyama 2019 Photohaiku Contest. She has been published in numerous journals, multilingual journals, and anthologies, including Japan's prestigious monthly Haikukai Magazine.