Bringing new meaning to the word: “Kiyaga-ism”. What does that mean again?
Courtesy of JD Howell
Arthur Kiyaga doesn’t waste time – so much that he organized our interview before we even asked him about it. The Uganda born, Toronto raised author of two books: “Kiyaga-ism” and “Kiyaga-ism Act II”, professional hockey player for the SPHL, rapper, and “sex symbol, of course”, claims his “Kiyaga Swag is something that can’t be taught in school or read about in a book. It comes from within.” But don’t call him cocky – he’s just in it to make us smile.
Arthur: “I was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to Toronto when I was four with my brother, sister and mom – my father had left Uganda earlier to teach Political Science in Third World Nations at the University of Toronto. Once he settled in, we all hopped on a plane to partake in all that Toronto had to offer.”
Pony: And what did Toronto have to offer?
Arthur: “Well, sports and athletics have always been a part of my life. I had to narrow it down though to soccer, track and field, hockey, swimming, badminton, football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball…”
Pony: Good thing you narrowed it down haha.
Arthur: “But both my parents were extremely academically oriented. They both taught in Uganda before we moved here, and always ensured that I had my head in the books as much as my feet on the field, ice or court. But when the hockey road trips had me traveling as far as Montreal and Halifax for games, I’d be listening to my iPod (or kPod as I call it) and become addicted to the way rappers and hip-hop artists played around with words. Honestly! I just started jotting instances and ideas down on paper, and before I knew it I had enough material for a book. I self-published the first one, and I guess everything unfolded from there.”
Pony: But you’re only 24 years old and you have two books! What’s next? A TV show?
Arthur: “Wow, you’re just gunna throw my age out there like that!? I’m old as fuck and now that I’m already behind with all my dreams – I’m trying to get the right legs and wings to allow them all to somehow take flight. But in all honestly, I’m not so sure. I’m far away from the NHL – I never even thought I’d be playing hockey at a professional level, but it just takes dedication. And I certainly never thought in my wildest dreams I’d be writing material that would connect with so many people; I’m honestly just running with everything right now. Next, I’d really love to work with the U.N. and do my part in bringing about the change to better this world.”
Pony: But how do you balance such an aggressive sport like hockey with creative writing?
Courtesy of Arthur Kiyaga
Arthur: “Like all things in life, I really believe there are parallels. We as people can choose to see them or make a connection. Sports and writing are art forms: different, yes, but still art forms. Going to an arena and seeing athletes display their skills can be theatrical to watch. But unlike writing, hockey seems to receive a much quicker response from spectators. They’ll cheer or boo immediately as the game is going on. With writing, it can take time to grow on people, and time for them to properly appreciate the effort put forth buy the author. But for me, they all complement each other. I’m not a writer, I just verbalize my mental and physical activity on paper.”
Pony: So, non-writer, explain to us the fine art of “Kiyaga-ism”
Arthur: “Whenever I’d show my work to people, initially they’d call it poetry. But the way I looked at it, I didn’t see it as being such – even though it rhymed. My stanzas are much longer than conventional poetry. And my last name is Kiyaga, so essentially it’s the scope or spectrum of my thoughts and ideologies on life. Just like any other “ism”, it’s a set of ideas and experiences, but because I present them in a manner that’s been considered unconventional, I’ve unintentionally made and developed it into a ‘style’ of my own.”
Pony: And “Kiyaga-ism Act II”?
Arthur: “For this one, I ran with my style of writing from the first book, but lacing it with a underlying story that glues the poems together. I added enough direction to allow the readers to connect with my vivid style. Basically it’s Kiyaga-ism on steroids. The story’s set in an airport arrivals area; about a kid going on a journey who many felt wasn’t for him. That’s the underlying story, but everything that happens in-between is how and where the poems are embedded.”
Pony: What’s been your biggest challenge?
Arthur: “I only have myself to blame, but it’s to be taken seriously. 99% of the people I tell, “I’ve got a book” will laugh. Then they’ll ask me what it’s called and they’ll laugh again and ask me if it’s a pop-up book. I guess I joke around too much for people to take me for real. But I’m confident enough that if they sit down with my material, they’ll see that yes, I’m me and always having fun, but at the same time I’ve laced my shit with attention to details. They’ll see that it isn’t too far fetched. I guarantee that anyone knowing me could read it and practically hear me saying the words to them as their eyes navigate through the letters I’ve assembled on the page. I’ll work as hard as I can to accurately and creatively fuse words together. It’s also hard being taken seriously as both a writer and hockey player… and underwear model.”
Pony: Of course haha. And what’s the best part of your job?
Arthur: “Conversation – good or bad, it’s still worthwhile. It’s great when people can draw on their own feelings and emotions from my work. But the whole process of writing is just extremely enjoyable for me. I think more than anything, when I write I actually feel as though I’m piecing together a puzzle. Moving words and ideas around on the page so they rest on people’s eyes and ears accordingly – that’s why I do it. Like I tell people, it’s from my eyes, but it’s meant for your eyes.”
Courtesy of Arthur Kiyaga
Check out Arthur’s “Kiyaga Swag” on his website, or on his blog: Kiyaga’s Korner.
XoXo
– The Cowgirls
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