Title: The Crimson Vigilante with Olayinka Yaqub
Episode Number: #17
Guest: Olayinka Yaqub
Release Date: 8th August 2025
Description:
On the show this week, we are joined by Olayinka Yaqub, one of Nigeria's brightest young minds, who has taken the crime fiction space by storm with his latest book, "The Crimson Vigilante."Olayinka takes us through his journey (4:02) as a young engineering student in Nigeria, navigating his love for writing while managing the rigours of school. He talks about being inspired by foreign crime shows (8:03) like "Quantico" and "Blindspot" to delve into this space of crime fiction writing. Olayinka gets honest with us about the idea of his book becoming adapted for a movie (14:05) and how he would love Tobi Bakare to play the main character. He discusses his writing process (17:12) and how he navigates the end of the story from the beginning, as well as all the intersections at various points. We close out (30:03) with the rapid-fire questions for our guest to answer in quick succession. We love and appreciate Olayinka for sharing his time with us. Enjoy the show!
Key Takeaways:
1. Crime fiction is an untapped genre in the literary space in Nigeria and that needs to change
2. It is possible to have love for two different things and be equally good at them
3. Over time, you learn the value of patience with age and delayed gratifying experiences.
Listen Now On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPs
Connect with Us:
Website: NkemCreatives
Twitter/X: @nkemcreatives
LinkedIn: Nkem Creatives
Instagram: @nkemcreatives
Resources & Mentions:
Grab the Author's Book on Masobe Books: The Crimson Vigilante
Guest’s Social Media (X): @olayinka_yaqub
Episode Credits:
Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu Opara
Audio Producer & Writer: Daniel Odia
Podcast Manager: Daniel Odia
Show Owner: Nkem Creatives
Nkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.