A Sit Down With Boakye D. Alpha, Winner of the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund From Ghana

By Rita Aikins

Boakye Dacosta (or Alpha, as he’s affectionately called), is a young creative artist from Ghana. An author, poet, and filmmaker all rolled into one, he got certified as a VA courtesy of ALX in 2022.

In April 2023, he was named one of the proud winners of the prestigious Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund for his project on bridging the gap between creativity and entrepreneurship in Ghana.

Here’s a chat we had recently.

Hello Alpha, you look excited. I hope you feel the same.

Hi Rita. Oh, yes! I feel … even better.

I didn’t know it was that evident.

Oh yes, it is, and is that a blush I see? Incredible! So, Alpha, tell us how was life growing up? would you say it’s had any influence on who you are now?

I never really talk about how I grew up, which makes this question a bit hard for me, lol. But let’s say I didn’t have a really “normal” life or “normal” family for that matter growing up. (In whichever context normal fits.)

In a way, it was just like every other life, with ups and downs. There were lots of times I was in my head and nobody really realized how far gone I was–In terms of how everything else happening around me (good or bad) affected me. However, I was a good kid.

Hold up, hold up! What do you mean by a “good kid?”

Well, I mean; good grades, gave teachers no trouble, very hardworking, helped at home a lot (learned to cook at a very young age), read a lot, had dreams…

Does that mean you didn’t give your family that much trouble?

Well, not too much trouble that my folks couldn’t handle. Most of my wahala was internal anyway because I was a “troubled” teenager. I stayed indoors a lot, and never really talked much, especially about my feelings.

I found writing along the way and never looked back. It became an outlet, a way to let out some of these bottled-up emotions.

Through writing, I developed a deep sense of empathy and understanding for others who were going through different kinds of struggles. I also discovered a sense of purpose and meaning in my life.

I loved how it allowed me to create something beautiful out of nothing. It helped me turn my thoughts into art, and in doing so, it gave me a sense of power and control over my own narrative — and any other narrative for that matter.

Writing has had a profound impact on who I am today. It has taught me to be vulnerable, to be brave, and face my fears head-on. It has allowed me to connect with others on a deeper level and to share my story in a way that is meaningful and impactful.

Writing has been a transformative experience for me. It has allowed me to find beauty and meaning amid adversity, and it has given me a sense of purpose and direction in my life. I’m grateful for the gift of writing, and I’m excited to continue exploring its many possibilities in the years to come.

It’s great that you’ve been able to do that. Would you say most writers internalize their behaviors? I’m asking this because, I myself tend to do that a lot, still recovering, I guess, lol.

As a writer, I have a tendency to bottle up my emotions and stay in my head.

I know that I’m not alone in this — many writers struggle with it. However, I can’t speak to the fact that it is a universal trait or not. Every writer is unique and may have their own way of approaching the creative process.

In my experience, the danger of bottling up emotions and staying in our heads is that it can lead to feelings of isolation and detachment from others. Writing can be a solitary activity, and it’s easy to get lost in our own thoughts and emotions as we work on our craft.

There have been times when I’ve struggled to express my emotions and connect with others because I’ve been so caught up in my own head. This has led to feelings of loneliness and disconnection, which can be difficult to overcome.

That’s why I think it’s important for writers to find ways to express their emotions in healthy ways and to seek out connections with others. This may involve talking to friends or family members, seeking therapy or counseling, or finding a community of like-minded individuals who can offer support and feedback.

Great recommendations there. Tell us a little bit about how your writing journey has grown.

The journey I am on now started with my love for writing and storytelling.

As mentioned earlier — forgive me for the repetition, but it adds to the emphasis — I discovered the power of words to express myself and cope with a lot of stuff in my life as a teenager. Writing became an outlet for me to process my emotions and make sense of the world around me.

As I grew older, I realized that writing was not just a personal passion, but also a powerful tool for communication and advocacy. I began to write more and more about social issues that I cared about, such as mental health, social justice, and Gender-based violence among others.

Through my writing, I discovered a sense of purpose and direction in my life. I found that I could use my pen to raise awareness about important issues, inspire change in others, and connect with people from all walks of life.

This led me to pursue a career in writing. It kind of influenced my major program in the university i.e., a Bachelor of Arts in English.

I have worked in various roles as a writer and editor, helping a lot of young writers to tell their stories and engage with their audiences. I have also continued to write and publish my own work, both fiction, and non-fiction.

Overall, my journey as a writer has been a deeply rewarding experience. It has allowed me to explore my own identity and purpose, while also making a positive impact in my own small world. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next, and I’m grateful for the opportunities that writing has given me.

Amazing. What are two of your greatest lessons so far?

The first is the power of perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. I have faced many challenges and obstacles that could have easily derailed my life. However, through hard work, determination, and a never-give-up attitude, I am able to overcome these obstacles and achieve my goals.

Through my experiences, I learned that setbacks and failures are an inevitable part of life, but they do not define who we are. Instead, it’s how we respond to these challenges that truly matters. I’ve learned to embrace failure as an opportunity for growth and to use my setbacks as motivation to work harder and smarter.

Secondly, I’ve learned the importance of having a strong support system. Whether it’s family, friends, or mentors, having people who believe in you and support you can make all the difference in the world.

I’ve been fortunate to have people in my life who have believed in me and encouraged me, even when things seemed impossible.

What about regrets? If you had the chance to go back in time, would you change anything?

If I had the chance to go back and change something in my past, I don’t think I would.

While there are certain things I wish I had done differently, I believe that each experience, both good and bad, has played a role in shaping who I am today. The challenges and setbacks I’ve faced have taught me valuable lessons and helped me develop resilience and perseverance.

The successes I’ve had have given me the confidence and motivation to continue striving toward my goals.

Furthermore, every decision and experience I’ve had has led me to where I am today, and I’m grateful for the person I’ve become as a result of my journey. I wouldn’t be the same person without my past experiences, and for that reason, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Instead of dwelling on what could have been or what I wish I had done differently, I focus on using my experiences to learn and grow. I believe that by embracing our past and learning from it, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and those around us.

And now, your most recent win. Talk a bit about it and how it influences the future (yours and others?)

I’m thrilled to have recently won the Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund! It’s a huge honor to be recognized for my work and to be among the talented group of winners.

As the only Ghanaian among the 17 winners, I feel a sense of pride in representing my country and its creative community.

This win is significant for me because it will enable me to pursue a project that is close to my heart. Through the grant, I plan to explore ways to bridge the gap between the creative industry and entrepreneurship in Ghana, with the goal of helping creatives make a sustainable living from their craft.

I believe that this is an important issue that affects many creative communities around the world, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to work on it.

Looking ahead, I hope that my win will inspire others to pursue their creative passions and to think more deeply about the relationship between creativity and entrepreneurship.

I believe that there is a huge potential for creatives to make a positive impact on society, and I hope to play a small part in helping to unlock that potential.

Overall, I’m grateful for the support of Africa No Filter and I am excited about the possibilities that this win opens up for me and others in the creative industry.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

I too, cannot wait, but I’ll have to 😃

Congratulations Alpha. I wish you well in this project and many more to come.

I’m proud of you champ.

Find Alpha on Social Media

Facebook: Facebook Profile

Twitter: @let_alpha_write

Instagram:@let_alpha_write