Art and Ideas • Created June 25, 2017 03:56

Nigerian poets making a mark

Lola Shoneyin Lola Shoneyin is a multi-award winning poet and author whose signature style of writing has been described as humorous, outspoken and adventurous with a touch of feminism. The poet has published three volumes of poetry; So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg (1998), Song of a River Bird (2002) and […]

Nigerian poets making a mark
Nigerian poets making a mark

Lola Shoneyin

Lola Shoneyin is a multi-award winning poet and author whose signature style of writing has been described as humorous, outspoken and adventurous with a touch of feminism. The poet has published three volumes of poetry; So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg (1998), Song of a River Bird (2002) and For the Love of Flight (2010). She resides in Lagos and is the director of the Book Buzz Foundation. She runs the Ake Arts and Books Festival and the upcoming Kaduna Book and Arts Festival as well. Shoneyin is married to Olaokun Soyinka, the son of Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate.

Rasaq Malik

This poet’s writing comes in a form of art that heals and gives life in a definitive way. Rasaq’s inspirations include Jumoke Verissimo, Danusham Lameris and Laura Kaminski. His pieces have been highly recognized both at home and internationally. They have also appeared in journals like Michigan Quarterly Review, Connotation Press, Poet Lore and African Writers, just to list a few. His poetry has also garnered him nominations such as Bets of the Net Nominations twice and the 2017 Pushcart Prize.

Romeo Oriogun

Oriogun is the 2017 winner of the Brunel International African Poetry Prize and began writing in 2014, just three years ago. Romeo has gone on to become one of the most recognized poets of his generation. The Edo State born poet’s writing has been described as astonishing and rare. He says his achievement came as a “blessing and surprise”. He is making his mark on the poetry scene and shows no sign of stopping. 

Efe Paul Aziro

Being one of Nigeria’s leading performing poets, he has headlined numerous poetry venues. His first poetry collection was; For Broken Men Who Cross Often. Efe is also the founder of the Lagos International Poetry Festival, the director of spoken word poetry at the Open Door Series’ International Cultural Exchange and the Lagos Black Heritage Festival. He is also the producer of Finding Home, Nigeria’s first spoken word poetry theatre production. Apart from that, the well accomplished poet is also an Osiwa Poetry Residency Fellow.

Saddiq Dzukogi
 
This award winning poet is a young voice in the Nigerian literary circle. Saddiq writes from Minna and his poetry collections include Image of Life (2004), Canvas (2011) and Sunbeams and Shadow. Canvas was shortlisted for the Ana Poetry Prize in 2012. He was also a guest at the Nigerian-Korean Poetry Feast and the Writivism Festival in Uganda. Dzukogi is a Poetry Editor at Expound and his works have been featured in publications such as Helicon, Off the Coast, Deep Water Literary Journal, The Poetry Mail among others. 

 

Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

Kukogho is an extraordinary poet who hasn’t just limited himself to writing but to supporting young and upcoming poets and writers as well. He is the CEO of Words, Rhymes & Rhythms Limited (WRR), a virtual classroom, where upcoming poets exchange ideas and harness their talents and creativity. The institution organizes poetry competitions such as Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest and WRR-Caprecon Green Author Prize; all in a bid to promote poetry writing in youths. Samson won the Orange Crush  Prize for Poetry in 2012, the Best Poet in Nigeria by the Nigerian Writer Awards in 2015 and was listed among the 100 most Influential Nigerian Writers in 2016.

Gbenga Adesina
Gbenga’s poetry focuses on injustice, humanity, love, loss and memories. Another winner of the Brunel International African Poetry Prize, his literary works have been featured in Open Society Foundation blog, Brittle Paper, Africanwriter.com, One Throne, Vinyl, Prairie Schooner, Soar Africa(OSIWA anthology of new African poems) and many others. He is also a frequent contributor to panel discussions. Back in 2015, he was a Resident Poet in Open Society Foundation on Goree Island, off the coast of Senegal.
Romeo Oriogun
Oriogun is the 2017 winner of the Brunel International African Poetry Prize and began writing in 2014, just three years ago. Romeo has gone on to become one of the most recognized poets of his generation. The Edo State born poet’s writing has been described as astonishing and rare. He says his achievement came as a “blessing and surprise”. He is making his mark on the poetry scene and shows no sign of stopping. 

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