ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • #PandoraPapers
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Eche NDUKA

Eche NDUKA

World Poetry Day: An evening with PAWA African poetry prize finalists

The poets thrilled us with some of the poems in their winning collections and confirmed why they are among the best in Africa.

byKabura Zakama
March 24, 2022
2 min read

What better time to celebrate the finalists of the inaugural Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) African Poetry Prize than on the World Poetry Day?

That was exactly what the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) did on Monday, 21 March 2022.

AWF hosted Echezonachukwu Nduka, Servio Gbadamosi and Olumide Olaniyan on World Poetry Day 2022.

Tanure Ojaide could not join us due to a clash of schedules. These were the poets who were shortlisted for the PAWA African Poetry Prize, along with the eventual winner, Obari Gomba.

The poets thrilled us with some of the poems in their winning collections and confirmed why they are among the best in Africa.

Servio Gbadamosi by Dirk Skiba

Their craft was evident and their engagement with society vibrant! You need copies of the books to understand why we are excited with their works.

When asked whether the poets thought their poetry was relevant to the Nigerian society, they unanimously answered in the affirmative.

They said the poet is part of the society and is an observer, commentator and chronicler, writing about what happens in the society.

They all agreed that poets have shaped the country and referred us to the Wole Soyinkas and the Christopher Okigbos who handed the baton to the Osofisons and the Iyayis who are energising young people to push for human rights and justice.

Poets, according to these PAWA African Prize for Poetry finalists, interrogate the past and envision the future, to allow us to dream.

1X Bet AD

How did we get here and how do we move on? Poets can answer these and many questions that are relevant to the society.

But the poet is just a single voice. How can poets work together to bring this relevance to the Nigerian society? The finalists advised poets to come together in collectives and amplify their voice!

They point to innovations in technology that enable collaboration across different media and spaces.

Someone asked the poets: since they write in English, a colonial language with its baggages, are they still relevant? The poets were uncomfortable but they suggested that poetry written in English can be translated into indigenous languages, highlighting the supporting work and importance of translators, with Kola Tuboson doing a good work here.

Olumide Olaniyan

They also mentioned bilingual writing, such as the great Ngugi Wa Thiongo does.

However, they drew our attention to the power relations issue in languages. Why do we focus on the big three, WaZoBia, for instance, in Nigeria?

The poets reminded us of the punishments some of us suffered in secondary school for speaking what our teachers considered as vernacular! Thus, we need to decolonise our communication and grow our languages.

We ask of what use if we write in our indigenous languages when there are no readers? So they concluded that for now, we must write in English for a wider reach.

It was a good ending to the World Poetry Day on 21 March 2022, that cozy evening with the three PAWA poetry prize finalists and a handful of poetry lovers!

Kudos to Abuja Writers Forum!

  • Kabura Zakama is a Veterinarian and award-winning poet whose latest collection of poetry is CHANT OF THE ANGRY
  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pocket

CITIZEN-FM AD


Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: To place an advert here . Call Willie - +2348098788999


JOIN THE CONVERSATION

  • Disqus (0)
premiumtimes





PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

How insecurity threatens PoS operators, deprives Sokoto residents of financial services

Next Post

Umahi speaks on impact of court judgment sacking him on his presidential ambition

Kabura Zakama

Kabura Zakama

More News

Miabo Enyadike Founder and CEO of Artmiabo with Bruce Onobrakpeya, during award presentation and 90th birthday celebration

Veteran artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya, receives ‘Grand Master of Etching’ award

April 29, 2022
Akimbo in Limbo

Death, Decay, Interment: A journey through Olaniyan’s “Akimbo in Limbo”

April 23, 2022
Niyi Osundare

For Yemi Ogunbiyi at 75: The Road Never Forgets

April 14, 2022
Michael Abiodun is a visually impaired author, an attorney and a federal prosecutor, demonstrating both prosecutorial and academic excellence in international law and counterterrorism matters.

INTERVIEW: How I wrote 21 books, survive as a blind author in Nigeria – Michael Abiodun

April 10, 2022
Niyi Osundare writes about the Ibadan Jazz Forum and the Black History Month.

Where is our government? – Niyi Osundare

April 8, 2022
Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC)

Copyright operatives arrest four book pirates, impounds works in Abuja

March 24, 2022
Next Post
Governor David Nweze Umahi [PHOTO CREDIT: The Official Governor's Facebook account]

Umahi speaks on impact of court judgment sacking him on his presidential ambition

FCCPC Office Building

Consumer protection agency says customers' complaints up 100%

Leave Comment

Search

AUN-PT Ad





Transport-Technology


Stanbic Ad


Access Bank Ad





Glo Ad


Subscribe to News via Email

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

Join 1,840,567 other subscribers.

Advertisement






netherland biz school Advert



Zenith Advert

ADVERTISEMENT

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • #PandoraPapers
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Opinion
  • The Membership Club
  • Dubawa
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2020 The Premium Times, Nigeria

Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.