This was made known in a statement signed by the CAC Executive Programme Director, Jahman O. Anikulapo on Monday.
A pro-culture and literature group under the umbrella of Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC) has announced that this year's ‘World Poetry Day 24: An Evening With Soyinka’ will coincide with the 90th birthday of the Nobel Prize laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
This was made known in a statement signed by the CAC Executive Programme Director, Jahman O. Anikulapo on Monday.
The CAC noted that the World Poetry Day (WPD) is celebrated every March 21 globally as declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999 to “promote the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry throughout the world” and, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional, and international poetry movements."
It said, “Since 2020, the Providus Bank under its CSR initiative -- “Providus Bank Poetry Café” -- has hosted the celebration of the Day, curated by the Culture Advocates Caucus, directed/produced by Anikulapo, under the supervision of the Nobel laureate, Professor Soyinka.”
Anikulapo said that with the official title, ProvidusBank World Poetry Day Café: An Evening with Wole Soyinka, the past editions of the project have treated themes relating to the general human conditions, especially on matters relating to preservation of the environment, education and mental empowerment of the youth, protection of the Girl-Child and respect for the female gender, among others.
“The project has been held every year since inception but the 2020 edition was canceled at the last minute due to the outbreak of the COVID-19, which compelled the lockdown of cities around the world, including Lagos on March 19 – two days to the staging of the edition.
“The 2024 edition coincides with the 90th birthday anniversary year of Soyinka, who is a globally celebrated Poet, Dramatist, Memoirist, Essayist; public intellectual, and above all, a human and civil rights defender.
“The 5th edition of the project is on the theme ‘World Poetry Day 2024: Engaging the Quintessential Poet Wole Soyinka @90.’
The event which will be held on March 21 at the Banquet Hall of the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos by 4 pm, will feature presentations and performances by nine poets – six Nigerians and three from other countries.
Cutting across age and experience, the group said the poets were selected based on their varied styles and techniques of poetry writing and renditions.
Anikulapo said, “In their individual presentations/performances, the poets will be having a “conversation with Soyinka” by engaging their chosen poems of Soyinka -- in their individual dictions and styles.
“The event will also be accompanied by an exhibition of artworks and photographs on his life and career, as well as a reception.”
Those to make presentations/performances at the event include Uche Uwandinachi, a broadcaster, performance poet and the author of poetry collections, “SCAR in the HEART of pain”.
Salamatu Sule, a poet, social commentator and book reviewer, who has been published in several anthologies and was given a mention in a Monograph titled Invoking Flora Nwapa: Nigerian Women Writers, Feminity and Spirituality in World Literature by Paula Uimonen.
Evelyn Osagie, with over two decades of performing poetry/spoken word on stage, mixes performance with elements of folklore, myths, songs; and sometimes employs masks, drum rhythms, music and dance to express her poetic thoughts.
Akeem Lasisi, renowned for his ability to spontaneously deliver poems on various subjects, whose craft mark is the ease with which he switches from Yoruba to English forms and vice-versa.
Ocho Oko Owi, founder and team lead of Afrika-Writes, former Creative Director for Benue Poetry Troupe, and Programmes Manager, SEVHAGE, and an award-winning poet, performance artist, and scholar.
Ruth Mahogany, an artiste recognised for her profound spoken word poetry and captivating music performances with a focus on conscious storytelling.
Nathalie Handal, described as a “contemporary Orpheus,” Nathalie is the author of ten award-winning books, translated into 15 languages, including Life in a Country Album, winner of the Palestine Book Award; and The Republics, lauded as “one of the most inventive books by one of today’s most diverse writers,” winner of the Virginia Faulkner Award for Excellence in Writing and the Arab American Book Award.
Malika Booker, a British poet of Guyanese and Grenadian parentage, and co-founder of Malika’s Poetry Kitchen (A writer’s collective), who recently published the anthology - Two Young, Two Black, Too Different, Poems from Malika’s Poetry Kitchen to celebrate Malika Poetry Kitchen’s 20-year anniversary.
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, a poet, filmmaker, performer, and the author of two chapbooks, Blue Mothertongue and Dagoretti Corner and the EP album Introducing Ngwatilo.