The Lagos Black Heritage Festival 2014 on its fifth day (Thursday April 17) presented the corps of the best of Poets, Spoken Word Acts and Folklorists from the Lagos performance circuit and a little beyond… it was a night of deep reflections and critical dissection of ills in the political system… the night the Artistes -- on behalf of the people -- spoke back to Power in WORDS and RHYTHMS… Here the profile of the poets… ODIA OFEIMUN – Special Guest Ofeimun’s collection, LAGOS OF THE POETS, has been described by critics as the most definitive and resourceful poetry book on Lagos and its many faces and nuances. He also wrote the primary text for the coffee table book, Lagos, A City At Work. His other collections include The Poet Lied (1980), A Handle For The Flutist (1986), Dreams At Work, London Letter and Other Poems (2000) and Salute To The Master Builder, (on the personage of Obafemi Awolowo). His poems for dance-drama, Under African Skies (1990) and Siye Goli (A Feast Of Return, 1992), both of which engage themes across African and South African history, were commissioned and performed across Britain and Western Europe by Adzido, the London-based Pan-African Dance Ensemble in the early nineties.Feast of Returns and Nigeria The Beautiful have also been widely performed on stage in Lagos and various other states of Nigeria. Odia has worked as a news reporter, factory labourer and civil servant before studying Political Science at the University of Ibadan, where his poetry won first prize in the University Competition of 1975. He has worked as an administrative officer in the Federal Public Service Commission, as a teacher, as Private (Political) Secretary to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria, and as a member of the editorial board of The Guardian newspapers. After a stint at Oxford on a Commonwealth fellowship, he returned to Nigeria upon the annulment of the 1993 election, and wrote columns for The Guardian On Sunday, The Nigerian Tribune as well as contributing to many other newspapers. He was chairman of the editorial board of the defunct daily, A.M. News as well as The News and Tempo magazines. He has been publicity secretary (1982-84), general secretary (1984-88) and president (1993-97) of the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA.(Adapted from edoworld.net/ODIA_OFEIMUN.html) Contact: odiaofeimun@hotmail ROPO EWENLA A consummate stage personality; actor, singer, art advocate and poet, Ropo has been a regular performer (and part organiser) at Word and Sound and Poetry Potter -- two monthly performance poetry events since 2005. He had also been an anchor of editions of the WordSlam Feast of Poetic Flights. His most recent stage appearance was as Alapata in an excerpt of Wole Soyinka’s latest play offering, Alapata Apata for the Ake Arts and Book Festival. He is currently Secretary General of Pen Nigeria Centre; and the Assistant Director of the University of Ibadan Media Centre. Contact: [email protected] AKEEM LASISI Famous for his ability to spontaneously deliver poems on various subjects, Poet and Culture Journalist, Akeem, has performed poetry within and outside Nigeria in the past decade and half. His craft-mark is the ease with which he switches from Yoruba to English forms and vice versa. Two of his collections of poems IREMOJE: Ritual Poetry for Ken Saro-Wiwa and Night of my Flight won him the 2000 and 2005 editions of the Association of Nigerian Authors/Cadbury Poetry Prize. His recorded poetry-music albums are Post Mortem, Ori Agbe and Wonderland-Eleleture. Contact: [email protected] SAGE HAS.SON A distinguished Spoken Word performer, and perhaps most eminent on contemporary stage, Sage has featured in over 400 events across the country, including at Hip Hop World Awards in 2006 and 2010, Big Brother Nigeria, Arts Alive in South Africa. He has done over 100 brand poems written specifically for top corporate organisations. He has recorded and released two spoken word poetry albums and written a book, Dream Maker, a fable that combines prose and poetry to interrogate the prevailing notions of success and fulfillment. Contact: sagehasson@gmail PAUL EFE AZINO Efe’s poetry is heavy with cutting edge socio-economic commentary. He is host of 100,000 Poets For Change, the poetry segment of the annual Lagos Book and Art Festival and convener of Unchained Voices… a Generation Speaks, a platform for artists from various genres to express themselves on sundry socio-political issues. He has also performed at the Ake Arts and Book Festival; and at events organized by Google Nigeria, Multichoice, Terra Kulture, Nicon Hilton, Abuja, etc. His collection of poetry, When the Revolution Spoke, published by Farafina Books, is due out in August 2014. Contact: efepaul@efepaulspeaks AYE-OLA MABIAKU Aye-Ola has graced the stage of several poetry festivals including the Ife poetry festival, the MacMillan Literary Night, Wordslam- Feast of Poetic Flights, and the Lagos Tribute to Mandela concert. She won the Lagos Poetry Festival competition organised by the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) in 2004 and 2007. Younger sister to Actor and Afrobeat musician, Dede Mabiaku, she studied Biochemistry and has a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from University of Lagos; and currently works with Environmental Resources Managers Limited (ERML). Contact: ayomabiak@yahoo IQUO DIANA-ABASI EKE Writer, Actress and Performance Poet, Iquo usually renders her folklore-rich poetry accompanied by drums, flute and/or strings. Her maiden collection of poems, Symphony of Becoming, brings reflections to light, as it unearths memory and messages in an imagery-laden broth. Her work explores pain, social consciousness, passion, womanhood and indeed the trials of the griots of this age. Her past performances include at: Macmillan Literary Night, The Lagos Black Heritage Festival, PLAY Poetry Festival, WordSlam: Feast of Poetic Flights, The Lagos Poetry Festival, Poetry Potter, Word and Sound. Contact: Diana_eke@yahoo UCHE UWADINACHI A performance poet and author of the poetry collection, SCAR in the HEART of pain,” Uche was 1st Prize winner of ANA Lagos Poetry Performance Festival (LASPOFEST) 2006, 1st prize winner June ‘Poetrycraze’contest 2009, 2nd Prize Poetry Winner of Ken Saro-Wiwa Contest USA 2010, 2nd runner-up in the National Poetry Slam Competition 2012 , 3rd prize winner for poetry at the FNL POETRY Competition 2012 and Top Poetry Winner (March) of the African Street Writer 2013. His poems have been published in the Lime Jewel collection London 2010, ‘if yu hia say a de prizin’ 2012 Nigeria, World Poetry International Peace E- Anthology Canada Mandela Tributes Gambia 2014 and other publications. Contact: flame45ng@yahoo TITILOPE SONUGA Poet, Performer and Civil Engineer, Titilope was winner of the 2011 Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer Award for her first collection of poetry, Down To Earth, as well as the 2013 RISE Award in Edmonton, Alberta. The duality of her African and Canadian upbringing is clear in her distinct form of storytelling. She is actively involved in the Canadian literary community and has served on boards for Spoken Word Canada and the Edmonton Poetry Festival. Her stories have been told on stages across Canada and internationally. Contact: titilope01@gmail WANA UDOBANG Wana Wana as she is popular called is a broadcaster, blogger, writer, poet, culture fanatic, 40/50s pin-up obsessed, chiffon lover and truth seeker. Her essays, poems and short stories have been published in several literary magazines and anthologies. Her audio collection of poetry, Dirty Laundry was released in 2013 to critical acclaim. Contact: wanaudobang@yahoo DONNA OGUNNAIKE Poet, writer and lawyer, Donna is one of the most compelling voices in the Lagos intense performance poetry circuit. Her spell-binding performances, exploring themes that cut to the heart, keep her various audiences on the edge of their seats and earn her standing ovations. Contact: donnaobaseki@yahoo AJ DAGGGA TOLAR Poet, Spoken Word Performer and Rights Activist, Aj. Dagga Tolar’s published works include Season of Struggle 1997; This Country is not a Poem. 2005; Darkwaters Drunkards 2007; Love in the Memory of Pain 2013. He also has numerous unpublished collections including, The Tragedy of Silence and A Statement of Suicide. Founder and Coordinator, Aj. House of Poetry, Dagga Tolar is also a school teacher, and an active member of the Nigeria Union of Teacher, (NUT). Contact: daggatolar@yahoo EVELYN OSAGIE Performance-poet and culture journalist, Evelyn Osagie, has performed her poems and that of others at several literary events and festivals across Lagos such as at WordSlam: Feast of Poetic Flights, the Association of Nigeria Author (ANA) events, and at MUSON Centre etc. She is committed to promoting creative writing/writers through her column and articles in The Nation newspaper. She was joint-winner of the ANA Literary Journalist Prize in 2008. Contact: ryte4me@yahoo Introducing the AJ HOUSE OF POETS Collective This is a collective of young, fresh and ‘poet-activists’ voices -- mostly resident in the Ajegunle and Olodi Apapa axis of Lagos. Mentored and promoted by the Poet and Activist, AJ Dagga Tolar, the collective has gradually become a regular and significant feature of the Lagos Performance Poetry circuit, since making their first major appearance three years ago at the WordSlam: Feast of Poetic Flights (wordslam.blogspot) -- jointly produced by Culture Advocates Caucus (CAC) and Goethe Institut at Freedom Park, Lagos. Only four of the collective is however, featuring in this LBF Night of the Poets…. DARE DAN Dare combines the soft touch of a flowing stream that can rise up to a revolting ocean -- against all the wrongs in the land. He opens up his listeners’ minds to think anew and see how they can connect to his flow and make the world a better place for all. He’s the coordinator of the Aj House of Poetry. KEMISTRY Kemistry demonstrates a vastness of resources, and vitality as a spoken word poet. Her vocal chord and performance compels attention from all. She had her first break as winner of the Open Mic segment of the Wordslam: Feasts of Poetic Flights in 2011 at Freedom Park, Lagos. OKO OWEI OCHO Oko excels in advancing a philosophy that calls for a return to the roots and tradition of Africa’s long lost glory. Her poetry conscientises Africans to boldly embrace their African identity. EHIZ THE POET Momodu Ehiz enjoys engaging his audience with his poems on contemporary social and political issues. He was 2nd runner up of WAR OF WORDS season2 and has performed in various events in and outside Lagos, includung at the Word-Up; Metro Open Mic, Chill and Relax among others. He is a member and the librarian of AJ. House Of Poetry. He is currently working on his upcoming poetry collection “Drunkards Laughter at Midnight”. MIUSICIANS & FOLKLORISTS ADUKE ALADEKOMO (Appearing with her band SSV - Sticks, Strings and Voices) Singer, songwriter, poet, guitarist, dancer and actress, Ayobamidele Aladekomo popularly known as ADUKE, is a natural performer. Art is life for her and music is the core of her passion. A socio-political conscious artiste with songs like Hear the Voice released in 2011 during the nationwide protest against the removal of fuel subsidy; Made in Lagos, Nothing to say and others, her genre of music can be classified as afro-neo-soul/afro-jazz. She heads a band named SSV -- Sticks, Strings and Voices. Contact: adukebility@gmail OROBIYI MOTUNRAYO ABIODUN (aka Adunni Nefretiti) Founder and coordinator of the award winning group Adunni & Nefretiti, Ayo is a singer, chanter and songwriter. A graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Lagos, she has been part of numerous theatrical productions including at the Royal Opera House London (on European tour with Tony Allen); and at the Shakespeare Theatre in the Globe to Globe Theatre project series during London Olympics, among others. Her work with Nefretiti is recorded in the album, Ayeraye. Contact: nefretitipalms@yahoo ABIODUN OKE aka WuraSamba Percussionist and Folklorist, WuraSamba is renowned around the Lagos music and art circuits. He has performed at various shows and concerts including at CORA Art Stampede, City People Concert, Encomium magazines Concert; and at Felabration in Lagos 2012, as well as with a German dancer in a workshop at the University of Ghana, Legon -- in a cultural exchange programme titled Chameleon Laboratory in November 2012. He is currently working on a project called Expired TEN CITIES with a group of artists from Germany and England in Brixton facilitated by Goethe institut, Nairobi Kenya. Contact: wuramusic@yahoo SAMSON IROKO Samson is reputed as a thunderous drummer with rich repertoire of folkloric materials. He has been part of nearly all the big musical shows around Nigeria, recordings for various musicians, and with popular bands – either as guest performer or as member of the band, including working for years with Lagbaja, Ayo Bankole (Jnr.), D’Banj, TuFace among others. He is a regular feature at the Ayo Bankole monthly show in Surulere, and at the Back2da Future of Dance at the Freedom Park Lagos. Contact: samsonolus@yahoo PHOTOS BY TAIWO OLUDSHOLA JOHNSON (TOJ Concepts) 08097070538
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 02:46:11 +0000
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