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LET'S RECREATE - a Poem by Nnaemeka Seth

August 18, 2017, 1:41 am
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Let's recreate
Those childhood images;
Innocence in dispute,
All we seek is peace.
Boy hugs girl; publicly
Adults look on and smile.

Let's recreate
Those childhood memories;
Jealousy is sincere. No hate.
When you look unto your peers,
Because you want to be part of the play.

Let's recreate
Those childhood dreams;
Living the professional life;
The doctor, the lawyer, engineer.
So funny we never saw us as,
Writers, Drivers, farmers.
Teachers? NEVER!

Lets recreate
Those childhood experiences;
When fun is worth more than food and water.
And our sweet is our birth right.
How dare you deny me my biscuits?

Let's recreate
Those childhood wars;
War scatter! So we run.
Wooden guns, where the bent nail is the trigger.
And the pen cover the bullet.
I wonder how we never died.

Let's recreate
Those childhood games;
The kite, with nylons and threads.
The rubber, slipper, bale, gapping, shekere.
Soccer; four post, monkey post, next set!
Always the street's champions.
Suwe, ten ten, tinko, skipping,
After round one, were you ever beaten?
Police and thief, I needed all that speed to be police.

No console games,
No mobile phones,
No internet,
No TV.
No social media.

But we created and recreated.
Days where life is real fun.
And a smile costs a fortune.


Let's recreate.

***



Nnaemeka Ezebuiro Seth is an educator, writer, poet, public speaker, and an On air personality (OAP) for a radio station in the city of Ibadan. He is a graduate from the department of Adult Education/English language and literature, University of Ibadan. He is a social writer whose muse is basically happenings around him. He enjoys reading from African poets such as; Frank Aig-Imoukhuede, Femi Fatoba, Wole Soyinka and JP Clerk. He wishes to produce a book of his own poetry soon.
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LIFE IN THIS PLACE - a Poem by Adewumi Benedict Olumide

August 19, 2017, 4:30 pm
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Life in this place is a weeping child, 
Hungry for food in a diamond bowl
Crying to drink from a golden cup,
But the diamond plate is a dry land
And the cup an empty pit
When the child sees the deception
He cries aloud,
With eyes heavy with rounds of tears. 
But soon his yellow mucus 
Flows gradually to his dry mouth
He draws it in, and licks it with his tongue
Wheeewww!!! disgusting!!!
But yes, but that's life in this place;
Wheeeew for all, except the few
That puke on all. 


Life in this place is a bird
With grown wings
But scared of the sky
Scared of becoming its true self:
It grows older and bolder
But flies closer and closer to the ground 
Till it becomes colder and colder
And joins with the soil.

For if you talk
They say keep quiet
If you are quiet 
They will say you make noise
If you make noise
They will claim you're violent 
If you're violent 
They call you an enemy of the state. 

Life in this place
Is not an illusive word, 
Slipping off the palm
At every grasp

Life in this place
Is not confined to a dictionary
With strange vowels and consonant
Describing its ambiguity,
It is that word you need not find
It will find you on the street
In hospitals and on the road
It will find you in schools 
Where A is B and H20 is carbon monoxide
It will find you everywhere, 
Except in the place where
Ancestors still live among men.

***


Adewumi Olumide Benedict (Mide Benedict) is a Graphic Artist and Photographer. He writes because he wants to find an expressive voice; that distinct voice through which he can pour out his my mind and that of others. He reads African poets like Niyi Osundare, Okinba Launko, Akeem Lasisi and other salient voices on Facebook like Rasaq Malik Gbolahan.

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SLANDEROUS FRIEND - a Poem by Saviour Upaski

August 22, 2017, 2:44 am
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You made me think it is impossible to leave you;
And made me believe you are a nessesary evil.
It was you who gave me a mixed feeling to tell;
A feeling delight as heaven, yet, agonizing as hell.
It was you, who for all these years, enslaved me.
And gradually killed the sexual Samson God made me.

It was you who made me unable to satisfy my wife,
Just five minutes and to rest would be my strife.
You gave me fifteen minutes ecstasy and a lifelong sorrow,
It was you who killed me and in self-pity made me wallow.
You took me far from my make and gave me pain
Like David, you made me fall, rise and fall again.


Although, pleasures, you gave me the first time we met,
It was you who set me on this journey of regret.
You made me fall in love with me and gave me orgasm,
My hands became a sex organ and me, hermaphroditic organism.
It was you who dragged me into fornication,
Yes, it was you, slanderous you, Masturbation.

***


Ukpabio Saviour, better known as Saviour Ukpaski (MC UK) is a rapper, a wRIGHTer, a poet, an educationist and an amazing comedian. He is simply a multi-talented entertainer. In RCCG, God's Time parish, he was awarded, 'The Most Achieved Teen' in 2012, and, 'The Most Artistic Teen in 2013' and  he was the winner of the first edition of Garden of Grace''Garden Stars Award', 2015.

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Introducing- HUNTING TEARS, A Novel by Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema

August 22, 2017, 8:00 pm
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AUTHOR’S PROFILE
Sharon Onyinyechukwu Okey-Onyema is a budding writer whose passion for the literary arts is deep and remarkable. She started writing short stories at the age of eight; some of which have been published in magazines. Hunting Tears is her first published novel.
Sharon is an avid reader and an advocate of Peace in the contemporary world. Her vision is to be a renowned agent for change through her writings. She has the following works to her credit: More Wives More Trouble and Other Stories, Peter and Friends, Jungle War, Rape of Mother Nature, Miss Kamson, Joshua and Strange Man, Hopeless, Just One Week, Ade and the Parrot, Intelligent Children, Behind the Bars, The Cause of My Tears, Adventures of Bernard, At your closet, Destiny, Destiny, and Father.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Desperate and resolute for a child, the protagonist, Nneoma runs to the shrine of Aka, the mouthpiece of the gods for a solution to her barrenness. Meanwhile, Gozie , her son, learns early in life to have little or no expectations from home, so he is driven to seek financial independence even when it involved crime, and illegal intrigues. In the midst of all the turmoil, he mistakenly kills his mother in a state of drunken stupor. Meanwhile, Nneoma dies with her secret: her visit to Aka shrine. Her ghost’s recurring appearance to her son sets him on a search for healing and answers.


The narrative is compelling and full of promises. 

WHAT INSPIRED THE BOOK
The inspiration to write the book was a flow that came naturally. At the age of eight, I already had the urge to write stories. When I write short stories my parents would gather them together and keep. I remember when my family friends would tell me to write short stories and they would pay me. Though they never actually paid but there was this joy I derived from writing the stories. I also remember bargaining with my siblings to wash the plates for me while I tell them stories. What those moments did was that they tasked me to stretch my imagination and creative ability. As I grew up my parents explained the opportunities in my potential if I develop it.

WHAT READERS CAN LEARN FROM HUNTING TEARS
Hunting Tears examines the causes and the consequences of child labor. When parents are unable to provide for the needs of their children, the children are sent out into the street to fend for themselves. They will be exposed to undue labor and crime. The biblical undertones set the novel as a good tool for moral direction of young people and families in Africa. The setting in different ethnic zones depicts a Nigeria of unity where every man has the liberty to dwell and trade in any part of the country irrespective of his/her state of origin. Desperation as a negative attitude to life is depicted in the novel. In the world, women out of desperation to be mothers go to any extent such as kidnapping other people’s children. People go to any level just to get rich. We have a very recent case in Nigeria of Evans the millionaire kidnapper who will disguise as a driver to kidnap people and demand a huge sum of money from their family members.

Love is a strong theme that the novel exposes. Gozie has his grandparents to run to. Pastor Emeka welcomes him irrespective of the truth they know about him. In each of these people, Gozie found reason to live again.

Hunting Tears upholds African culture where there is communal existence. A child born into a less privileged home is taken up by another family and not left on the street. Chiekpu a child born into poor Okafor’s family is taken up by Gozie’s grandparents and not left to suffer.
There is deployment of idioms, Igbo language, proverbs as well as Pidgin-English as a replica of the African society. 



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BROKEN LENS - a Poem by Yusuf Olanrewaju

August 24, 2017, 4:30 pm
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And through this car side mirror
something revealed my childhood,
how stream flowed down my face
from mum's seven lashes
for begging candy from my peers.

I heard the reverberation of the thunderstorm
from dad's slap, for
monetary gift from a stranger.
I was scared again about
a child rumored
to have turned yam
having collected ten naira
from that passerby.

I have always enjoyed
the tenacity of children
and I saw in the eyes of these broken children,
the way we tell ourselves of mother's warn against lies,
the way we remind dad
of the lollipop and unfinished stories,
the way we questioned;
why do moon follow us?
and tell our friends
about the silhouette
beneath our feet imitating us,
the way we found money on roadside from school
and pee on it to be disenchanted.

Is it strange to now imagine
children as thread-less kites
swaying in the sky?
Or thrusting in their palms
the hurting memory of mother's whip
in the name of alms giving,
or better to tell them of how roasted plantains
inherited their black blotches.


That sight of children begging
on the mercy of highway traffic
fed me with melancholy-flavour
of what to be painted on their faces canvas about their future,
and I began to imagine
what it felt like to view
the world through such broken lens.

***



Yusuf Olanrewaju is an instrument engineer. He writes on societal re-engineering and religion. And he likes to read Wole Soyinka, Tade Ipadeola, Christopher Okigbo, Femi Osundare, and Gabriel Bamigbose.


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WE ARE ALL VICTIMS - Issues with Shola Ola

August 26, 2017, 4:30 pm
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The challenge posed by boko haram terrorists in the northeast is still no doubt daunting. Although, the military has been able to root them out in most of their fortress, but the challenge is not yet over. At least, not until the people affected by the activities of the sects who are still in various internal displaced persons (IDP) camps are able to return to their homes, and carry on with their day to day activities without fear. A lot has been said on the various news outlets about the devastating level of destruction and the wanton killings that followed the crisis which unfortunately are still happening from time to time. Despite the going-on in this area, many of those living in other parts of the country still feel less concern about the crisis. Some are even saying it’s a northern problem, hence, it’s none of their business as long as the killings and maiming is limited to the north. But considering the humanitarian situation caused by the crisis, I think we might all become victims in the end. Yes, it is happening in far distant northeast but the effect could still be felt in other parts of the country.

If we remember, when the Niger Delta militants started kidnapping white expatriates in their area for ransom, many people initially felt they were merely collecting their due entitlements. The militants have however revealed to the millions of idle hands and criminal minds how lucrative this illicit business is. Today, the business of kidnapping seems to be booming across the country as people are being kidnapped almost on daily basis. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t matter whether you are poor or rich, some of these kidnappers won’t mind collecting even recharge card as ransom. The same can be said about the menace of herdsmen who maimed and killed innocent women and children in different parts of Benue state. Initially, some people in other parts of the country didn’t see any reason to be perturbed until they began to extend their malevolence activities to their backyard.

Like we paid in the past for violence that happened in other parts of the country, in one way or the other, we are all paying for the crisis in the northeast even though many of us knew nothing about it. Looking at the staggering figures (though, still small when compared to what some other nations without serious security threats vote for defence) that goes to the defence since the height of the crisis, you will agree with me that we are all paying for the crisis directly or indirectly. But for the crisis, part of what is allocated to defence would have been allotted to projects that have direct impact on the people. So for every bomb used on the terrorists or shots fired by our troops and allowance paid for their maintenance, it is we paying for the crisis.


For me, my concern is for the victims of the crisis who are mostly women and children. Some of the children witnessed the cruel murder of their parents and no one seems to care about their welfare. Many others have been out of school for the past two years and are roaming around. Of course, these children may never have a chance to make anything tangible out of life. Oh, it’s none of your business, right? Wait until they grow up to be one of the men of the underworld and cause harm to someone dear to you, or the girls among them becomes one of the women of easy virtue and infect a loved one with a deadly disease; then you will realize that we are all victims.

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Shola Olayiwola is a freelance writer. He loves to write and defend the course of his country. 

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MAYBE - a Poem by Kalejaye Folajimi

September 12, 2017, 2:26 am
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I speak my heart to the winds
to carry my agonizing message
to the ears of none but one
has the wind betrayed me?

I am HIV positive
so text me sympathies
lie to me
tell me nothing has changed and nothing will
tell me we are friends and we will remain

act like you really care
I keep mute because the oddity of my disease
 denies me the openness to say

Maybe

may be it was my fault maybe not
maybe I never made love
maybe I have never done drugs
maybe it was my latest tattoo that reads I love Jesus
maybe it was from the haircut or the knife cut I had Last month
maybe it was the pin that drove itself into my feet
or the blood transferred into me while I was sick.

just maybe.

Admit you don't care because you reject all I share
your beautiful hug bid me farewell
you veil yourself and blame the cold
Seperated your things on the alter of orderliness
just after my test your belongings became personal.

maybe I won't wake up in the morning
but before I leave hear the blatant truth
I am not dying of the virus
I am dying of the stigma you displayed to my face
just admit that you don't care
cause all I need is care.


***




Kalejaye Folajimi is a Student of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan. Aside Poetry, he does Public speaking. But his poems are usually Love poems, God's Eulogy (Oriki) and poems that negate societal ills. He hopes to use poetry as a weapon to fight the menace of child abuse in Nigeria.
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IF BY TOMORROW - a Poem by Ayoola Goodness Olanrewaju

September 18, 2017, 4:30 pm
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so if by tomorrow you do not find me
here.  do not start sudden solos.

sobs. or sighs

strung for exiled sons. do not my name squeeze
into the sympathy of subtle snakes. or

vain seekers.

i must have gone yes and yearning into yesterday. and by dawn
return rolling down the sun.

i must have raptured the sky for tufts. of
coy clouds.

rains and rich rainbows.

smudging scars. solitudes. silhouettes. and making magic.

i must have crept. soul and slither.

sublime.

into calm cadence.

crazy.

my soul stretching into strings. signing


storms into celebration. 

***

 Ayoola Goodness Olanrewaju is a graduate of English and Yoruba languages. He is a passionate teacher. His passion for poetry is fueled by the desire to heal—to etch a voice for the silence in the world—to make poetry a delight! His kinds of poems are majored on politics, love, motivations, abstractions, luminaries, selfhood and womanhood.           He is inspired by Poets like Niyi Osundare, Phunso Oris, Brigitte Poirson, Kukogho Samson, Aremu Adams, Nana Arhin, and a host of other wonderful poets. He wants to establish a unique standard of poetry—reigniting its fire in the fusion of classical and contemporary styles. 

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HOW DO WE DEAL WITH DISTRUST? - Issues With Shola Ola

September 24, 2017, 10:48 am
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“My people, I, High Chief Omosetan Omorele Iletiya promised that if you vote for me, within my first 100 days in office, I will ensure that NEPA, sorry I mean PHCN will supply 24 hours electricity to your homes. Our railway system would work again, water will run in your taps, no one will ever sleep under the bridge anymore; no member of this great community will ever go to bed hungry. I am a man of my words, if you vote for me in the coming election, I promise to have police deployed in front of your houses so that you can go to bed and sleep with your two eyes closed. As a token of my commitment to you, before you leave this ground, you will get one chicken and sachet pure water each. Thank you.”

Promises such as the ones made by High Chief Iletiya, above, are very common among our politicians when campaigning for election. In a desperate attempt to win election, our politicians would promise us heaven on earth, even when they know within themselves that what they are promising the people are unrealistic. They also induce the electorates with various gift items to influence them to vote for them. However, over the years, the electorates have come to realize that all are but empty promises. The people have realized that those they call “honourable” are men without honour and cannot be trusted. Hardly have they ever fulfilled their promises to them.

The beginning of distrust between the leaders and people can be traced back to per-independence years. As revealed by the first prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, our early nationalists portrayed vision of prosperity they could not realize in their bid to rally the people for freedom. Soon after it was granted, our nationalists could not maintain the inter-ethnic peace which had been enforced by the colonial overlords. The elites who had commanded popular support before independence had to demonstrate their continuing legitimacy, and in competing against other parties, they could not resist the temptation of appealing to ethnic, linguistic and religious loyalties. Up till now, we have not deviated from that path and have even become worst. The motto of our current leaders appears to be “power at all cost” even if it means shedding the blood of the people they want to represent. Their interest has always been to secure their own future and that of their immediate family rather than the future of the country. As soon as they get to power they damn the electorates. Trust in the corridor of power has been completely eroded. As it is today, no matter the personality, once a person decides to run for public office, his integrity will be called to question by the people. In some quarters, it is believed that good people don’t get involved in politics. The erroneous believe, that majority of those seeking public office are only out to enrich themselves made people to find solace in collecting their own share of the “national cake” by making as much money as possible from them because when they get to power they will be out of their control.

But how do we deal with this distrust?

Obviously, without trust it would be very difficult to get the cooperation of the people on various policies of the government. Therefore, to get the people to trust their leaders, politicians must deal with the people with integrity. Politicians must put an end to vague promises they know cannot be achieved. They must take note of the various promises they made during their campaign and ensure they walk their talk when they win. Where a leader is unable to fulfill his electoral promises due to reasons clearly beyond his own control, he should present his case to the people and avoid trying to play on their intelligence. 

The people too must be realistic in their expectations. Most of our challenges as a nation cannot be completely solved within few years, so when a politician come knocking our doors with promises we know he cannot fulfil, it will be better to shut the door against him than put hope on such a person. More importantly, the people must not fall for the gimmicks of politicians who try to induce them with money and other gift items to influence their vote. Politicians who throw money around during elections are businessmen, when they get to power their first priority is to recoup their investment with interest, and probably try to make more to spend in their re-election. Finally, we must recognise the sincere efforts of some of our leaders to solve the various challenges affecting our society, and it is our duty to support them to move our nation forward. 

***
 


Shola Olayiwola is a freelance writer. He loves to write and defend the course of his country.
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VICTIMS OF FATE - a Poem by Adefolami Ademola

October 6, 2017, 1:07 am
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we didn't ask to tread on
the gold-plated roads in
your fruity island of banana
neither did we beg to be chauffeured
in fast-moving wonder on wheels
we never requested to wield
the exponential grace of
‘legislooters’ in the house of stupidity
we do not crave to house our undignified selves
in questionable monuments in abuja, bourdillon
or such other edifices of shame

we only ask for earth
to walk the land even
in our gloomy deliriums
begging for bread in the eyes
of impressionable people
like ourselves
who hoard their pains on the screens
of the smart phones
tapping into the relief that Facebook wields
we just ask for a run-down shack
to display our filthy wares
wares that hardly sate our hunger
dangerously at the mercy of
drunk, reckless bus drivers
to call out to passers-by
to buy of our bitterness
in the form of nail-cutters,
match boxes and cotton-buds

we do not want the flourishes
of extravagant living
we do not ask to fly in
custom-made private jets
or travel on vacations to lands
that we only hear of in fabled stories
we do not need stolen billions
floating in our off-shore accounts-
even if we have one-

we only need a carton or two
of assorted brands of gala
balanced on our shoulders
and chase after air-conditioned cars
for our daily meals
we only ask for a basket
two bottles of water, two of coke
two of fanta, and teem and viju milk
and wait to be called like dogs
so we can cast aside our dignity
and run! run like hell
and be rejected because
our toils are not cold enough
like it's our fault that their megawatt
keeps dropping like lazy sperm-counts

we do not ask for fame
for wealth or for success
neither do we solicit for
the conferment of bogus titles
we do not want to be called lawyers,
doctors or accountants or bankers-
those are for the offspring
of cold-blooded political swindlers

we just want to be called
the ones who lived against all odds
to be called the ones
disadvantaged by fate and society
the masses
the dregs of society
the hawkers
nuisance to development
for we are the broken half
of a bottle, turned up
we just want to be remembered
to have tried to live

we only ask for words
to tell our stories
in deformed times new roman
for a voice to describe our fate
to later generations
we ask for life
please deny us not these gifts...

***






Adefolami Ademola is first a writer, and a Public Relations Executive at WNT CAPITAS; a new-age media and strategic communications company. He feels the only time he does not feel useless is while writing. He is also an unrepentant talkative. His inspiration for poetry began with A.E. Housman's To An Athlete Dying Young. He cried the first time he read it, which is very unusual.

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THIS LIFE THIS RACE - a Poem by Kigbu Ovey Salms

October 18, 2017, 2:11 am
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On your Mark, Get Set, Bang!
The sound you hear that springs athlete like the hare
Mustering all strength within, a great will to win
Focusing only on one thing, a perfect finishing
Maintaining the lane, refusing to trail
Propelling the limbs, driving the nib
Minding not the fellows
With constant pacing, keeping weariness aside
Plus a tremendous velocity, despite the force of gravity

In this race
We’re all athletes, with different course
Even as sperms, we run the tracks
Fertilize the ovum or be neutralized
From cradle to grave, we chase for marks
From infant to age, we struggle to blaze
But some have fallen, others were trodden
So many gave up, but the hiccups we must curb

In this life, this race
Do not be in haste
Don’t run too fast, or go too far
But run very well, to end it well
Don’t drop but brace up, keep up and don’t stop
Sprint or run, jog or walk
Even crawl by all means; just keep moving.

 ***







Kigbu Ovey Salms is a freelance writer. He loves to give hope and courage to the downtrodden with his works. He has a published e-book titled “The Movie of God”; check it out @ www.themovieofgod.com
 




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GRACIANO, EGC’s TOP POET 2015 and 2016, IS AT IT AGAIN

October 25, 2017, 9:36 am
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Today, 25th of October is Graciano Enwerem's birthday. To celebrate it, he has released another satirical and thought-provoking poem titled "This Is Not Malaria".

        Graciano Enwerem is a poet, writer and teacher, a graduate of English and Literary Studies, Imo State University. He's the winner of War Of Words 3, YouPoetry Slam, 9 times winner of Sea View's Poetry Challenge, Winner Of War Of Words Online slam 1 and cofounder of Figures Of Speech {F.O.S.}, which is arguably the first online creative group on Whatsapp known to Nigerian literati. He's been proffered so many awards which include the SPIC Most Outstanding Achiever Of The Year, 2014, IFA's Atonisona Of Poetry Award, 2015, Creative Writers' Association of Nigeria's Literary Critic of the Year, was listed in Top 100 Nigerian Writers under 40 at the Nigerian Writers' Awards and was also voted the number 1 Poet who Rocked Nigeria in year 2015 at the EGC rankings, an honour  he won again in year (2016).

      "This Is Not Malaria" is a satirical poem, a duet that features another outstanding spoken word poet, Aquila. Basically, one of every three average Nigerians would take Panadol extra or other painkillers for any discomfort they feel and a lot more would regard any symptom as that of Malaria first, even before ever visiting any medical laboratory. This is because Malaria is one of the most common illnesses in Africa especially, Nigeria.

       However, in this piece, the poets in an interestingly contrasting submission all agree that ordinary Panadol can't 'kill' the pain that ails Nigeria. While one of the personae prescribes Panadol EXTRA for NiGAYria, the other opines that the sickness that has befallen her isn't Malaria even... maybe “Palaria”.

       This is Graciano's 4th audio submission on this special day. This he's done to mark his birthday. Hit the link below to download "This Is Not Malaria". Also check out other poems by him with links below:

"THIS IS NOT MALARIA"
https://goo.gl/hdrVbH

"12 MILLION NONSENSE"
https://goo.gl/ozaZvN

"WHAT NIGERIANS WANT"
https://goo.gl/0nel48

HIGHFLYERS
http://goo.gl/cMW9Qd

...
RING BACK TUNES FOR MTN SUBSCRIBERS

Send any of the following codes via SMS to 4100



Graciano's      "12 Million Nonsense"          spoken word poetry'046502'

Graciano         "I Love The Mangoes"          spoken word poetry'046503'

Graciano's      "Right To A Jobsite"              spoken word poetry'046504'

Happy birthday Graciano!
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THE LAND DIED - a Poem by Beatitude

November 14, 2017, 12:17 am
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And the sea eats our land
Leaving alone the dry shore sand
For they came with kleptomaniac hand,
And got hold of things in their hand,
For the sea eats our land.

When the sea was eating our land,
We were afraid to raise our hand,
As it will make us run only errand,
Errand not pleasing, but white men errand,
For the sea truly eat our land.

After the sea had eaten our land,
Of the field, and of the highland
All of us wanted to own the land,
But deliquesce was now our land,
For the sea truly ate our land.


***










Ikpe Comfort aka Beatitude is a student. Aside poetry, she writes Prose and Articles. And she writes on any theme.
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WHY EVERY LOVER OF POETRY SHOULD SUPPORT WAR OF WORDS 6

November 17, 2017, 8:32 am
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War of Words (WOW) poetry slam is regarded as one of the most prominent poetry competition in Nigeria since inception. It’s mostly the effort of a poet, Olumide Holloway, who many of his admirers call King Olulu. The competition has helped to promote contemporary poets such as Graciano, Samurai, Ibukun Ajagbe, Titi, Clemency Green, BankHall, etc. With judges such as Torpedo Mascaw, Donna, Atilola, Soonest Nathaniel, Benny Finisher, Enigmatic Olumide, etc, the competition also boasts of having used many poets who know their onions as judges.

In December 2017, the organizers or War of Words, i2x media, will be hosting the 6th edition of the competition. And for the first time, the event will be held in 3 weekends: first two weekends (3rd and 10th December 2017) will be used for semi-finals; with 15 slammers contesting on each day. Afterward, the final battle will be held on 16th December 2017.

Poets to slam in the first semi-final are Charlee, Clemency Green, Abdulbaaqee Green, Solar Speaks, Vic’Adex, Mc Naevets Osnon, Olamide Aturu (Pietrina), Ugbana-Awaji Finomo, Obiora Everest, Toby Abiodun, D Rare Breed, Vivian Ofre, Ibrahim Haji Oluwarotimi, Oluwa Seun Tiwistar, and Mariam Akande. Poets to slam in the second semi-finalare Bankhall, Vbede, Ajijola Habeed Beloved, Joy Nnebuogo Nwanokwa, Njoky Freezing Paul, Promise Osigwe, Vivian Daniel, Paul Word, Sunsampaul Egwu Philosopher, Wayne Samuel, Mano Prosper, Ajimi Blessing Ewoma, Gibson Benstowe, Abili Cybil, and Stevey Taylor.

Six poets from each group will qualify for the final.The top 5 poets from each group gets automatic qualification into the final, while the sixth position (i.e. the sixth poet from each group) will be determined by online voting (via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram). The 1st Poet gets 50k, 2nd Poet gets 30k, 3rd Poet gets 20k in each of the semi-finals. And after the final the 1st Poet gets 100k, 2nd Poet gets 60k, 3rd Poet gets 40k. There will be a prize for the best poem of the competition and the 2 poets with the lowest points get free mentor-ship and training.

Venue for this free entry event and names of the Judges for the Slam will be provided by November 20, 2017.

But why should all lovers of poetry support this event?

The promoters of poetry around will testify that it has never been easy to organize such events. The sponsors are almost like dinosaurs; you can’t find them. And those who find one can tell you they are lucky to find the unicorn. Most of the fund for poetry events usually comes from the organizers, and the case is not entirely different with organizers of War or Words. Followers of i2x media will also testify that this slam competition should have been held a while ago but it was stalled due to paucity of fund. Yet the organizer kept looking for a way to hold it. EGC caught up with the chief organizer, Olulu, some days ago and the first thing he said was that “The fact that this is what we are meant to do, and the ideas that never stopped” was what kept him going.

On why the event stalled for a while, he said, “Finance is a major challenge. There was never lack of things to do or ideas that needed execution. But finance was the major obstacle.” On how he overcame this challenge he said, “Well, (executed) ideas rule the world, not money. So we are focusing on executing the ideas we have with or without the funds we need.” He also told us Favour and Grace International, supported by First Bank of Nigeria plc, is sponsoring this edition of War of Words.



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IT'S YOUR LIFE - a Poem by Sissy

November 20, 2017, 3:30 pm
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Standing in front of the mirror,
There is just one figure,
You,  yourself,  your reflection.

You look like you,
There is no such thing as doppelgangers,
even if you are a twin to another,
You are you.

So it’s your life
Figures when you die
It will be you laid to the ground,
not your son, daughter, mother, father  nor wife .

 It’s your life,
Live it as you like,
Blame you for your falls,
I know there is God but what you take is your choice.

It's your life,
You could waste it like a rich wine or treasure it like a goldmine.
You could prefer to lag behind,
wait for your father to die,
So you would move into his house.

It's your life,
aim higher than your peers,
or decide to sell oranges and pears 

It's your life
Not at all mine,
Do with it as you like
Ignore the chimes of the time
Pretend to be deaf to the tock of the clock

You will age someday,
Aging comes every day,
When your bones will be broken
Legs weak and shaky.
When you are no longer young and able.
It will still be your life.

It’s your life,
Not at all your brother's
Don't live through my mind's eye,
Don't make anyone your WiFi

You are you
Not at all another,
Please you after God,
And let society be pleased not,
Cause when you die,
It will be you laid to the ground.

***







Ediri Agnes Abiyone  aka Sissy is a Journalist/Event planner who loves Acting. Her poems are mostly motivational/emotional poems.

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WHEN TO QUIT... LESSONS FROM PRESIDENT SUHARTO - Issues with Shola Ola

November 22, 2017, 2:08 am
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robert mugabe

(This article contains excerpt from the book, “From 3rd World to First World”, by Lee Kuan Yew)

In the dark days of Indonesia, some communist’s rebel forces attempted to topple the government of President Sukarno on 30 September 1965. Suharto, an army general however, led Special Forces to counter the coup. With the support of troops under loyal commanders in the army, navy, air force and police, Suharto warned the rebel military forces at the palace and at a radio and communication centre to surrender peacefully. Daunted by the show of force, the rebel forces fled.  

In the course of the failed coup, several Indonesia generals were gruesomely murdered and thousands of others (estimated at half a million) killed, some of them were ethnic Chinese, the alleged supporters of the communists. Later on, Suharto carefully orchestrated the stripping of Sukarno authority. Although he did not oust the president but acted in his name to keep up appearance as he quietly gathered the levers of power in his hands, removing Sukarno’s supporters and weakening his position.

In March 1966, Sukarno signed a presidential decree that gave General Suharto power to take all necessary steps to guarantee security and preserve stability. A year later, in February 1967, Suharto was formally elected acting president by the national assembly.

Suharto was determined to get Indonesia moving forward after 20 years of neglect. He abandoned the aggressive policies of Sukarno to pursue peace with her neighbours by restoring bilateral relations with Singapore and Malaysia. Through dint of hard work, he and his cabinets laid the foundation of modern Indonesia. 

surkano (left), suharto (right)
The Indonesia rupiah crisis in 1997 however changed the course of event. In order to salvage the continuous falling of the rupiah, Suharto’s government sought loans from International Monetary Fund, Singapore and Japan. The intervention thus raised the value of the rupiah from 3,600 to 3,200 to the US dollar. Rupiah had been 2,500 to the US dollar before the crisis. This improvement was later rubbished when President Suharto reneged on his agreement with IMF by reinstating some fourteen major infrastructure projects that had been cancelled, which his children had vested interest.


By January 1998, the Indonesian rupiah dropped from 7,500 to 10,000 to the US dollar. On the street, the rupiah was trading as low as 11,500 to the US dollar. Suharto’s problems were compounded by the increasing intrusion of his children into all lucrative contracts and monopolies, which the IMF targeted several of them for dismantling.

Well meaning individuals, organizations and nations at various points had to advice Suharto to take the crisis serious. One of such advice came from Prime Minister Goh of Singapore who reminded him of the consequences (food shortage, social unrest, loss of confidence). Suharto’s response was a confident assertion that the army was fully behind him. Goh hinted that there could be circumstances in which the people would be so hungry that the soldiers would not shoot. Of course, Suharto dismissed the possibility.

Suharto’s decision to appoint B.J Habibie (known for high-cost, high-tech projects like building of airplanes) against the advice of several concerned foreign leaders made the market uncomfortable and caused the rupiah to further drop 17,000 to the US dollar.

As expected, the economic situation triggered wild protest. Student demonstrations were confined to their campuses, where faculty members, former ministers, and generals often addressed them and added to the call for reforms. The president was away in Cairo attending a conference, when six students of Trisakti University were killed on 12 May 1998 after a demonstration outside their campus. The outrage that followed the killing caused a complete collapse of law and order as the police and soldiers surrendered the city to the rampaging mobs that looted, burned shops and houses and raped women. By the time the president returned, he had lost his seat.  
buhari and jonathan

The story of President Suharto is similar to that of many African leaders who fought the colonial masters to get independence. Many rode on the goodwill and trust of the people to get to power after independence. Some of them ceased power from corrupt and oppressive civilian regimes to the cheering of the people. Initially they actually meant well and they worked hard to better the lots of their people. However, after many years in charge they got carried away. The sycophants around them made them believe that they are the “people’s messiah” and no one in the land is better than them. They refused to bow out for a new leader with fresh idea even when it was obvious they no longer have anything new to offer and their people are tired of seeing their face. They forgot that only the Immortal has no substitute and there is always a better substitute for every man. They are never perturbed even when their actions result in hardship and unnecessary bloodshed.   


Suharto like some African leaders didn’t know when to quit until he was forced out. Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Laurent Gbagbo of Cote D’Ivoire, Yahaya Jammeh of Gambia and more recently, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe are good examples in Africa. Leaders, particularly in Africa must learn to bow out when the ovation is loudest in order not to rubbish their sacrifices and good works. They must be concerned with how they go down in memory lane because they won’t be there to defend the reasons for their actions.

Finally, no institution or nation became great under one leader, one would lay the foundation and another would come to consolidate. That’s how great institutions are built. That’s how great nations are built.

***



  

Shola Olayiwola is a freelance writer. He loves to write and defend the course of his country.
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS, TOP 50 CONTEMPORARY POETS WHO ROCKED NIGERIA IN YEAR 2017

November 23, 2017, 3:30 pm
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Time beckons again for us to nominate the top poets who have done remarkably well for themselves and the Nigerian poetry circles in the outgoing year. In this seventh time of our calling for nominations, we want to make a little difference in the way we organize the annual nominations cum rankings.

The four categories where we will receive nominations are:
1.      Top 10 Page Poets of the year
2.      Top 10 Spoken Word Poets of the year
3.      Top 10 Poetry Promoters of the year
4.      Top 10 Cross over Poets of the year

The first is for poets who express their creativity in written forms, either as a book or via other written media, online or real time. The second is for performance or spoken art in poetry via audios, videos, stage, etc. The third is for those who labored in one way or the other to push the art and artists forward so more people can come in contact with their works, either via event organization or with media. The fourth is for Poets who venture into other art forms that are exclusive of poetry and still do well with them, i.e. music, films/drama, photography, novels, essays, etc.

Each entry received in the four categories should be numbered and they will be rated, i.e. entry number 1 scores ten points and entry number 10 scores 1 point. There will be final cumulative top 10 ranking for each category and the cumulative points for the four categories (altogether) leads to the #EGCtop50 ranking.

This year, 2017, we will take cue from our constructive critics, hence we will ensure a diversion from how we used to collate our data. We discourage Poets calling people to nominate them, and we encourage those who send in entries to follow their judgements. People involved with running of EGC are also not encouraged in nominations. To help this resolve, EGC will organize a focused group to determine this ranking, and they will be mostly unbiased Poets who have done one thing or the other to promote poetry in Nigeria before… There is room for other “unbiased” Poetry promoters we couldn’t reach to send in their nominations too.


Send nominations to egcmails@gmail.com (copy olumide.bisiriyu@gmail.com)
Subject should be #EGCtop50.

Deadline for nominations is 14thDecember 2017.

For enquiries message +234-703-4198-264 on whatsApp (only).

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KEY THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SRAF AWARDS & MOVIES NIGHT

December 7, 2017, 3:30 pm
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SRAF is a capacity building company, with the aim of raising leaders through skills, talent and passion - SRAF AWARDS and MOVIES NIGHT is an event to celebrate the end of the SRAF calendar, award competitors, emerging and established leaders. The event is hoped to have in attendance celebrities such as: Odunlade Adekola, Funke Akindele (Jennifer), Kingsley Uwachukwu, Ireti Doyle, Kehinde Bankole, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Eriata Oribhabor, Miss Gloria Maduka of Inspiration FM; as well as many entrepreneurs and dignitaries – who have been nominated for awards.

Josh, Walex, JC, Schools, ConA’stone, Oxlade Natalio, Ykeezy, QuinLabiz, Vkxx, SOG, BrightStar, Seyong, Samurai, Fr33zinPaul, Honeybee, SunSamPaul, and many more artists are expected to trill the audience with music, spoken words, dance and drama performances. The audience will be entertained with two blockbuster movies: one international and another local movie.

The event takes place at BBCM Auditorium, 28th Owokoniran Street, Surulere, Lagos, on the 15th – 16th December, 2017.

Red Carpet starts by 6:00 pm
Award Show starts by 9:00 pm
Movie session is to start by 2:00 am

Ticket for the event costs N1, 000 for Regular, and N5, 000 for VIP.

To purchase your ticket, click on the link below:


For more information on the event/sponsor or partner, call Stephen on: +2348163800077, Sola on: 08120324451, Tayo on 07065474266 or send an e-mail to srafng@gmail.com
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MATHS - a poem by Adeola Adegoke

December 11, 2017, 9:19 am
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This life has got my thought by its tip,
It's like a stained glass shinning
or teeth, colored and not smelling.
This life in itself fathers my deeds;
I plant every night, swollen seeds
across the pulpit of my lover.
I touch her like no other day will come,
In turn, she moan like the creak of door.
Come by day and see how we kick
like the good boys on the pitch.

I took a nap, I woke and sighed...

This life has got my thought by its tip,
It's like the ablution of a cat
whenever the being empties your pot,
You wouldn't know if it's apology
or just the case of hypocrisy.
I stand up every morning
praying about the night lessons,
Maybe mathematics,
Nights about standard inequalities.
Just like the cat, we perform ablutions

I took a nap, I woke and sighed...

This life has got my thought by its tip,
I only have the memory of a single day
and whatever the touch of my lover say.
I so much love night math
and the hypocritical ablution of cats.
I pray it every morning till I was fifteen,
I don't know if I think about later
or about not waking when my nap is over.
Then, I wouldn't know if my end is here
or actual beginning is there.

I took a nap, I woke again and smiled... 

***


Adegoke Adeola pseudonym CHILDPRODIGY is a student in political science department, federal university Oye-Ekiti. Apart from page poetry, He is a song writer and spoken word activist who extends his tentacles to Ewi Alohun (traditional Yoruba poetry).


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TOP 50 CONTEMPORARY POETS WHO ROCKED NIGERIA IN YEAR 2017

January 6, 2018, 3:30 pm
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The year was that of revelations and new direction for most Poets. One fact was however obvious; Nigerian Poets are taking their place in mainstream entertainment. We want to appreciate everyone who stood by EGC all these years, especially as regards #EGCtop50 annual rankings. We were not able to respond to most mails on this current nomination: please note we appreciate your belief in us. 

It’s going to be 7 years since we are doing this, and we appreciate the fact that many more people/organizations are taking cue from what we are doing by coming up with awards/lists in literary circles, hence we guess there is no more need for explanations: If you want to know how this ranking was made read our Call for Nominations. To know how this idea began Check 2012 List. To read immediate past edition Click. There is just little adjustment this year: only 10 names were accepted for each category and we focused more on nominations from supposed poetry promoters. Nominations containing only names of poets who sent them were not counted.

HONOURARY MENTIONS
The nominations this year contained names of Poets who were above 50 years age benchmark for this ranking; unfortunately we can’t count them. They are Eriata Oribhabor, B. M. Dzukogi, Amu Nnadi, Akeem Lasisi, and Tade Ipadeola. An under 50 Poet, Enigmatic Olumide Bisiriyu was also removed from the list because of involvement with #EGCtop50 collations. Before the list, let’s take a look at Top entries for each category:


A. PAGE POET OF THE YEAR: 
Romeo Oriogun



Top 5 Poets in this category are:

1. Romeo Oriogun
2. Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
3. Obari Gomba
4. Graciano Enwerem
5 Bash Amuneni

Other Poets in Top 10 are (6) Saddiq Dzukogi, (7) Taofeek Aswagaawy, (8) Adeyemi Adedayo Agarau, (9), Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom, and (10) Jide Badmus.


B. SPOKEN WORD POET OF THE YEAR: 
Dike Chukwumerije
 

Top 5 Poets in this category are:

1. Dike Chukwumerije
2. Graciano Enwerem
3. Toby Abiodun
4. Paul word
5. DONNA the Poet

Other Poets in Top 10 are (6) Efe Paul Azino, (7) Fr33zin Paul, (8) Adigun Olushola Clinton, (9)Bash Amuneni, and (10) Sage Has.son.


C. POETRY PROMOTER OF THE YEAR: 
Kukogho Iruesiri Samson aka KIS


Top 5 Poets in this category are:


1. Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
2. Dike Chukwumerije
3. Rudolf RuddaPoet
4. Ayokunle Komson Komolafe
5. Paul Word

Other Poets in Top 10 are (6) Graciano Enwerem, (7) Olulu, (8) Su’eddie Vershima Agema, (9) Torpedo Mascaw, and (10) Efe Paul Azino.





D. CROSS OVER POET OF THE YEAR: 
Kola Onifoto aka Kolapo Orowale




Top 5 Poets in this category are:

1. Kola Onifoto (Kolapo Orowale)
2. Dike Chukwumerije
3. DONNA the Poet
4. Victor Adewale
5. Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

Other Poets in Top 10 are (6) Edaoto Agbeniyi, (7) Biokpo Joshua West, (8) John Chizoba Vincent, (9) Adeyemi Adedayo Agarau, and (10) Omoawe.



Finally, let’s go to the Top 50 Contemporary Poets Who Rocked Nigeria in year 2017. We prefer to call them the digital age Poets though, and they are:

TOP 50:

50. Dami Ajayi
49. Joy Nnebuogo Nwanokwa aka JYC
48. Clemency Green  
47. Saint Rhymes Solomon 
46. Servio Gbadamosi
45. Timileyin Gabriel Olajuwon
44. Omoawe
43. Kemistree
42. Arch Angel
41. Charlee
40. Pariolodo (Kolade Falade)
39. Gemini Yusuf Balogun (Thespian)
38. Soul’e Rhymez 
37. Samurai
36. Kanyinsola Olorunnisola
35. SunSam Paul
34. Jide Badmus
33. Ajijola Habeeb Da Beloved.
32. Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom 
31. Andrew Patience 
30.Fr33zin Paul
29. Rasaq Malik Gbolahan (RMG)
28. John Chizoba Vincent
27. Victor Adewale 
26. Edaoto Agbeniyi
25. Rez Da Poet
24. Olulu
23. Su’eddie Vershima Agema 
22. September Poet
21. Taofeek Aswagaawy

TOP 20:

20. Biokpo Joshua West



He was not rated on this list last year.  Biokpo Joshua is a Poet, Actor, and Bouncer based in Rivers state. He was mentioned in nominations for some past editions but never made top list until now. His crossing into Nollywood film industry probably contributed to the upturn. From nominations received, he was rated number 7 Cross Over Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


He was not rated on this list last year.  Biokpo Joshua is a Poet, Actor, and Bouncer based in Rivers state. He was mentioned in nominations for some past editions but never made top list until now. His crossing into Nollywood film industry probably contributed to the upturn. From nominations received, he was rated number 7 Cross Over Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.





19. BankHALL (aka Bankole Kolawole)
 

He was rated number 44 on this list last year. BankHall may well be regarded as a restless individual who is beginning to identify his “call” in poetry promotion. He did well in hyping both established and upcoming Poets in the outgone year. He also held his “SOS” Slam for the second consecutive year. He is also a page and stage poet who is based in Lagos, but travels inter-state to attend literary events. From nominations received, he didn’t make Top 10 in any of the four categories, but he was mentioned a lot of times.




18. Adigun Olushola Clinton





He was rated number 45 on this list last year. Solar Speaks, as he is fondly called may well qualify as one of the spoken word Poets with highest stage performance rate in the outgone year. He identified his audience as the church and explored it well, performing around different denominations in South West Nigeria, and gaining ground even more than many secular Poets, all the way from his base in Ogun state. From nominations received, he was rated number 8 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


17. Ayokunle "Komson" Komolafe


He was rated number 13 on this list last year. The CEO of Komsons studios, Lagos, was busy promoting Poets all through year 2017. When his Vivid Verses radio show on Metro FM was stalled in the year, he kept pushing for other avenues to continue his poetry promotion till he found Silverbird TV. He has a whatsApp group for all artists that ever featured on his show. From nominations received, he was rated number 4 Poetry Promoter in Nigeria for year 2017.




16. Obari Gomba



He was rated number 30 on this list last year. Obari Gomba (PhD) is an Honorary Fellow in Writing of the University of Iowa, USA. He was adjudged winner of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Poetry Prize 2017, with his poetry collection ‘For Every Homeland’. He is a Poet, and playwright, who teaches in the Department of English Studies at the University of Port Harcourt. From nominations received, he was rated number 3 Page Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.
 
 

15. Kola Onifoto (aka Kolapo Orowale)

 
 He was not rated on this list last year. Kolapo Orowale is Nigerian Navy personnel with a very strong social media presence. He is a multi-gifted fellow; Poet, photographer, fiction writer, singer, and probably qualifies to be a comedian with his often funny pieces online. Though many await his music to “blow”, it could be said that his photography “blew” in year 2017. In writing, he however dwelt more on prose than poetry in the out-gone year. From nominations received, he was rated number 1 Cross Over Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


14. Adeyemi Adedayo Agarau


He was rated number 7 on this list last year. He is an all-round artist; a page and stage poet, a documentary photographer, a singer, and probably an actor.  The author of “For Boys Who Went’ is now known as one of the most dominant creative voices in the City of Ibadan, especially with his “Walls of Ibadan” documentary. From nominations received, he was rated number 9 Cross Over Poet and number 8 Page Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


13. Torpedo Mascaw
  
He was rated number 24 on this list last year. Torpedo is still regarded as king of freestyle when it comes to spoken words. Though his Freedom Hall show via his Freedom record label was not as pronounced as it used to be, he held ones with remarkable high profile artists’ attendance in the year and complemented that with being an impressive judge at poetry Slams. From nominations received, he was rated number 9 Poetry Promoter in Nigeria for year 2017.


12. Saddiq Dzukogi 



He was not rated on this list in previous year. Saddiq is a page Poet, son of one of Nigeria’s older literary figures. From his base in Niger state, he got published in various international journals. At home, he was involved with poetry promotion. And around the country, he is regarded as one of the most dexterous page poets. From nominations received, he was rated number 6 Page Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.



11. Toby Abiodun

He was rated number 50 on this list in previous year. Toby is a spoken word Poet whose base in Delta State didn’t deter him from traveling around the country to contest in Slams. He was a runner-up at ALS Slam in Abuja, winner of SOS Slam in Lagos, and came finalist in WoW6 Slam in Lagos. He is rumored to be one of the Poets who are most proficient with the use of pun. From nominations received, he was rated number 3 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


TOP 10:

10. Sage Has.Son
 

He was rated number 5 on this list last year. Sage may no longer be eligible for this list in coming years, because of age, but the premiere Poet who resides in Abuja remains the most respected spoken word Poet in Nigeria. Of honors he got that. Of words, he is the don. Of relationships, he remains connected. The year so far has been a balanced one for him, he continued to grace high profile events, yet encouraging people who hold smaller events. Many Poets who attended ‘War of Words 6’ in Lagos will not forget his surprise attendance and words of encouragement towards the end of the year. From nominations received, he was rated number 10 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


9. Efe Paul Azino
 

He was rated number 3 on this list last year. Efe is regarded as one of the most dominant spoken word Poets in Nigeria, all the way from his base in Lagos. Little wonder, for a while he has been one of the go-to Poets when firms/international interests search for spoken word artists in Nigeria or when they need someone to either help host an event or help shoot poetry videos. Though there was not much noise about his “Lagos Literary festival” like in the previous year, he held it successfully and continued to be one of the few who actually earn income from poetry in Nigeria. From nominations received, he was rated number 10 Poetry Promoter and number 6 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


8. Romeo Oriogun
 

He was not rated on this list last year. The Federal Road Safety Corps personnel’s inclusion in Brunel University African Poetry Prize shortlist was not a surprise. But his winning the prize stunned many. He tasted his first bitter pills of stardom when many who didn’t like his theme came at him. Yet that didn’t stop the new opened door of invitations and readings all around the country that he got. He was however silent for the most parts of remaining part of the year, yet many rate his poetry high and eagerly wait for his poetry collection to be published. From nominations received, he was rated number 1 Page Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.
 
7. Rudolf RuddaPoet Adidi



He was rated number 17 on this list last year. Rudolf Adidi aka RuddaPoet is an emerging spoken word Poet and poetry promoter based in Jos. He co-authored a poetry collection (83:03:17), raised funds through spoken word poetry by organizing Oil of Peace for victims of Southern Kaduna crisis. His ‘Guts of gods’, started in 2016 was taken to as far as Bauchi in 2017.  He won JOGAMA (Jos Gospel Arts and Music Awards) for the second year running as Best Spoken Word Artiste.  Rudolf co-founded Jos Poetry Slam to help give spoken word Poets a voice and it helped in no small way to promote the art in his location. Finally, he dropped an audio album titled ‘Handwriting’, which is currently considered as one of the best spoken word albums in Nigerian poetry circles by many fans. From nominations received, he was rated number 3 Poetry Promoter in Nigeria for year 2017.


6. Paul Word


He was rated number 36 on this list last year. A student, Paul is currently one of the most dexterous Slam Poets in Nigeria. He traveled far and wide the country, at some times winning Slams and at other times causing scare for the eventual winner. While back to base in Benin city he either staged poetry shows or helped to stage one. He also promotes poetry with his kulikuli.com and is fast becoming someone to emulate by younger Poets. From nominations received, he was rated number 5 Poetry Promoter and number 4 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


5. Bash Amuneni



He was rated number 37 on this list last year. His book, ‘There is a Lunatic in every Town’ is considered as one of the most successful poetry collections in the out-gone year. He held the poetry community by her neck, right from the beginning of year 2017, choking her with his presence. This performance and page Poet based in Abuja was nearly everywhere in Nigeria’s digital and literary space with his book. He was also seen on TV many times, got newspaper reviews, and participated in Slam as a judge. He is however not a novice to the poetry world; he was one of the first spoken word Poets to ever be invited by Nigerian politicians for inauguration of a president. Bash is an Architect turned banker. From nominations received, he was rated number 9 Spoken Word Poet and number 5 Page Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.




4. DONNA the Poet



She was rated number 9 on this list last year. Donna Ogunaike, aka DONNA the Poet, is a Lagos based Poet who is seen as a mother figure by many younger Poets across the country. She readily makes herself available to help and advice younger ones, even without being asked. The energy lawyer is a partner in her firm but created time for self to perform at high profile events in the outgone year. She began the year with her 'Strelizia' show that was a massive success. Later in the year she and her Poedo productions crew were among 15 groups invited from all over the world to perform at a festival in Hong Kong. She is by far the most compelling female voice in Nigerian poetry scene in year 2017. From nominations received, she was rated number 5 Spoken Word Poet and number 3 Cross Over Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


3. Graciano Enwerem
 

He was rated number 1 on this list last year. Graciano is a witty Poet who is quick to ‘punish’ with words. The Port Harcourt/Owerri Poet was, as always, in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, performing poetry, though he is currently serving as a corps member in middle belt of Nigeria. He once contested in a Slam, though he was only a runner up, he came home with even higher financial rewards than the winner, with people dishing out money to him for his dexterity. His Figures of speech online forum continues to grow to the admiration and pride of many younger poets. And when you talk about influence among younger poets, especially those who are still learning, his influence is in no small measure. From nominations received, he was rated number 6 Poetry Promoter, number 4 Page Poet, and number 2 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


2. Kukogho Iruesiri Samson (KIS)

He was rated number 4 on this list last year. He is a page Poet who also writes fiction and almost clinched the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) prose prize 2017. Apparently, no contemporary poet is yet to catch up with his feat in publishing. Also, in poetry promotion he is known as one of the most formidable personalities. But he didn’t stop at the level of acquiring fame, he kept showing his poems online and appearing at events organized by others; he was once on a trip from Abuja to Enugu to be the only judge that appeared for PIN student poetry prize, thankfully, as other judges couldn’t make it. And to wrap up the year, he held his 3rdWRR Literary Festival in Ibadan, all the way from Abuja, with a massive audience in attendance. From nominations received, he was rated number 5 Cross Over Poet, number 2 Page Poet, and number 1 Poetry Promoter in Nigeria for year 2017.
 

1. Dike Chukwumerije





He was rated number 2 on this list last year. Probably, he is the most impressive and innovative Poet in Nigeria since 2016; he invented the first successful Poetry-show franchise in Nigeria. The ‘Made In Nigeria’ show traveled father than the Abuja where it started in year 2016 with shows in Lagos, Enugu, Benin, Ile-Ife, before coming back to rest in Abuja in year 2017. He is also known to be a very impressive page Poet and one of the promoters of Abuja Literary Society (with ALS Slam). His most impressive feat might just be being able to take poetry into drama and back into poetry, telling tales of Nigeria with it, many times making sold out concerts, while he campaigns for ‘Simply Poetry’; eventually crowning it with an invitation to speak at Nigerian Economic summit 2017. From nominations received, he was rated number 2 Cross Over Poet, number 2 Poetry Promoter, and number 1 Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria for year 2017.


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