AdminAs part of the World Poetry Day celebration scheduled to hold in Lagos on 21 March 2025, some Nigerian and Cuban poets and guest artistes have been selected for live performances.
The event which is the 6th edition in Nigeria is hosted by Providus Bank under the guidance of the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, who is the patron of the project.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFive Nigerian poets have been selected to headline the edition, to be joined by four poets from the Republic of Cuba.
Explaining the rationale for the choice, the event curator and cultural ambassador, Mr Jahman Anikulapo, said: “Since the Cuban guests are mainly presenting contents rooted in their performance culture and heritage, the choice of the local poets has been carefully made such that the guests would have a variety of Nigerian cultural contents, even as they stay faithful to the theme of the festival.”
READ ALSO: 6th Providus Bank World Poetry Day Celebration Holds March 21 In Lagos
He added: “The five recommended Nigerian poets have thus been chosen based on their varied styles of presentation that would expose the visitors and the guests to a rich taste of poetry delivery/performance techniques in Nigeria.”
The selected poets are:
Yusuf Àlàbí Balógun (Àrẹ̀mọ Gemini)
MULTIFACETED artist-poet, storyteller, TEDx speaker, and art specialist, with a core focus on Yorùbá arts and culture, Aremo Gemini’s poetry is heavily influenced by grassroots realities – from promotion, and propagation of African cultural heritage, history and identity, to campaign for female emancipation, to amplifying tales of the marginalised. His presentation technique includes deploying percussive instruments to support his poetry rendition.
IG/Twitter: aremogemini
EVELYN OSAGIE
CREATIVE writer with an interest in poetry, performance and photography, with over two decades composing and performing poetry/spoken word on stage, Evelyn Osagie mixes performance with elements of folklore, myths, and songs, and sometimes employs masks, drum rhythms, music, and dance to express her poetic thoughts.
Social media: FB/IG evelynosagieart
KAFAYAT QUADRI, (Kaffe of Life)
MULTIDISCIPLINARY artist, Kafayat is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and poet whose work seamlessly weaves music and poetry into a profound acoustic and spoken-word experience. With a career spanning decades, she has used her artistry to explore themes of humanity, self-care, and emotional wellness. Her poetry journey took a groundbreaking turn in 2016 with Aquarius Vol. 1, a collection of audio poems available on all streaming platforms.
Social Media: IG: @dr.quadri_ |FB: @km.quadri
TIJANI USMAN (Tijaywebster)
SPOKEN Word Poet & Multidisciplinary Artist, born in Kogi State but raised in Jos, Plateau State, Tijaywebster is renowned in Lagos and Nigerian poetry and culture circuits for his deep, lyrical performance style with an infusion of raps and dancehall contents. As a multidisciplinary artist, with special skills in Rap, 3D Animations, Graphic Design, Comic Illustrations, and Web Development, he also infuses visual elements such as animation to embellish his content and form.
Social media: IG: Tijaywebster | FB: Tijay Usman
CHINELO NWORA
A PASSIONATE writer, poet, and content creator, Chinelo studied English Education at the University of Lagos. With a keen interest in poetry, Chinelo has authored over 50 poems, which she shares with the public through various online platforms. Her work reflects her deep understanding of language and her ability to convey emotions and experiences in a captivating manner. As a performance poet, she brings her written words to life, engaging audiences with her dynamic and expressive performances.
Social media: IG – officialchi_nelo | FB: chinelo.nwora | chinelo-nwora
Special Guest Artiste
WOLE ALADE
A MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, composer, jazz music arranger and performer, who is committed to highly artistic, distinctive and unique, Wole Alade is a world-acclaimed music maestro who has produced seasoned pieces of music in the genre of African, African American and contemporary music. He has written music scores for six motion pictures. Among his productions is ”Olodumare – ?the Creator” produced for Mess/Bluemoon – Atlantic Records 2011. He has performed with many established musicians and groups like the Afro Linkage Ensemble, ABRAXAS (Carlo Santana group), Babatunde Olatunji Embryo, etc.
wolealade@facebook.com | www.wolerity@gmail.com |wolealade@instagram.com | wolealade@tiktok.com
CUBAN Delegation
CAMERATA CORTÉS
A MUSICAL project created by the legendary Cuban flutist José Luis Cortés “El Tosco”, on 5 October 2003, to coincide with his birth date, Camerata Cortes, since its creation, has been characterised by a very high level of professionalism and has defended the best of Cuban, Latin American and international music, venturing into a great diversity of genres and innovating with many proposals that break barriers and without creative limits. The members are all graduates of the National School of Music, the University of the Arts of Cuba, and work as teachers at various levels of education. More on the group can be found at: Social Media: Facebook: Camerata Cortés Oficial | Instagram: @ Camerata Cortes | Youtube: Camerata Cortés Oficial
POETS
SINECIO VERDECIA DÍAZ:
PERFORMING poet, singer-songwriter, oral narrator, and cultural promoter, Sineco has since 2018 worked as Director of the House of Poetry in the Office of the Historian of the City. His work has been featured in several anthologies, including, “Brisa del mar, 1er Concurso Internacional de Haiku” (Gráficas Ibarra, Albacete, Spain 2007); : “Otras islas” (Ediciones Cubeart. Cuba-Italy, 2008); “El ojo de la luz, and anthology of Cuban poets and artists” (Diana Edizioni Italia, 2008) Contact: chekendeke.gmail.com
ALEX PAUSIDES:
POET and editor, Alex served as a literary advisor in Manzanillo from 1972 to 1986. He became Vice President of the Hermanos Saíz Association of Young Writers and Artists in In 1986, and in 1988, he was appointed director of the cultural monthly *El Caimán Barbudo*. He served as Vice President of the Cuban Writers Association from 1998 to 2014. A founding member of the World Poetry Movement in 2011, he has since been part of its coordinating committee. He also founded the network of poets in defense of humanity. He has been a jury member for Cuba’s most prestigious literary awards.
EDELMIS ANOCETO VEGA:
POET, essayist, narrator, literary translator and editor, Edelmis is an editor at Ediciones Sed de Belleza and director of Violas. Revista Villaclareña de Literatura. As a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, he has published more than 80 articles and translations in serial publications. He has been a judge in national and international competitions and has participated in more than 20 literary events. He has more than 30 Recognitions, including First Prize in Poetry at the Municipal Meeting of Literary Workshops of Santa Clara, (1997). Social media: Fb: Edelmis Anoceto Vega | @edelmis.anocetovega
ISRAEL DOMÍNGUEZ:
POET and translator, Israel’s books of poetry include, besides others, Hojas de cal (2001), Collage mientas avanza mi carro de equipaje (2002), Sobre un fondo de arena (2004), Después de acompañar a William Jones (2006), Viaje de regreso (2011), and En dirección contraria (2014). He has translated texts by Margaret Randall, Cornelia Hoogland, Ruth Behar, Barret Watten, Rosa Alcalá, T. S. Eliot, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Harry Owen, Virgilio Piñera, Norge Espinosa, and others. He has received several prizes and honorable mentions.
EMLIANO SARDIÑAS: (Repentista)
SINCE July 1989 when he began his career as a professional improvisational poet at the Antonio María Romeu Artist Representation Agency, he has become the most popular of Cuba’s improvisational poets recognized internationally. He has participated in an innumerable number of events and festivals, making him the poet with the most participation at the national level in these events. He is the only artist of his genre about whom a book has been written and who has had a cultural club named after him while he is still alive.
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