Abuja celebrates World Poetry Day
In 1999, the United Nations adopted March 21 World Poetry Day. Ever since, poets all over the world have been celebrating the day like a poetic eid, feasting and binging on ornamented verses.
In Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, the day was marked with enthusiasm as poets and lovers of poetry, and lovers of poets, attended events in which poetry was served with relish, bravado and flourish.
One of such events was at Thought Pyramid Gallery where many poets gathered for an event organized by the Association of Nigerian Authors Abuja and several other groups held an event tagged “Raising Our Voices for Peace and Sustenable Development”.
The event featured many distinguished poets such as Diego Okenyedo, Dike Chukwumerije, Halima Usman and Eriata Oribhabor.
At the Korean Cultural Centre, halfway across the city, and much later in the week, Jerry Adesewo’s Arojah Royal Theatre held the 5th Korean Nigeria Poetry Feast, also to celebrate the world poetry day.
As has become its custom, the event is a celebration of poetry, mostly submitted for the Korea Nigeria Poetry Anthology, from which 10 winners are chosen and awarded cash prizes.
This event had in attendance the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Dr Sally Mbanefo, who is also a painter and writer.
“Poetry is freedom of expression and ability to create. Once you can use your creativity you can communicate beauty and sadness and love and communicate your appreciation of nature,” Mbanefo said.
She is also optimistic that poetry and other creative ventures can play major roles in changing social psyche.
“People in the creative industry have a major role in turning around the tides of things,” she said.
Ehizogie Iyeomoan, the hero poet of the day, whose poem, “The Fulani Boy” clinched first prize in the contest said setting aside a day for the celebration of poetry is very useful.
“World Poetry day is important for poets to bring out the works that can make change in the society,” he said.
His poem, “Fulani Boy” has won various international prizes and he is delighted that the poem has won a prize at home.
“Getting a prize for this poem in various countries is an honour, especially get one here at home and I dedicate it to the young boy I saw who inspired it,” he said.
For poet Denja Abdullahi, who is also the Vice President of the Association of Nigeria Authors the day is significant because it makes people pause and think about poetry.
“If art can’t help solve the problem of humanity then it may become irrelevant so the occasion of the world poetry day is for us think of the use of poetry and how it can be used to solve the problem of humanity,” he said.
The Director of the Korean Cultural Center, Mr Kwon Yong Ik Nigeria said his center is committed to the annual poetry event because it is an avenue to expand and strengthen cultural ties between Nigeria and South Korea.
He assured that the Center will continue to invest in the annual event to ensure the growth of cultural ties and understanding between the two countries.