Poetry

Lai Mohammed

Lai Mohammed finally joins the bandwagon of politicians punishing journalists for free speech

Want to understand just how much trouble Nigeria is in? A sitting Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has been accused of being complicit in the harassment of private citizens and the arrest of a journalist for the crime of free speech. The ministry of Information and Culture is the singular ministry outside the... Read More

Counter Culture Blog

lai mohammed, Oba Akeju, Poetry

Tolu Akinyemi

December 8, 2018

With “Dead Lions Don’t Roar”, Tolu Akinyemi opts for relatable simplicity

Poetry can be likened to spades, whose ability to dig deep and unearth largely depends on who is handling it. It’s fairly obvious, but the fate of a line or a paragraph, in terms of its resonating effect, has a lot to do with the thumb and index (and all other accompanying) fingers wielding the... Read More

Dead Lions dont roar, Poetolu, Poetry, Tolu Akinyemi

Yakeeb

#YNaijaLit: Collaborations are at the heart of Yakeeb’s ‘Numb Tantrums’

When I first discovered Yakeeb’s poetry chapbook ‘Numb Tantrums’, I was particularly moved by how it was able to capture the audaciousness of youth and the despair that is often accompanied by such zest for life. It was an honour to talk to him about the chapbook, his future as a poet and the place... Read More

Poetry, Yakeeb, YNaijaLit

Moonflower

February 8, 2018

#YNaijaLit: Esther Edoho is channeling our collective youth on “Moonflower”

Yesterday we debuted two new poems from Esther Edoho’s fantastic new chapbook, Moonflower, a poetry collection that explores love, displacement, migration and youth through the eyes of a young woman. Today, we chat with her about the book and her life and why she chose to self publish instead of waiting for a traditional publishing house. We... Read More

Chapbook, Esther Edoho, Moonflower, Poetry, YNaija Lit

Moonflower

February 7, 2018

#YNaijaLit: Read two new poems from Esther Edoho’s debut chapbook ‘Moonflower’

As part of YNaija’s dedication to the arts and especially literature from Nigeria and the continent, we have opened our platform to novelists and poets and creative non-fiction writers, to share with us an integral part of their work and give us some much needed insight into why they have chosen to express themselves through... Read More

Chapbook, Esther Edoho, Moonflower, Poetry, YNaija Lit

December 4, 2017

Book Review: Valentine Ogunaka’s ‘Dreams Wake Me’ echoes Maya Angelou and W.B Yeats

by Reginald C. Ofodile Valentine Onyeka Ogunaka, the author of Dreams Wake Me, a collection comprising of both conventional poetry and contemporary ‘spoken word’, is widely known as ‘Brainbox.’ This book appears a box unlocked. It is a suitcase crammed with sparkling and scented items, contents now bestowed on humanity. The collection opens with a... Read More

art, Book Review, Dreams wake me, Poetry

September 16, 2017

Poetry: Let us burn Nigeria down

by Soyombo Ayomikun Let us burn Nigeria down 1. So the ethnic deceptions Can end, So we can greedily share Nigeria Once and for all And part with her ashes, Ashes that definitely will be Bitter and Nauseating, Let us burn Nigeria Down 2. So the ‘oil tribes’ Can drink their oil Alone, So... Read More

nigeria, Poetry, secession, security

September 11, 2017

Poetry: Beneath the rubble

by Cyril James Awake, you dying eagle. Awake to your long lost pride; To the tide of foreign waters. Look back in time When your virgin charms, as a Bait, the distant climes called. Look forward into the future And match untrammelled into Peace and glory unspeakable. Inhale not this strange air ___ It... Read More

nigeria, opinion, Poetry, the future

August 30, 2017

Poetry: Obey before complain

by Adekunle Adewunmi Evil eviscerates under the sun Common commune among men There is a virtue I know about But rings afar off. The evil seems close and lovely It shines and glitters as gold Disobedience is sweet on the surface Yet, ashes prevails over its beauty For it is ephemeral. The... Read More

nigeria, Obedience, Poetry

Oreoluwa Fakorede: This is Lagos, the capital of contrasts

by Oreoluwa Fakorede People, dreams, fleeting joys and repressed sorrows Cars owned, cars leased and cars borrowed Traffic, the runners without a sport who gather Children going home to missing fathers Wives and the husbands that are not theirs alone Lies told in person, in texts and on the phone Wannabes, pretenders and false impressions... Read More

Eko, lagos, Oreoluwa Fakorede, Poetry

Poetry: The beginning of a bad joke

by Eyiamoni Apeji This is the beginning of a terrible joke so, brace yourselves. Relax, it’s not a knock knock joke. In that I am kind. This is the beginning of one of those terrible jokes where the funny isn’t lost in the telling. The telling is poetic if anything, it’s one of those... Read More

Bad jokes, Hookups, Insecure girls, Poetry, Relationships

Poetry: Where Baba?

by Soyombo Ayomikun 1.That we screamed Sai Baba Doesn’t mean we Won’t ask ‘Where Baba?’ That we ask Where Baba Doesn’t mean we Don’t wish him Well! 2.What wisdom is There Building walls of Secrecy And lies Around one that promised Transparency And truth? What damage Will it do to Look us in the... Read More

Buhari's health, nigeria, Office of the citizen, pmb, Poetry

Zimbabwean-British playwright, Zodwa Nyoni to release new play July 1

by Rachel Ogbu// Zimbabwean-British playwright Zodwa Nyoni has been hailed by the BBC for making her voice heard with her new play Ode To Leeds showing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds until 1 July. Ode To Leeds follows the story of five young poets from Leeds selected to compete at the world’s most prestigious international poetry slam competition... Read More

Africans in diaspora, africans in the UK, Poetry, spoken words, theatre, uk, Zimbabwe, Zodwa Nyoni

Poem: Apparition

by Odimegwu Onwumere We heard he sent a letter to the Senate On January Nineteen Two Thousand and Seventeen. The Senate didn’t see him but saw his letter; He then left for London for a Ten-day leave, To treat himself. He stayed for over Fifty days, Showing care to us in attitude, Not... Read More

Buhari, Cabal, medical vacation, nigeria, opinion, Poetry, Politics, senate

Poetry: You’re in love but he beats you …RUN!!!

by Soyombo Ayomikun 1.Of Nneka I once heard Whose rich husband Always rages Like a demon let loose From hell. He bleeds her At night And spoils her During the day. Family and Friends told her To run But she clung on To wealth and Terror. Eventually the night came When her skull Got crushed... Read More

Domestic violence, Love, Marriage, Poetry, Relationships

Ebenezar Wikina: Poetry is boring

by Ebenezar Wikina This is poetry This is the good old boring poetry But before you shut your eyes and start snoring I just want to remind you that poetry is still boring Poetry is like photosynthesis Because this black sun, is painting good pictures with sentences That feed your six senses Poetry... Read More

creativity, Ebenezar Wikina, NEXT, Poetry, World poetry day

Isoken Aruede: Why do we hold grudges? [NEXT]

by Isoken Aruede Why do we hold a grudge? Perhaps you and I are ignorant In the stench of our previous rants; Not realizing what we really need. What we have to avoid Is the malice that destroys, If we want our relationship to succeed. Communication is the key, And where the problem seems... Read More

grudges, Isoken Aruede, Life hacks, NEXT, Poetry

February 14, 2017

Ezinne Ukoha: Puncture the heart for love and serve lemonade

by Ezinne Ukoha Make the hole bigger and circle it with the evidence of ignorance that is rife for naught. No matter what we do or say the space between us gapes out and weathers inward with the spirit of non-regret. You take without receiving and give without parting. The evidence of camaraderie is strewn... Read More

Beyoncé, Ezinne Ukoha, Lemonade, Love, opinion, Poetry, Valentine

February 14, 2017

Ore Fakorede: I Told My Mother About You [NEW VOICES]

by Ore Fakorede I met someone. She has kind eyes and a soft heart, an easy smile and a subtle feistiness about her. She laughs like laughter is air and she cannot get enough of it. She cries shamelessly about things that are worth her tears. In a benumbing world where growing a thick... Read More

life, New Voices, Ore Fakorede, Poetry, Relationships, Young Love

February 6, 2017

Poetry: To love is to die

by Boluwatife Afolabi To love is to die every night hoping to wake up in a dream where love is a language, ecstasy; a song where prayers flow into rivers and children wake at dawn to fetch blessings into a gourd. To love is to break your body into a sea hoping to find... Read More

Boluwatife Afolabi, Love, Poetry, Relationships

January 31, 2017

Eyiamoni Apeji: To all the heroes who quit too late [NEXT]

by Eyiamoni Ipeji This one goes out to the monsters who wear their pants when they sit at home. To the people with purpose and drive. To those who know who they are, who know what they want. To the only people that were ever allowed to be better than us. To the people with... Read More

‘Heroes’, Eyiamoni Ipeji, NEXT, Poetry, song, Tribute

January 31, 2017

Oreoluwa Fakorede: When Fathers fail [NEW VOICES]

by Oreoluwa Fakorede When your natural example is a disaster, how long before your feet find their way off the cliff? I grew up with a father and then I did not because there is a difference between having a father and being raised by one. My mother tried to fill this ‘father vacuum’ in... Read More

fathers, life, New Voices, Oreoluwa Fakorede, Poetry, women

January 9, 2017

Simon Kolawole: Buhari’s battle with poetry and prose

by Simon Kolawole Mario Matthew Cuomo, former three-time governor of the American state of New York, was known for his poetic use of language in the political space. For instance, speaking on his supposed presidential plans in 1986, he quipped: “I have no plans, and no plans to plan.” He eventually did not run —... Read More

Featured, Opinion

Abiola, Buhari, Chibok girls, Militants, opinion, Poetry, simon kolawole, TSA

December 15, 2016

Come experience music, spoken word, & more at the Common Grounds Concert

What could Spokenword and Soul Music have in common? You can ask REZthaPoet and Isaac Geralds, or you could just wait and hope you get invited to their ‘invite-only’ concert, Common Ground; or maybe hope you are lucky with your RSVP. Happening on Friday, 16th December 2016 at Liquid Hub, Ikoyi, Lagos, Common Ground is... Read More

Sponsored, The News Blog

common grounds, concert, event, isaac gerald, Music, Poetry, Rez, Spoken Word

October 14, 2016

5 things to know about Bob Dylan, 2016 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature

“The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 is awarded to Bob Dylan for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition…” The announcement made by the Swedish Academy in Stockholm was met with applause, surprise and slight criticism from some quarters. For many Nigerians, the Nobel Prize in Literature is familiar mostly... Read More

Award, Inspiration, literature, Music, Nobel Laureate, Nobel Prize, Poetry

October 11, 2016

Ogunleke Emmanuel: From feet to feat [Nigerian Voices]

by Ogunleke Adekunle Emmanuel Although this story’s resolution or black out might have to be written later, I am optimistic of its ending. It is going to have a proverbial taste of bitter leaf after its staleness. I am writing this when I would not say I am successful and you might not think so... Read More

Nigerian Voices

blogger, life, nigeria, Poetry, writing

September 2, 2016

POETRY: Dance

by Elizabeth Edirin Enajeroh you see her in blinding white emotions explode in your chest you start to cry you see your baby you see your daughter she smiles at you with eyes just like her mother with lips just like your own your daughter has become a woman and today you have given her... Read More

dance, daughter, drum, happiness, man, Music, Poetry, School

POETRY: When I die, may I not die

by Adedoyin Olumodeji ERSATZ Rivers flowing with glee, Buried beneath souls, so deep, Sun shining with glee, Hidden within, hearts so deep. Feel the dark passions, Around you, Happy expressions, Dead inner yous. Skeleton in my cabinet, He’s smiling, I’m wailing Like I’m the one in the net. Gathering through scattering, Shutting souls,... Read More

death, humanity, life, literature, Poetry, prize, ynaija

Opinion: Feel free to slaughter me like a chicken

by ‘Káyọ̀dé Oyèró And Kpeti’s great household is no more, Only the broken fence stands; And those who dared not look in his face Have come out as men. How well their pride is with them. Let those gone before take note They have treated their offspring badly. What is the wailing for? Somebody is... Read More

Abuja, christoan, eugene, islam, literature, opinion, Poetry, Religion

Poetry: WHISPERS

by Henry Emenike Anumudu I. On that dark and moonless night I saw them… Trample noiseless into cascades of derelict blocks I heard them… Beg and cry, whimper and moan ‘Twas fruitless, souls were thrown, like bags Into dark empty wagons I saw them… And my heart thumped. as the sound, rickety…rickety tore, like a... Read More

Beauty, men, poem, Poetry, sheep, silence, whispers

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