ODIA OFEIMUN’S ‘THE POET LIED’ IS FOREVER RELEVANT — a review by Shoola Oyindamola
Oyindamola Shoola
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TITLE: THE POET LIED AUTHOR: ODIA OFEIMUN GENRE: Poetry NUMBER OF PAGES: 110 PUBLISHER: Longman Group Limited UK DATE OF PUBLICATION: 1980 ISBN: 978-978-48735-3-6 REVIEWER: Shoola Oyindamola
THE POET LIED by ODIA OFEIMUN
In THE POET LIED, ODIA OFEIMUN admirably satirized the controversies and complications in Nigerian politics. In some of the poems, he wrote about love, admiration and the perks of being a poet. Odia also wrote of experience, the economy, and the Biafra war that happened in the 60’s.
His poems painted the horrors of war and mocked the “so called glory” that was supposed to be won through brutality and the events of blood spills. His words on Biafra mourned the loss of a country, beauty, and community.
On one hand of this book, we have an endless display and buzz of the contaminated policies, the civil servant roles, the national cake, and its bakers. On the other end, we have Odia describing his optimism as a writer through his personal struggles.
ODIA OFEIMUN
His use of words, although slightly simple were stunning as they conveyed deep meanings and messages. The language is easy to understand and most of it created ‘aha-moments’ for me. I was inspired to write a number of poems after reading the collection.
Although most of the poems in it were written in the 70’s and the book was published in 1980, it is worth owning even now because it is the kind of book that will forever be modern and relevant.
THE POET LIED is out of print in most places but if by chance you lay your hands on this book, don’t let it go. Read it and I promise that it is totally worth it. I love it so much and it’s one that I will never forget.
THE POET LIED by ODIA OFEIMUN
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SHOOLA OYINDAMOLA, author of HEARTBEAT (poems)
SHOOLA OYINDAMOLA was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a published poet, a feminist, a mentor, a blogger and Co-founder and Resource manager of Sprinng Literary Movement. She loves to writes poems, essays and her non-classifiable opinions. She uses her writing skills with her feminist drive to discuss the gender injustices that need to be fixed. She published her first collection of poems titled “Heartbeat” in New York, USA at the age of 16.
SHOOLA OYINDAMOLA was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. She is a published poet, a feminist, a mentor, a blogger and Co-founder and Resource manager of Sprinng Literary Movement. She loves to writes poems, essays and her non-classifiable opinions. She uses her writing skills with her feminist drive to discuss the gender injustices that need to be fixed. Her first collection of poems is titled “Heartbeat”. Her second, To Bee A Honey, was published in 2017.
