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<h5 class="wp-block-heading">In recent years, Nigeria has experienced (and is still experiencing) massive growth in (spoken word) the literary arts, producing award-winning (writers) poets, awesome poetry and a litany of poetry-inclined events and leading to healthy competition with other forms of art. Many of these events are annual and have become part of the year for most Nigerian poets.</h5>



<p>If you are a lover of poetry (and literature) like me and want to have a great time with fellow enthusiasts in 2019, I recommended these 7 events that are poetry inclined for you:</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">1. BENUE BOOK AND ARTS FESTIVAL 2019</h4>



<p>The
Benue Book and Art Festival is scheduled to take place in Makurdi, Benue State
from the 20th to 22nd day of June, 2019. Organised by SEVHAGE Literary &;
Development Initiative and SEVHAGE Publishers in partnership with the African
Writers of University of Sussex, United Kingdom with support from the Eunice
Spring of Life Foundation and Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction
Initiative. With multiple-award-winning writer Su’eddie Vershima Agema as
festival Director, the theme is “Changing Narratives” – aimed at expanding
discourse on growth, personal and communal development. </p>



<p>The
event will feature workshops, panels, book talks, and a very big book sale with
crazy discounted rates and have several renowned writers in attendance. Writers
expected at the Festival include Professor Dul Johnson, Dr. Maria Ajima, Chuma
Nwokolo, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, Odoh Diego Okenyodo, Alexander Emmanuel Ochogwu, Innocence Silas
Sharamang, Servio Gbadamosi, Richard Ali, Eketti Edime, Bizuum Yadok, T. J.
Benson, Bash Amuneni, Efe Paul Azino, Daisy Odey; Agatha Agema (nee Aduro),
Maik Ortserga; Jide Badmus and Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto. </p>



<p>There
will also be a N100,000 spoken word slam, open to any spoken word artist from
around the world, and a short story competition (to be announced). </p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">2. WRR LITERARY FESTIVAL: FEAST OF WORDS</h4>



<p>Feast
of Words (FOW) is a one-of-a-kind annual literary festival organized by Words
Rhymes &; Rhythm Publishers Ltd (WRR), a publishing and literary education
company. With WRR CEO Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
as Festival Director, FOW features poetry/book readings and performances,
discussion panels, award presentations, musical and drama performances and with
plenty of free food and drinks. </p>



<p>Much-anticipated,
FOW is free-entry. The one-day literary festival which will be held for the
fifth time this year (at a date and venue yet to be announced) usually holds in
in December in Ibadan, Western Nigeria. It enjoys a faithful following among young
Nigerian writers from all over the country every year.</p>



<p>In
the last edition notable poets and writers Eriata Oribhabor, Diana Iquo, Jide
Badmus, Opia Maxwell, Adedayo Adeyemi Agarau, Funke Awodiya, Uchennna Eze,
Chiyasa-Ezeezeh Ikwuemesibe, Oppong Clifford Benjamin (from Ghana) and many
more were in attendance.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">3. FESTIVAL POETRY CALABAR</h4>



<p>Poets
in Nigeria (PIN) is set to hold the sixth edition of its annual literary
festival – Festival Poetry Calabar 2019. It is an event members of the PIN
family and other lovers of literature are already looking forward to, even
though the theme is yet to be revealed.</p>



<p>During
the 2018 edition held at the James Ene Henshaw Foundation in Calabar, the
Festival activities included a book chat session, panel discussions, a poetry
slam, dance, drama and music. There were also other entertaining activities
like Sights and Sounds of Calabar and a rally.</p>



<p>In
attendance were poets, writers, literary administrators, journalists and social
advocates Odoh Diego Okeyodo, Chuma Nwokolo, Jonathan Abang Ugbal, Hope Obetan,
Joseph Okoro, Kalejaye Folajimi and others. Some of the many young spoken word
poets who seized the stage and performed beautiful poetry include Poets Isaac
Daniels, Bwrite Word, Worden Enya, oddFelix Ayuk, JimPoet Adie, Solutionist
Clementina, Chris Fridae, Prince Charley, Afrika, CP Kings, LKG and many others.
</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">4. LAGOS
INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL</h4>



<p>Since
2015 The LAGOS INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL has brought poets, writers,
artists, and thinkers from across the world to Lagos for a week of
conversations , readings , performances , workshops and adventure ,
establishing itself as one of the continent’s Annual Art and Culture
Highlights. Founded and Directed by Efe Paul Azino, this annual event is set to
hold again, the 5<sup>th</sup> edition, at a yet unannounced date and venue. </p>



<p>The Festival
features poetry, spoken word and music performances, riveting conversations, workshops
and masterclasses, etc. with local and international poets in attendance. In
2018, it place at the Old Prison Grounds, Freedom Park, Broad Street, Lagos
from Oct. 31st – Nov. 4th, 2018, with the theme “Wide Awake” with Lebo Mashile
(South Africa), Jabir Malick (Senegal), Chika Jones (Nigeria), Julian Heun
(Germany) and Tobi Abiodun (Nigeria) as guests and special music by Femi Leye.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">5. SOS
4.0 POETRY SLAM</h4>



<p>Sound
of Sages (SOS) Poetry Slam is a one-day poetry, music and sundry talent event that
attracts a young literary audience. It is curated by spoken word artist Bankole
Kolawole ‘BankHALL’. The 4<sup>th</sup> edition of the event, dubbed SOS 4.0,
is set to hold in 2019, at a yet unannounced date and venue. </p>



<p>In
2018, the SOS SLAM organized in collaboration with thePoetryCourt (tPC), held on
Saturday, December 8 at Shogunle Town Hall, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos, and featured several
young poets and notable writers – Iquo Diana-Abasi, Soonest Nathaniel, James
Ademuyiwa &; Layo Simeon, as judges of the slam which was won by Oludasa Michael Olawale.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">6. ABUJA POETRY CONVENTION</h4>



<p>The
Abuja Poetry Convention is a three-day event convened by Absolute Poetry
(founded by Jonathan Oluwatosin) and co-convened/organized by oddFelix Ayuk,
Precious Okeke and Adekunbi Lardo.</p>



<p>Targeting
at least a thousand participants, activities at the Abuja Poetry Convention
event will include poetry readings, a poetry carnival, and an all evening
session of alternative music, poetry performances, acrobatic display, dance and
an open-field party. Attendees will also be treated to master classes on poetry
and other literary genres, panel discussions, a poetry slam, award
presentations, and other side attractions.</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align:center">7. RHAPSODIST</h4>



<p>Hosted
by J19, Rhapsodist is an annual event that has grown to be the largest
Christian spoken word poetry event in the city of Calabar. Rhapsodist features
mainly spoken word poetry but also gives room for other stage arts.</p>



<p>The
event which is about to hold for the fourth time has featured poets Moje
Ikpeme, Chinwendu Nwangwa, Worden Enya, Agwazia Ifeanyi, Neka GODZBOi and
oddFelix Ayuk, rapper Ajebo and comedian Reks (of the House of Reks), among
many others. August Chucks, Irra and Fragile of the Port-Harcourt Literary
Society are among those that graced the stage in the last edition.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator">



<h5 class="wp-block-heading">If
you are able to make any or all of these events, your year will definitely be
made, at least poetry-wise. You are certainly in for beautiful poetry (and
literary) experience if you follow this guide.</h5>



<hr class="wp-block-separator">



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" src="https://www.wrr.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/FEAST-OF-WORDS-2018-MORNING-SESSION-PHOTOS-20-768x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-35960" loading="lazy"><figcaption>Attendees of the Feast of Words 2018 buying books.</figcaption></figure>



<p style="font-size:12px;text-align:right" class="has-background has-very-light-gray-background-color">This article was contributed by <em><strong><a href="https://web.facebook.com/okeke.precious.902">Okeke Precious</a></strong></em>, an undergraduate student studying English Language and Literature at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She can be reached via email at <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="mailto:jayprecious28@gmail.com" target="_blank"><em>jayprecious28@gmail.com</em></a>. </p>
 
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7 RECOMMENDED NIGERIAN POETRY EVENTS IN 2019 (AS COMPILED BY PRECIOUS OKEKE)
