Across the globe last week, March 21, poets in different locations converged to celebrate the World Poetry Day. In Nigeria, the celebration was made lively by poets, and other artists who commemorated the day with different forms of poetry renditions and performances. It was a colourful day as EDOZIE UDEZE reports. Additional report by PAUL UGAH.
MARCH 21 every year is known as the World Poetry Day. A day set aside by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to celebrate poets and honour them with world-wide recognition of their works. In its normal tradition UNESCO has made it clear that poetry is one of those creative elements that make the world interesting to live in. It is because of this that poets have consistently ensured that their voices, their offerings and works are made known on this day and beyond.
Two weeks ago, when the celebration held in Nigeria, artists, poets, creative people generally devised different ways to make the day lively. In Nigeria and world-over artists gathered in their thousands to recite, read, perform, play and demonstrate poetry. A lot of those lines and verses harped on the problems of the world. Topical issues of war, armament, hunger, diseases, wickedness, bad leadership, economic problems, name it, predominated. Artists sang, danced, gyrated, displayed their angst more profusely than ever before. There were plenty of rhythms, with rhythmical deliveries that appealed to the soul. Love tunes also found ample places in the hearts of poets.
From Abuja, the nation’s capital, came an online conversation put together by Abuja Writers Forum. The topics of discourse dangled between life and survival, the Nigerian experience. Yes, it was noted that the world is at a crossroads, as more people ask for the simplest basic needs of life. The conversation was rich, rippled with issues that need immediate attention for the people to move on ahead in life. It is the role of writers, more so, poets to articulate these plausible ideas which can help to better the society.
From Pan African Writers Association (PAWA) Accra, Ghana, also came series of celebrations. PAWA centered its concerns on African problems. With the likes of Tanure Ojaide, Olumide Olamiyan, Eche Nduka and others on hand to discuss poetry, the day was well made. These are award-winning and well tested poets whose area of focus most times, is the African continent. What will the world be like if poets decide to down tools? Of what value is poetry to the growth and development of the people vis-à-vis the society? Oh, yes, the world will be bereft of ideas, fun, intellectual growth and advancement if poetry is allowed to kiss the canvass. So, the beat has to go on unabridged, unobstructed.
Also there was an Anthology on Corruption in Nigeria, with pieces of verses stringed together by children. The poems written by primary and secondary school children dwelt on corruption. It is titled Anti-corruption Champions aimed at helping the children to understand the ills and equally condemn corruption in its entirety. In writing the poems, the children demonstrated enough and total grasp of the seriousness of the theme, its onerous impact on Nigeria and its future. the lines drip with condemnation, spite, hate, curses and more, on any idea embedded in corruption, bad leadership and followership.
From Ogun State as well came the voices of members of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) who converged to commemorate the day. Ogun State ANA was in full swing with actions on stage which propelled poets on as lines upon lines were read and demonstrated and performed. Music also flowed with sweet and soothing tunes. The association called on schools to give more space to poetry, encourage the children to also show more interest in reading and writing poems.
Generally, it was time to call on the federal government of Nigeria to revisit the issue of the National Endowment for the Art, an issue that has been made open since 1988. And also from Benue State, came robust and well-orchestrated celebrations where notable writers, poets, playwrights, novelists, stakeholders electrified Makurdi with poetry renditions and razzmatazz ad infinitum.
The Ministry of Education in Benue State has been tasked to revive Literature at Basic Seven to Nine to instill creativity in the minds of the young ones at the early stage of learning.
The state Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Paul Ugah gave the charge at the ceremony to commemorate World Poetry Day at Salem Academy Makurdi.
Ugah expressed displeasure that the Ministry of Education is not setting examination questions from the recommended text by same Ministry for basic Nine Examination in the state.
He explained that as a result of that many schools in the state were discouraged from teaching of literature alongside with English Language as stipulated by the Basic Nine Syllabus.
He added that literature which is one of the vehicles of promotion and preservation of language and culture of people of a given society should not be killed at the level of education.
The Principal of the school Fransica Onje expressed happiness that the event has created opportunity for the students to interact with great minds which invariably would boost their interest in poetry.
Mrs. Onje commended ANA for bringing poetry to their doorstep and promised to put what they learnt into use.
Speaking on the importance of poetry a member of ANA Benue State who is blind but has written a novel and is currently studying English at the University of Jos, Plateau State, Moses Afashima said “As William words worth right opined, poetry is the spontaneous flow of emotions. Which meant poetry is the representation of thoughts and feelings, a tool that unlocks dreams”.
Afashima further stated that his appearance on African Daily TV Show in 2020 was as a result of his skill in poetry, saying through that a Pan African crusader like P.L.O Lumumba listening and sharing my poem.
He concluded that poetry can take one to anywhere in the world provided one develops himself in that field.
A lecturer at Benue State University, Makurdi, Professor Mbaiver Nyitse said she was greatly encouraged by the brilliant performance of the students and urged the school to set up a Literary Forum for them to enhance their writing skills.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s World Poetry Day which is “to recall the role of Poetry in survival of ancient languages, development of the world and enlightenment of the world” a former state Chairman of ANA, Sam Ogabidu pointed out that poetry has no general acceptable definition but described it as utterance of man in time of joy or sadness”.
Ogabidu maintained that the best way to become a good poet was to read good poetry books.
The commemoration witnessed hundreds of poets, scholars, and students of Salem Academy.
The highlights of the event were reading by some ANA members and students of the school. Those that read included: Nege Daddy, Hope Idani, Regina Achie Nege, HOC Kochris, Akegh Terlumun, Aboh Agbachenu, Igba Ogbole, Prof. Mbaive Nyitse, Pastor Kenneth Nwobosi. Others are Mary Ode, Jam Divine, Treasure Ebute, and Samuel Ujah, where Mary Ode emerged as the best student poet of the day and won ANA Benue/Prof. Idris Amali prize.