Tag: discovery

I came into English literature many years ago through the study of several Shakespeare’s books at O’ Level and at Advanced Level. In my study of English Literature, I have had to go through some of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, John Dryden, the romantic poets such as William Wordsworth, John Keats, Samuel Coleridge, and the writings of Charles Lamb, Jane Austen, Jonathan Dove and Charles Dickens among others. I have always believed that there should be no artificial separation between the study of English literature and English language. Both are interdependent.

In recent years, in Nigerian universities, there has been a tendency even at undergraduate level to award separate degrees in English Language and English Literature. This specialization at undergraduate level is totally uncalled for and unnecessary. While most of my colleagues in the English departments of most of our universities have convinced themselves about the rightness of their position on this issue, some are with me in thinking that at least at the undergraduate level, there is no need to divide the study of English by specializing in language and literature. Our universities have also gone into the ridiculous extent of people majoring in African literature. I personally believe good literature like Shakespeare is universal and not restricted to native born English speakers. Of course I am familiar with the works of Wole Soyinka, some like the Interpreters I find a little bit clumsy, but his plays and prose are quite elevating. I have read all Achebe’s books, some of them dwell too much on primitive African culture which racists would find as supporting reasons  to denigrate Africans as primitive peoples. I am therefore always very careful about reading works of African writers. But in recent times, the young writers like Chimamanda Adichie and others have succeeded in putting African literature on a higher pedestal. I am the first to say I am not an expert in English literature or language. Some years ago, I wrote an English play which my colleagues in Theatre Arts found interesting enough to put on stage. I have written a few biographies of important people especially those who contributed to the political emancipation and evolution of our country. I have also published what others have considered a highly readable autobiography. My main contribution to academia is in the areas of diplomacy and international relations, two areas in which I have written books and published several journal articles and chapters in books. In other words, English has been a functional tool in my work of disseminating information in my area of expertise. I enjoy reading good books and good literature and it is this quest for literary exploration that I came across the works of Tolu Akinyemi.

When I read Tolu’ Akinyemi’s short poems, I find them extremely interesting, especially coming from the pen of a trained architect and not an English or liberal arts graduate. In order words, whatever I think or say about his writing is coloured by my judgement and interest in literature as a whole.

My initial fascinations with Tolu’s books are the choice of his titles. I found myself in stitches as I imagined anyone’s father walking like a crab; and an old woman laughing at skinny girls who must have thought themselves the best thing since sliced bread. The author’s description as poetry for people who hate poetry is apt.

Tolu adopts a refreshing and exciting approach to poetry as he takes the road less travelled in the world of poetry; making poetry easy and understandable, especially for those who consider poetry boring and obscure. Indeed his description of his poems as poetry for people who hate poetry is apt.

His poems describe and reflect on a spectrum of human emotions; Love (To the girl across the street, One, Two, Three), Confusion (My wife is mad at me, Minding Ayomide), Regret (The dilemma of Olufunmi, Valerie, I wonder what he did), the inevitability of change (I laugh at these skinny girls, Even Time) Memories (Moving House, Clumsy sandals are now shoes) and in the last few poems, Tolu’ describes faith in words which makes every believing individual pause for reflection and yet readily identifies with.

Tolu, like a poet should, uses his pen as a tool in addressing on-going issue(s) in the Nigerian political arena – like the missing Chibok Girls who are yet to be found and returned to their families or cultural issues such as the pressure young ladies in the African cultural setting have to put up with on the issue of getting married.

Although resident in England, Poetolu as he is known amongst his readers and followers on social media is very much in touch with his home country and mother tongue. My personal favourites are those in which he weaves popular Yoruba proverbs into uncomplicated and funny scenarios (Minding Ayomide, Twenty Children and Whatever Has No Mouth).

Besides expressing known feelings that is common to younger folks of the 21st century Nigeria, Akinyemi frequently incorporates poems that shows his attention to unusual details that most times causes the reader to nod in agreement or smile as it is such that one can easily relate with or is guilty of as expressed in poems such as “The Bus To Kaduna”, “Blur” and “Saturdays”.

Although, it does not take the form and style of other poems especially those employed in academic settings, I think poems like those included in this book can be introduced into the curriculum to help our young minds know that non conformity in its true and sincere sense can also be celebrated.

The inclusion of a list of interesting words (mostly indigenously Nigerian) at the end of his book presents the author as a forward thinking individual. By doing this, Tolu makes it easy for his work to be understood and appreciated by a wide range of readers from diverse backgrounds. It shows that he also envisages that his work will travel far; and it has.

A beautiful read by all standards, Tolu’s poems though ‘non conformist’ are not so simple that it should not be taken seriously. It takes a mind conversant with the rhythm of words to understand and appreciate Tolu’s work. Surefooted, but not negligible, Poet Tolu’ Akinyemi is certainly one to keep an eye on in the future.

Permit me to say that Tolu has created ‘a new type of poetry’ and it’s especially for those who don’t like poetry.