Eleven Poets to Celebrate World Poetry Day in Lagos

On March 19, 2020, Lagos will host the World Poetry Day celebration at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Cultural and Creative Arts, formerly the National Theatre, Iganmu. The event will feature eleven poets, including four international guests: Yolanda Castaño from Spain, Valter Hugo Mae from Angola, Maryam Palizban from Iran, and Mohsen Emadi from Iran and Mexico.

Nigerian poets participating include Dike Chukwumerij, Abdulazeez Sirajo Alli, Ayomid Fasedu, Nwani Emmanuel Chidera, Paella Chukwuma, Tobi Abiodun, and Hafsat Abdullahi. The theme for this year's celebration is "Power and Freedom," highlighting the essence of poetry in expressing human experiences and challenging injustices.

The event is organized in collaboration with Providus Bank, which is curating a poetry café to commemorate the day. World Poetry Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic diversity and increase opportunities for endangered languages.