At poetry reading, Osundare, others seek better leadership for Nigeria

Last Saturday in Ibadan, in a poetry reading in honour of poet laureate, Professor Niyi Osundare, writers and creatives lamented the sociopolitical and moral decline in Nigeria, proffering solutions on the way forward to better leadership and society.

The event, tagged ‘Invocation of the Word: A day of poetry and conversation with Niyi Osundare’ aimed at fostering poetry reading and also announcing and promoting the maiden edition of the Ibadan Arts and Book Festival (IbaFest) coming up on October 23–24 this year.

Before Professor Osundare mounted the stage, some poets—Sodiq Oyekanmi, Asan, Pamilerin Jacob, Olorunfemi Olowatomisin, Flourish Jousha, Obafemi Ihanni, Olajuwon Opeyemi, among others—performed some poems written by Osundare, reflecting on what the poems meant to them.

The founder of Norledge Publishers and director of the IbaFest Servio Gbadamosi, stated that Ibadan was where the creative and writing endeavours of Nigeria started, and the reading initiative is a way of nurturing and sustaining the art and literary ecosystem of the city.

About IbaFest, Gbadamosi said that it is a festival that has finally come true, and that it is an event that belongs to everyone who loves art, books, and culture.

On mounting the stage, Professor Osundare began by lamenting the declining reading culture among Nigerians and how books by Nigerian writers are not having the desired effect they should have.

He read some poems from two of his poetry collections: ‘The World is an Egg’ and ‘Green: Sighs of Our Ailing Planet’. The professor, as he read the poems, explained the relevance and significance of the poems within the context of the Nigerian past and current realities.

He explained how the word and be used to make the world a better place, and also how nature and trees can talk and have lives of their own. He added that trees never fall alone, that when they fall, they fall with the future of mankind.

During a panel session anchored journalists and art creatives, Michael Olatunbosun and Oluwaseun Akinola, Osundare was asked many questions about his work, teaching, writing, and activism. The professor, who was addressed as a ‘stubborn Nigerian in the eye of the government’, stressed that one of the difficult things of being a Nigerian is to keep one’s sanity and principles.

“Nigeria has no countryness. Nigeria wrecks principles. It is difficult to be yourself and speak the truth in Nigeria. It has made it possible not to be in opposition,” he said.

Speaking about is forthcoming book, ‘Truth is Trouble’, the poet urged Nigerians not to give up hope in the country, adding that if citizens act the way the country is treating them, nothing will work or get done.

He said that the problem of Nigeria is a problem of leadership, that most Nigerian politicians do not think about the consequences of their actions before acting. He further said that the fall of a country begins with the fall of the judiciary, adding, “We need leaders, not rulers in Nigeria.”

The professor stated that to criticise the government and Nigeria, one must know the right and the wrong, stressing that as a writer, Nigeria will give you a lot of things to write about.

With the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in writing and art creation, Osundare warned of the negative effect of these technologies, about how they are killing talents and creativity.

He advised writers to write and create what they love, and go about their craft with a sense of purpose and impact. He said that there is no end to creativity, and urged writers and art creators to let the light shine in their own corners.

The organisers of the event said that they will continue to foster art and culture in Ibadan, seizing the opportunity to encourage people to key into the IbaFest event coming up in October this year.

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