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...Recasts Delilah as a figure of strategy, emotional insight Things I Learned From Delilah by Felicity Ekeke calls on readers to rethink one of history’s most debated women. In this bold work of nonfiction, Ekeke revisits the biblical account of Delilah and presents her not as the infamous betrayer etched into popular imagination, but as ...
Ismail Yusuf Olumoh I will retell the story of light: somehow, I am in love again, or at least considering it. The night is undressing me. So long, there is no end to be seen of the violet dark. I want to invent myself into a conversation & ask someone to give me a name. ...
The NIGERIAN NEWSDIRECT CHAPBOOK AWARDS is an initiative of Poetry Column-NND that seeks to promote the voices of Nigerian poets, as the column does weekly in our newspaper. We hope to prioritise consistency of the award, and in so doing, document the vibrant work being put out by contemporary Nigerian poets. Two selected poets will ...
Hope and resilience were not merely discussed at the final Naija Poetry Fest gathering of 2025 they were felt, embodied, and spoken into existence. Hosted at Alliance Française Lagos in collaboration with Naija Poetry Fest, the evening marked a reflective and fitting close to a year defined by literary depth, communal strength, and creative courage. ...
By Victory Ocheme Kwame, Come Home is a soul-wrenching and evocative collection that moves past the boundaries of poetry and prose. It is not merely a book; it is an experience, a lament, and a mirror into the emotional wreckage left by displacement, loss, and the pursuit of survival. Through a carefully woven narrative of ...
The third edition of INKterlude, a flagship literary and creative showcase by INKspiredng, is set to hold on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at the National Museum of Unity, Ibadan. Tagged INKterlude 3.0, this year’s event will explore the theme, “The Future of Poetry.” The golden city of Ibadan once again takes centre stage as INKterlude ...
The newest episode of The Poems I Love has been released on Wednesday, with Nigerian poet Pamilerin Jacob appearing as the guest for Episode 46. The poetry-centered podcast, hosted by writer and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, invites guests to read and reflect on the poems they love, offering listeners intimate encounters with influential works and the ...
The Naija Poetry Fest Community delivered yet another inspiring edition of its monthly series, Poetic Rendezvous, themed “Who Will Tell Your Story?”. The event held on Saturday, 15 November 2025, at Alliance Française de Lagos, Mike Adenuga Centre, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi. In collaboration with the cultural centre, the literary community transformed the space into ...
Nigerian writer and poet Peter Okonkwo has officially released his highly anticipated poetry collection, Kwame Come Home, under P. English Literature (PEL). The launch took place during the Black South West Network (BSWN) CultureBiz Connect Artist Showcase at We The Curious, Bristol a landmark event celebrating Black and racially minoritized artists across the West of ...
The city of Lagos is set to witness a cultural and creative spectacle as literary brilliance meets cinematic legacy at the official unveiling of A Trip in Motion, a new book by Godson Osarenren, founder and convener of the renowned Naija Poetry Fest. The event, scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., will ...
by Flourish Joshua Bradford’s cultural heartbeat pulsed with emotion and pride as the Nigerian Community Association Bradford (NCAB) marked Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with colour, laughter, and sober reflection.The evening’s centrepiece, The Coffee Shop, a theatre production written and directed by Chris Iheuwa, became more than entertainment; it was a mirror held up to Africa’s ...
The American Corner Lekki, in partnership with Naija Poetry Fest, hosted a vibrant celebration of Black History Month on Friday, 31st October 2025, at its Lagos space. Themed “Across the Ocean, Sail Away,” the event gathered poets, artists, musicians, and cultural enthusiasts for an afternoon of reflection, performance, and community spirit. Brilliantly anchored by Isidinma, ...
St Michaels Catholic Church, Ilishan-Remo, has announced the winners of its poetry competition, themed "This Little Light of Mine." The judge, Pamilerin Jacob, selected the winners based on originality, imperfectness, and raw skill. He praised the young winners for their unique perspectives and voices, saying their poems were inspiring and compelling. "The winning poems have ...
The Ibadan Book and Arts Festival (IbaFest) is set to hold its inaugural edition on Friday and Saturday, October 24–25, 2025. Rooted in the city long regarded as Nigeria’s literary capital, IbaFest 2025 aims to be a major celebration of storytelling, creativity, and cultural dialogue. The festival will kick off with virtual sessions on Friday, ...
Itiola Jones, one of the judges for the just concluded Nigerian NewsDirect Poetry Chapbook Award and a great patron of PoetryColumn-NND project has her debut poetry collection published and available for purchase here. Chosen by the guest Judge, Nicole Sealey, Bloodmercy won the 2025 APR/Honickman First Book Prize by The American Poetry Review and is distributed by Copper ...
By Kede Aihie and Lanre Sonde When you talk about Nigerian poetry that burns with fire yet soothes with softness, one name effortlessly rises to the lips Godson Osarenren. The award-winning poet, novelist, and Convener of Naija Poetry Fest has once again lifted the flag of Nigerian literature high with his latest international exhibition, “I ...
I.S. Jones, one of the judges for the just concluded Nigerian NewsDirect Poetry Chapbook Award and a great patron of PoetryColumn-NND project has her debut poetry collection published and available for purchase here. Chosen by the guest Judge, Nicole Sealey, Bloodmercy won the 2025 APR/Honickman First Book Prize by The American Poetry Review and is distributed by Copper ...
By Izang Alexander Haruna Kwame, Come Home is a rare breed collection intended to spread in four parts, the first volume is subtitled 'Grief' and runs a total of 111 pages and constituted of 23 poems. It is a rare breed because it blends poetry and narrative into a story of loss, waiting, and survival. ...
We are pleased to announce that Anyanwu David is the new Poetry News Curator of Poetry Column-NND. He is a self-taught visual artist based in Abuja. He is from Imo State and is currently pursuing a degree in History & International Studies at the Federal University of Lafia. As a visual artist, he specializes in ...
By Rasheed Ayinla Shehu I watch an infantry of ants heavethe cadaver of a roach on their back, and I realise the weight of your legacy on mine—how everything you left behind outsizes me. Atop the baggage, the surname Shehu. I can'trecite my Qur'an without choking on the alphabet, without the semantics beingsomersaulted: the Imam, ...
Alaga Unwomanumu | after Em Power to all the inconveniences i must bear, like salt on my tongue. to the vacuous interstices of memory, the pearl of remembrance. to the wastelands inside my head and the stinking gullies etched on my chest. to the twitching organism between my legs, the rust-stains that won’t leave my ...
Inkspires Kreation has announced another edition of its popular literary series, Poetversation, set to hold on October 5, 2025, with Nigerian poet Samuel A. Betiku as the featured guest. The virtual gathering, scheduled for 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. WAT on Google Meet, promises an immersive evening of poetry, conversation, and community. Attendees will enjoy selected readings from Betiku’s published works, gain ...
Emerging Nigerian writer Mustapha Enesi has officially released his debut short story collection, I Cry at the Feet of My Other Body. The highly anticipated book is now available for order in Nigeria and internationally, marking a major milestone in Enesi’s literary career. Readers in Nigeria can purchase the book through Witsprouts, while international readers can find it on Amazon and Barnes ...
By Tuoyo Palmer The earth does not end with a thunderclap—it crumbles in silence,like a cathedral whose prayershave been forgotten by its stones. Cities lie open to the wind,iron skeletons bleeding rustinto rivers that once carriedthe laughter of children. In the fields, no harvest waits—only the brittle bones of wheat,the empty mouths of soillong abandoned ...
