TOP 20
20. Atilola
She recently performed at a United Nations gathering. She is seen as a blog Queen and literary personality; also one of the organizers of WordUp & Chill n Relax in Lagos.
19. Donna
She was argued to be the queen of spoken word poetry in Nigeria. She was seen only in the big poetry events and heard on radio.
18. Obii
The photographer and Poet was never a disappointment any time she steps on stage to perform.
17. Iquo Eke
Unarguably the most visible female poet in Nigeria in year 2013. She made NLNG and ANA longlists for poetry 2013; plus performances in Lagos, Abuja, and Ibadan to mention a few.
16. Razaq Ivori
Aka Ivory Critique. His style is different, his appearance traditional and his performance breathtaking. His book, Blood & Kin, was also launched on Amazon in year 2013.
15. Eriata Oribhabor
One Hundred Thousand Poets for Change (Abuja) host, Naija langwej promoter and Chairman of Abuja Chapter of ANA was a visible force on the poetry scene. Present at a lot of books launches in Abuja. He owes his popularity to his passion to feature young poets.
14. Su’eddie Vershima Agema
A writer, a blogger, a poet... though he does not perform often he stands out as an inspiration to upcoming poets. He was longlisted for the ANA 2013 Poetry Prize and shortlisted for the PEN/Saraba 2013 Poetry Prize. He also performed in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Makurdi.
13. Ola Writes
He is a masses-motivated poet. Eg., His poem, "A Beggar’s Bread Need no Butter" accentuates the ponderings of the wretched. Though he claims he is yet a learner, some see him as already being a teacher.
12. Plumbline
11. Soonest Nathaniel:
He is young, he is free, he is creative, he is Nathaniel. This young man whose poems received accolades through the year is well-horned and is characterised by philosophical tastes. Eg., his "I am-by SIN" is an analogous comparism of human origin and their true nature.
TOP 10
10. Olulu Holloway
He became the biggest success when it comes to promotion of poetry in Nigeria as if it was an overnight success, though his name was not new in the spoken word poetry quarters. Those who know him well admire his determination and restlessness. Olulu the King not from Zulu as he is fondly called, is one of the Spoken word poets who rocked Nigeria in 2013 more because of the events they organized and the platforms they created for upcoming poets via WordUp, War of Words, Chill n Relax, etc. Apart from securing few sponsorship deals, He has taken his time, energy, money and resources to ensure that spoken word poetry becomes an industry to reckon with in Nigeria’s near future, by writing, performing and encouraging others to perform too.
9. Moses Chibueze
Opara
His poems
are characterised by pastiche and imitation of the older poets. However his
originality is unfolding. He could be
regarded as a silent poet because he comes out on poetry platforms rarely, yet
when he comes, he stuns poets and non-poets alike. He is also ethnic and
ethical when it comes to poetry delivery. Moses Okpara is another Poet passionately
campaigning against the oppression in his fatherland called Nigeria, through
his poems from the city of Abuja.
8. Sage Hasson
He is
widely regarded as the most celebrated spoken word poet in Nigeria. He is also
known in some quarters as the father of Nigeria’s modern day spoken word
poetry. Some argue that he is the first
and the best of all spoken word poets. Yet when others don’t concur they agree that
he has etched a place for himself in the sands of time as regards poetry in
Nigeria. He is a fine man who remains a visible and invisible inspiration to
others. Quiet a lot this year yet he is force on stage, and once you remember that
it makes you applaud him again. Those who saw his Spoken Words Poetry video on Soundcity Tv will
testify to this. His book, Dream Maker, was launched in year 2013.
7. Bob Ekat
He is a well-mentioned poet whose
social empathy becomes an element to be mentioned. His most popular poem, "Tears
from an Old Man's Eyes", resonate the plights of many through the eyes of
a sage. The poem is echoed in a meditative tone typical of a sage. Bob knows the art of poetry and practices it
purely. Generally described as energetic and full of life; this Cross Riverian
is very creative, academically relevant and entertaining. He was featured in
many poetry events in Lagos throughout year 2013.
6. Tade Ipadeola
This Ibadan based poet is one the
few old time poets who survived and maintained relevance with the new
generation of poets. He is a much heralded legal practitioner whose "The
Sahara Testament" won him the biggest literary prize in Nigeria –
the NLNG – at the
price of $100,000. His work is tagged "a remarkable epic covering the
terrain and people of Africa from the very dawn of creation, through the
present to the future." Uncle Tade, as he is fondly called by
protégées, is seen as a very humble Poet and an ever
present source of motivation for up and coming poets via advice, encouragement,
etc. He is the grand support behind programs such as Artmosphere, Sankofa
magazine among others.
5. Enigmatic Olumide
He is known for creativity, originality, and believed to make this list more for his promotion of poetry than anything else. He was strong in ensuring that lines found a clearer hearing. A master at what he does; his delivery is rumoured to be effortless, apt and enjoyable. He is a written/performance poet, who hosts a quarterly program called Be blessed, an annual 31 Days of Poetry, and the brain behind the group called EGC - which was also created to promote new poets/writers. Though some argue that he is basically religious even in his poems, some others do not concur as they see him as an outstanding poet who is trying to reach out to all without compromising his faith. This poet who shuffles between Lagos and Ibadan is one of the few who has taken the course of the relevance of spoken word poetry up to ensure that the spoken word industry becomes a formidable one in the near future. He writes, he performs and he encourages others to perform too.
4. Efe Paul
Azino
Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest. He organized the Poetry/Music arm
of Lagos Book & Arts festival. Apart from featuring in other events such as
Ake Books & Arts Festival, WordUp, radio shows and magazines, he runs his
own event called ‘Unchained Voices’. Many of the already established contemporary
poets even look up to him. He is a performance poet with ebullience and verve.
His deep allusiveness and utopian quest for perfection and justice is made
known in his poem, "Justice Has Been Kidnapped." This poet has an alluring and poetic
appearance, his performance is real and he has remained relevant in the Nigerian
spoken word industry for about a decade.
3. Dike
Chukwumerije
This master poet, performer and writer is widely
regarded as Nigeria’s King of poetry at the moment. Poem after poem in written
and performed state kept dropping. There’s the video tribute to Chinua Achebe
that has left a huge amount of new followers to poetry... Not surprisingly Dike
made the longlist for the ANA Poetry Prize 2013 (Let’s not mention that he won
the ANA Prize for Fiction). He was also visible through the year with many literary
activities. A far-soared performance poet whose poetry owes much to deep
allusiveness and revolutionary quest; at times his poetry exudes some
iconoclastic and cynic undertones. His use of music and rhymes also cannot be
over-emphasised. He is an established
writer and a poet, both in spoken form and written form. Though he grew
up on the streets of Lagos, When you
say Poetry in Abuja, a name that will surely ring a bell in response is Dike
Chukwumerije.
2. Uche Uwadinachi
This Lagos based Poet is rumoured to have the highest number of awards amidst
contemporary Nigerian Poets. A
well known poet in his generation; he sets no barrier for himself by ensuring
he gives his all at every opportunity he finds to show his poems. His works are
embodied in African values. His poem, "Africa" is an attestation to
this. At some quarters he is also seen a revolutionist. Uche is both a written
and a performance poet, and he does both excellently. He is that kind of a guy
whom you will see as cool headed till he is given a microphone to perform
poetry. He is very dramatic, and he is
another poet who knows his onion.
1. Kukogho
Iruesiri Samson:
He is mainly a written poet; naturally the social media particularly blog space and Facebook were his turf. He was the most visible online promoter of poetry in year 2013. He has also brought about change in the poetry life of Nigerians, especially youths, by ensuring they voice out their thoughts via the platforms he created. He
manages three facebook pages and blogs 24 hours a day to achieve this. The winner of the Orange Crush Prize for Poetry 2012 and curator of the Words Rhythm and Rhymes Group added another feat to his year’s cap with the publication of his collection ‘What can Words do?’ He is also the man behind concepts such as Poectivist, and Verse up against women abuse groups which all support poets and publish poem according to the bracket accepted by each group. His latest project, Authorpedia, is an online resource for authors, writers, critics, publishers alike. His poems owe much to rhymes and quest for social change. "Grand Papa Dick" attests to this. KIS as he is known by his fans has created an indelible mark in poetry mentoring, editing and promotion. He read his poems in a lot of shows in year 2013 and he stands out as a strong inspiration to hundreds of poets nationwide.
http://egcreativity.blogspot.com/2014/01/top-50-contemporary-poets-who-rocked.html
