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By Henry Akubuiro
Squire Court Back of the Walls, Southampton, United Kingdom recently played host to one of Nigeria’s fastest growing writers, Esther Eriwayo, as she launched her fourth book, Love and Fate, to a resounding acclaim.
The book launch, which took place on 22nd June, 2025, attracted friends, colleagues, academics, and booklovers. During the event, Eriwayo presented a speech reflecting on her artistic journey, the themes of the book, and the importance of embracing one’s path. She also led a mentoring session, encouraging readers and emerging writers to pursue their creative ambitions and share their own work.
The event featured an interactive session segment, where attendees asked questions about her writing process, themes, and journey as a poet.
“Love isn’t just about a romantic relationship between a man and a woman. My vision for this book is much wider, exploring love in all its forms: selflove, resilience, empathy, and human connections,” she explained.
She also told the audience she had devised means to produce multiple works while balancing work, life, and creative projects. And for Eriwayo, “Writing is a journey of dedication, resilience, and passion, and I hope this inspires others to tell their stories and express themselves creatively.”
The Nigerian born writer, further, encouraged readers and emerging creatives to embrace their own journeys and keep writing. Participants were encouraged to share their own poems/works, making the session interactive and collaborative. Copies of the new book were made available for purchase.
Audience feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees described Eriwayo as inspiring, motivational, and a pace-setter, highlighting her commitment to supporting emerging writers and creatives. Her eloquence underscored her mastery of business communication skills.
Speaking to Daily Sun, the poet disclosed that the launch reached over 26,000 views on her social media page. “The responses I got from the book launch have been unprecedented. It generated over 26,000 on social media. I am thrilled,” she said, a reflection of the author’s impact and growing recognition in the literary community. Eriwayo holds a master’s degree in business communication and leadership from the University of Portsmouth, UK.
Love and Fate is a masterfully crafted narrative poetry collection that tells the story of Lena, a young woman navigating love, loss, and resilience. The poems are structured to form a cohesive narrative arc, allowing the story to unfold with emotional depth and clarity. Eriwayo’s language is both beautiful and accessible, drawing readers into Lena’s world while exploring universal themes of self-discovery, personal growth, and perseverance. The work demonstrates a strong command of poetic technique, with rhythm, imagery, and emotional resonance that elevate the reader’s experience. As a critic, one can appreciate how the collection balances artistic sophistication with relatability, offering both literary enjoyment and meaningful reflection.
Over the years, the poet has consistently grown in the literary space, establishing herself as a talented and impactful author, a poet and an artist whose work continues to resonate with diverse audiences.
It can’t be gainsaid that the launch and the reception of Love and Fate has illustrated Eriwayo’s visibility and influence as an author and poet, showcasing her continued contribution to the UK literary scene and the broader creative sector.
