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By Henry Akubuiro
Their faces glowed in the well lit hall at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Arts and Culture, Lagos, formerly known as the National Theatre. Plaudits were intermittent as poets spun words and stirred emotions. From erotic renderings to melancholic trenodies and social verses, it was a soiree that lived up to the theme “Power and Order: Freedom and Illusion” and the World Poetry Day hoopla. The event sponsored by ProvidusBank, was organised by the Culture Advocates Caucus and directed by the spirit of LABAF, Jahman Anikulapo,
A minute’s silence was held in honour of the cerebral journalist-poet, photographer and environmental activist, Evelyn Osagie, who performed at the 2025 edition of poetfest. She, unfortunately, passed on August 17, 2025, in Lagos, aged 49.
In his address of welcome, Mr. Walter Akpani, Managing Director/CEO, Providus Bank, said the bank was joining the global community in recognising poetry—not only as an art form, but as a vital force in shaping culture, preserving identity, and expanding the boundaries of thought.
Since its institution by UNESCO, he said World Poetry Day had served as a reminder that language, in its most distilled and expressive form, remained one of humanity’s greatest tools for connection and understanding.
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“This year’s theme invites us to look beyond poetry as performance, and to engage it as influence —as a medium that sharpens perception, deepens empathy, and challenges us to see the world with greater clarity, “ he remarked.
“At ProvidusBank, we believe that progress is not defined by numbers alone. It is also measured by the ideas we nurture, the cultures we support, and the platforms we build for meaningful expression. This belief continues to inspire our commitment to initiatives such as this—where art meets intellect, and creativity meets community,” he added.
Mr. Akpani iterated that, over the years, this event had grown into more than a celebration: “It has become a cultural bridge—bringing together eminent poets from across the world to share space with Nigeria’s exceptional literary voices. In doing so, we are not only showcasing talent; we are contributing to a broader, global dialogue—one that places Nigeria firmly within the world’s literary and creative consciousness.”
The bank used the event to honour the enduring guidance of Professor Wole Soyinka, whom he described as the “Curator-in-Chief and intellectual anchor of this platform, whose vision continues to shape its significance and stature.”
The Lagos poetry soiree drew a number of national and international bards. From the Spanish poet. Yolanda Castaño; the Angolan-Portuguese scribbler. Valter Hugo Mãe, and two poets of Iranian heritage, Maryam Palizban and Mohsen Emadi, new perspectives resonated across the ecstatic hall dominated by a Nigerian bardic cast.
Nigerian poet, Bá Sabouke, left many reeling with laughter with his erotic verses and Dike Chukwumerije asked valid questions about life and society in his haunting rendering. Other Nigerian poets that made the evening memorable included Ayomide Fasedu, Nwani Emmanuel Chidera, Paella Chukwuma-Eke, Tobi Abiodun, and Hafsat Abdullahi. In all, the 11 poets that converged on the Wole Soyinka Centre made poets and guests fall in love with the Word.
The poetic coda of the evening sounded with Professor Wole Soyinka taking to the stage with a lambent smile. He joked about the choice of the venue, the renaming of the centre and the oddity of searching for the venue. The eloquent symphony of his voice as he read one of his poems left many on the edge of their seats, enraptured.
