Naija Poetry Fest 2.0, held on March 21, 2025, at the Alliance Francaise/Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, was a memorable occasion, commemorating World Poetry Day. Convened by Godson Osarenren, the event celebrated the art of poetry, with several poets receiving awards for their remarkable contributions.
In this feature, Newsdirect shines a spotlight on the unique poetic styles and inspiring performances of some of the standout poets, including Lanre Sonde and Ovie Mac Solomon, whose flows captivated audiences and left a lasting impressionBy Amarachukwu ChimekaIn today’s fast-moving age, dominated by digital excess and fleeting visual trends, slowing down to notice the ordinary has almost become an out-of-place occurrence. We move from trend to trend, such that those who bother to be aware of themselves and their environment can almost be termed “rebels”. This would be why Silent Witnesses and Sonder with Sonde stand out.
They emerge as layered explorations of human connection, memory, and collective resilience, especially for Nigerians in Nigeria. Both works assert themselves to be both artistic statements and social meditation.The word, “Sonder” is a neologism that refers to the feeling of realising that everyone, including strangers, has a complex life as one’s own.
It is the awareness that each person is the central character in their own story, with others playing secondary roles. The word has its origins in both French and German. It was coined in 2012 by US wr.
_updates.jpg)
