By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The final Naija Poetry Fest 2025 gathering at Alliance Française Lagos was a powerful celebration of hope and resilience, themes that resonated deeply as poets and audiences united.
Hosted with warmth and authority by Mrs. Gina Obi, “The Reigning Queen,” the event marked a reflective end of a year of literary depth, communal strength, and creative courage.
Guest speaker, Dr. Yetunde Animola delivered a stirring address, urging creatives to stay grounded and expressive amid uncertainty.
The collaboration with Alliance Française Lagos, highlighted by librarian Mrs. Odufa, showed the venue’s commitment to nurturing arts and cross-cultural exchange.
Performances by Holy Spice and Shigo Arts (Seun Oyeniyi) brought the themes vividly to life, affirming poetry’s power for healing, resistance, and connection.
With convener, Godson Osarenren and curator Lanre Sonde leading the charge, Naija Poetry Fest has grown into a movement, leveraging media coverage to portray poetry as both performance and social witness.
Looking ahead to 2026 with renewed clarity and ambition, Naija Poetry Fest proves poetry in Nigeria is not just alive, but relevant, resonant, and rising.
