World Poetry Day is celebrated annually on 21st March, as declared by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in 1999. The day is dedicated to promoting the reading, writing, publishing, and teaching of poetry worldwide. It highlights poetry’s unique ability to capture the creative spirit of the human mind and celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity.

The Kaduna Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors was one of the organisations that marked the event with a talk, poetry recitations, and a memorial.

Chapter chairman Stephen Adinoyi remarked that poets have ample reasons to celebrate the day. He stated, “It’s a memorial to our poetic ancestors, who boldly penned their incisive poems at the peril of their lives, and a jubilation for our living ancestors like Soyinka, Mitshali, Osundare, and others. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of ourselves, the contemporary poets! May the Muse continue to inspire us to express poetry with exquisite imagery, rhythms, and rhymes!”

The objectives of the World Poetry Day are to promote poetry, support linguistic diversity, foster creativity and connect cultures.

World Poetry Day is celebrated in several countries through:

• Poetry Readings: Events where poets and enthusiasts gather to share and recite poems.

• Workshops and Competitions: Schools, universities, and cultural organizations host workshops, contests, and open mic sessions.

• Publications: Magazines, journals, and online platforms often feature special poetry editions or collections.

• Social Media Campaigns: People share their favourite poems or original works using hashtags like #WorldPoetryDay.

• Cultural Events: Museums, libraries, and theatres organise exhibitions, performances, and discussions centred around poetry.

The ANA celebration of World Poetry Day took place at the National Library in Kaduna. Attendees included the branch chairman Stephen Adinoyi, the director of the National Library in Kaduna, Mrs Martina Ugwuibe, Mr James Swam, a poet and journalist, and Mallam Abass.

Adinoyi submitted that “poets are unusual people” who are very talented.

He added, “William Shakespeare thrilled the world with his sonnets in the Elizabethan age of England. Dante Alighieri is still considered one of the finest poets from Italy. The American Langston Hughes brought simplicity to poetry compared to the obscurity of Nigeria’s Wole Soyinka. But Nigeria’s Niyi Osundare redeemed us from Soyinka’s almost uncrackable ‘coconut’ poems with his delicious, easy-read poetry.

“Poets are fearless! The boldness of some poets has turned them into activists. South African poet Dennis Brutus was shot in the leg and banned for life from writing and appearing in public. Yet the courageous Brutus continued to write until he was chased from South Africa. Brutus was fortunate compared to Pakistani Hashim Shair, who was assassinated in 1986 for his writings and activism. Another Pakistani poet, Habib Jalib, was arrested and died under house arrest in 1993. Centuries earlier, the Persian poet Sarmad Kashani was beheaded. Mexican poet Susana Chavez Castillo was murdered in 2011.

Some poets express intense emotions, taking a toll on their mental health and, in turn, dying very young. American Sylvia Plath, after several attempts, succeeded in killing herself at the age of 30; Nigerian Chukwuemeka Akachi; a depressed young poet, killed himself in 2019 at the age of 25; American Anne Sexton struggled with depression until she took her life at the age of 45; John Berryman killed himself at the age of 57; Welsh Dylan Thomas committed suicide at the age of 39 etc. But does that mean most poets are easily prone to depression and dying young, as some have alluded? No! There are many poets still alive, lively, and blessed with longevity. Soyinka is 91; Osundare is 78; South African Oswald Mitshali is 85. Mabel Segun died last month at the age of 95. Gabriel Okara passed on at the age of 97, American Maya Angelo died at the age of 86, and many more!”

Adinoyi asked the poets to remain focused on their art.

Participants read their poems and discussed the poems submitted.