Poetry as a Literary Genre: 13 Insights from Nigerian Students

By Michelle Mojisola Savage

As ZODML prepares for its maiden Poetry Challenge, it is only fitting that we shine a light on the genre, which boasts a rich history in Nigeria. For generations, poetry has played an integral role in Nigerian oral tradition, and enabled people to capture the essence of the Nigerian experience.
Despite being the introverted sibling of prose, poetry continues to thrive in Nigeria. The rise of a new generation of young poets is transforming the poetry scene, using it as a means to address social and political issues and express themselves in a profound way.  To gain insights into the perception of these young poets, I interviewed students from several universities across Nigeria. Enjoy!

1. What one word would you use to describe poetry, and what, in your opinion, makes a good poem? 
Kenny (LAUTECH): Spiritual. Poetry is, to me, the language of the gods. A good poem should contain elements like metaphors, where each line paints vivid pictures in our minds - few words representing a thousand.

2. What’s the most emotional poem you’ve ever written?
Ugochi (UNIZIK): “The crazy mother,” based on my unstable aunt, who once almost set her daughter on fire, and has left her with innumerable scars. She would also cut her children’s fingers with blade and pour alcohol on the wounds. Ironically, this was the only poem of mine that her husband loved before his demise.

3. What's the most hilarious response you've ever received when you told someone that you write poetry?
Taiwo (UI): Wow, Taiwo you must have a talent for toasting girls. 

4. Favorite Nigerian poem and poet
Nkemjika: Gabriel Okara for his “Once Upon a Time.”

5. Have you ever written a love poem to impress someone? What was their reaction?
Abdulazeez (UNILAG): Yes, I have, twice. They were impressed and expressed their gratitude.
Or they rejected it?
Darling, my poems don’t get rejected.

6. What do you enjoy most about writing poetry, and how do you think it can uniquely express emotions or ideas compared to prose?
Taiwo (UI): I enjoy the way poetry allows me to infuse a part of my soul on paper and unearth the emotions and hidden treasures within my mind. Poetry strives to say very much with very little, thereby stimulating the reader’s mind to think and meditate. Unlike prose, it produces reality-like imagery rather than story-like descriptions .

7. Do you believe poetry should be recited dramatically or read quietly? 
Abdulazeez (UNILAG): Read quietly. Poetry is an intimate act for me, something reverent, sacrosanct in fact. 

8. How do you know when a poem is finished?
Ugochi (UNIZIK): My poems come like stories. When the story ends, I know I’m done.

9. How do you overcome writer’s block?
Taiwo (UI): I read good poems. It puts me in the right mood to write

10. In your opinion, is poetry thriving in Nigeria?
Abdulazeez (UNILAG): Poetry isn’t really appreciated in Nigeria. It’s treated as silly and a waste of time mostly. 

11. How does Nigerian poetry differ from poetry written in other countries? 
Nkemjika: Nigerian poetry, like other African poetry, explores themes such as bad governance and the beauty of blackness. In contrast, oyinbo poetry covers a wider range of topics like birds, flowers, and death. Our poetry is often restricted to the aforementioned topics which reflect societal issues. 

12. Do you think the rise of AI language models threaten the future of poetry?
Kenny (LAUTECH): Yes. AI has adulterated the sacredness of poetry. People who used to enjoy my poems now ask if I used chatgpt to write them. It will take the eye of a true poet or a perceptive reader to ascertain written or AI-generated content. Ultimately, only unique poems will survive the rise of AI.

13. What do you think of the ZODML Poetry Challenge as an initiative to promote and celebrate poetry among students?
Zee (ABU): It is a commendable initiative, because aspiring Nigerian poets have limited opportunities to showcase and develop their creative abilities compared to prose. Most available poetry competitions are usually foreign-based. I urge Nigerian organizations to follow in ZODML’s footsteps and recognize poetry as a valuable literary genre.