Award-winning poet, Akeem Lasisi, has said that the goal of his composition and performance is to see readers and viewers gripped, even visibly, whenever listening to or watching his performances.
He is of the opinion that what differentiates good poetry from other literary arts is the power of words to move mountains.
According to him, the trick is in rich figurative language that elevates poetry above most other genres.
He makes the claim as he prepares to hold his maiden exhibition of poetry tributes tagged African Citations.
The event, which will hold at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, on December 10, celebrates distinguished people and organisations from various times, places and sectors across Africa.
It combines an art exhibition with audio listening and video screening – with each poetic tribute unfolding in the various media. He will also unveil his sixth musical poetry album tiled ORERE at the event.
He says although he has always experimented with poetry performance, African Citations is his most ambitious performance feast so far.
He explains, “When I say ‘performance feast’, I am not just talking in terms of mounting the stage at such a potentially upbeat show and scene. But I mean the multiple media involved and the calibre of people we are feting with poetry. I am happy that it is coming up eventually because it has for long being in the offing.”
Also in a statement, Afrocitations, which is powering the exhibition, states that the project marries the past with the present and the traditional with the modern.
It adds it is also about celebrating icons who have positively impacted society.
“In some instances, the poet has had memorable encounters with the subjects. In some others, he only pays tributes from a distance, with their services to humanity being the bridge,” Afrocitations says.
It recalls how Lasisi had experimented with some other Yoruba poetic forms. In WONDERLAND, for instance, he projects ijala, the hunters’ social poetry, while his award-winning NIGHT OF MY FLIGHT is a recreation of the Yoruba bridal poetry called ekun iyawo. The African Citations series, which echoes oriki, is thus a continuation of the trend.
