I’m still trying to look for my centre – Soyinka

By Nehru Odeh

With his characteristic sense of humour, and pun intended, Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has opened up about his long search for his “centre”, which he hasn’t found in.more than 90 years. The accomplished writer, who has a way with words, made this known jokingly on Thursday at the event organized by ProvidusBank to mark this year’s World Poetry Day in Lagos.

The annual event curated by Culture Advocates Caucus and directed by Jahman Anikulapo held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, Iganmu, Lagos. The theme of this year’s event was “Power and Order, Freedom and Illusion”.

“I would begin with an apology; I am not responsible for your being at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts. I did not pick the venue. I didn’t even know about it. It’s one of these tricks played by the organizers, the sponsors and all these things. They tell me at the last moment I’m supposed to be at something called the Wole Soyinka Centre.

“Soyinka is still trying to look for his centre. He hasn’t found it in 90 years and they say it is located in Iganmu. That’s right. Iganmu is where the original brewery was,” Soyinka said, referencing the centre named after him in 2025, which he accepted with mixed feelings, and the hall erupted with laughter. The Nobel Laureate then went ahead to read a poem he dedicated to the late Cuban leader, Fidel Castro.

Soyinka ‘s mirthful intervention indeed spiced up the occasion. Still, it was an evening of poetry, music and laughter, It was an evening of networking, fun and merriment. It was also an evening that will linger in the minds of many for a long time..

Four foreign poets and seven Nigerian poets lighted up the evening with their scintillating spoken word poetry performances.

The poets were Yolanda Castrano (Spain), Maryam Palizban (Iran), Ayomide Fasedu (Nigeria), Dike Chukwumerije ( Nigeria), Hafsat Abdullahi (Nigeria) Mohsen Emadi (Iran/Mexico), Nwani Emmanuel Chidera (Nigeria), Oloruntobiloba Abiodun (Nigeria) Valter Hugo Mae (Portugal), Ba Sabaouke (Nigeria) and Pacella Chukwuma-Eke.

In her welcome address, Ms Tola Akerele, Director-General Wole Soyinka Centre For Arts and Culture, highlighted the significance of the venue as a centre for artistic and cultural expression.

“This institution has long been a home of performing and literary arts in our nation and today it carries the name of one of Nigeria’s most distinguished voices in literature and thought. World Poetry Day is a moment to recognize enduring power of poetry and the many threads that connect us across time and experience.

“Here in a space dedicated to culture and artistic expression we gather not only to celebrate poetry but to reflect on its place within our society.

“We are also reminded that poetry is not just art but a conversation between generations, a record of our collective memory and a challenge to the way we see the world.

“This year’s theme, “Power and Order, Freedom and Illusion”, calls us to reflect more closely on the forces that shape our lives and the ways language can both reveal and question them,” Akerele noted.

In his speech, Sir Walter Akpani, the Managing Director/CEO of ProvidusBank referenced the role poetry plays not only as an art or form but a vital force in shaping culture, preserving identity and expanding the boundaries of thought.

“This year’s theme invites us to look beyond poetry as performance and to engage its influence as a medium that sharpens perception, deepens empathy and challenges us to see the world with greater clarity.

At Providence Bank, we believe that progress is not defined by numbers alone. It is also measured by the ideas that we nurture, the cultures we support and the platforms we build for a meaningful expression. This belief continues to inspire our commitments to initiatives such as this, where art meets intellect and creativity meets community.

“Over the years, this event has grown into more than a celebration. It has become a cultural bridge bringing together eminent poets from across the world to share space with Nigeria’s exceptional literary voices.

“In doing so, we are not only showcasing talents, we are also contributing to a global, broader space in which we dialogue and Nigeria is firmly within the world’s literary and creative consciousness,” Akpani stated as he recognized the presence of the Nobel Laureate who, according to him, is “the Curator-In-Chief and intellectual anchor of this platform, whose vision continues to shape its significance and stature.”

Jahman Anikulapo, the anchor of the poetry event said he was filled with nostalgia being on that particular stage because he started part of his beginning as an actor on that stage in 1983. “We’re very happy that the National Theatre is back,” Anikulapo enthused.

Anikulapo also stated that six foreign poets were initially scheduled to perform that evening but two of them couldn’t make it to the event “because they are based in places where if they come into Nigeria, they will not be able to go back.”

However, as the poets came on stage one after the other, the atmosphere was not only charged but was filled with emotional feelings, as the poets spoke to both personal and contemporary global experiences and issues.

However, a striking feature of the performances is that some of the foreign poets, namely Maryam Palizban and Mohsen Emadi chose to read some of their poems in their native languages. That made the evening more electrifying and spoke to the universal essence of poetry and the event.

Still, another high point of the event came when a one- minute silence was held in honour of Ms Evelyn Osagie, Nigerian journalist and poet, who passed on last year. Osagie had performed in several events to mark World Poetry Day in Lagos, Nigeria.