Odia Ofeimun, poet, polemicist and polymath was born
in Iruekpen-Ekuma, Edo State, Nigeria, on 16 March,
1950. The author of 10 significant volumes of poetry,
Ofeimun has also published two books of political
essays, four books on cultural politics, as well as
editing two anthologies of Nigerian poetry.
Widely anthologized and translated into many
world languages, Ofeimun has read and performed
his poetry in several countries of the world
including Ghana, South Africa, Ethiopia, India,
South Korea, Columbia, Germany, Israel, Great
Britain, China, the United States of America,
Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, Sweden, Italy and Cuba.
At home in Nigeria, Ofeimun’s practice of
journalism, spanning the years of military tyranny,
has inspired a whole generation of journalists in
print and electronic media.
The principled stand of Ofeimun came at the price
of random invasion of his residence, seizure of his
manuscripts, computer discs and Nigerian
passport, to deny him freedom of movement.
Undeterred, and while practicing probably the
most dangerous vocation of all at the time,
Ofeimun served the Association of Nigerian
Authors as General Secretary and President
respectively. He has been a designated advisor to
PEN Nigeria Centre and is a founding member of
the Pan-African Writers Association.
Ofeimun is the recipient of many awards the latest
of which is the prestigious Fonlon-Nichols
Award for literary excellence and propagation of
human rights, which was conferred on him by the
African Literature Association in 2010. In a
literary career spanning four decades, Ofeimun has
distinguished himself with poetry and essays that
challenge both the imagination and the intellect,
crossing cultural borders and establishing new
benchmarks in the articulation of the African
narrative. His essays are valued both for
knowledge and analysis, for what to know and for
how to think about what is known.
Though only 62, Ofeimun is fondly called ‘Baba’ by
the post-civil war generation of Nigerian writers,
many of whom have found touchstones in his
works or have been individually mentored in
writing by him. For his copious literary output,
while engaged with anti-military rule struggle in
Nigeria, Ofeimun has been called an exemplar of
conscionable and consistent writing and the
writerly life.
Bibliography
Poetry
The poet lied . 1980
A handle for the flutist. 1986
Dreams at work and London letter and other poems .
2000
Go tell the generals. 2008
I will ask questions with stones if they take my
voice. 2008
A boiling caracas and other poems. 2008
Poems for dance drama
Under African skies. 1990
Siye Goli – A feast of return. 1992
Nigeria the beautiful. 2011
Links
Odia Ofeimun's page on Badilisha Poetry