New Poetry Collection Bridges Catholic Spirituality, Igbo Tradition
POET and scholar Nwachukwu Egbunike will present his latest poetry collection, Incantations, on 14 February at the Alliance Française Library in Ikoyi, Lagos, marking the release of his third published volume.
Issued by Noirledge Publishing, the collection reflects Egbunike’s continued engagement with spirituality, heritage and metaphysical reflection. Rooted in the African concept of incantation as both ritual and poetic utterance, the book transforms oral traditions into contemporary written verse.
In many African cultures, incantations serve as spoken expressions that connect the physical world to ancestral realms. Egbunike channels this tradition onto the page, crafting poems that evoke ritual cadence while engaging modern sensibilities. The result is a body of work that weaves together Catholic devotion and Igbo cosmological imagination.
Across its pages, Incantations contemplates grief, memory and transcendence. Some poems echo with quiet sorrow, acknowledging those who have passed on but remain present in memory. Others offer a gentle celebration of life’s fleeting beauty, urging readers to cherish moments often taken for granted.
The collection also engages questions of moral awareness and inner awakening. Through layered imagery and reflective language, Egbunike positions poetry as both invocation and meditation—an act of remembering, questioning and affirming.
Egbunike is widely recognised for his contributions to Nigerian literature and digital humanities. His earlier collections, Blazing Moon and Nka!, were shortlisted for the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Poetry in 2015 and 2021, respectively.
His writing is noted for its philosophical undertones, cultural depth and evocative imagery. With Incantations, he deepens this trajectory, offering a volume that invites readers into spaces where faith, ancestry and contemporary experience intersect.
The launch event is expected to attract members of the literary community, scholars and poetry lovers, providing an opportunity to reflect on a collection that bridges sacred tradition and modern expression.
