Soyinka Hosts Eleven Poets @ProvidusBank World Poetry Day Café 2026
Celebrating Words and Freedom at the Soyinka Centre
ON Thursday 19 March 2026, eleven distinguished poets—seven Nigerians and four foreign-based artists—will come together to mark World Poetry Day at the newly commissioned Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in Iganmu, Lagos Mainland. Organized under the auspices of ProvidusBank’s CSR initiative, the World Poetry Day Café celebrates the theme: “Power & Order: Freedom & Illusion.”
The event promises a blend of poetry readings and spoken word performances, offering reflections on societal power dynamics, the nature of freedom, and the illusions that sustain authority. Attendees will include members of the creative community, corporate executives, and members of the public. The occasion aims to emphasize poetry’s enduring role in fostering intellectual freedom and cultural development.
A Global Literary Assembly
Foreign poets joining the Lagos stage include Yolanda Castaño (Spain), Valter Hugo Mãe (Angola/Portugal), Maryam Palizban (Iran/Germany), and Mohsen Emadi (Iran/Mexico). Their work spans multiple languages and genres, from Castaño’s explorations in Galician and English to Palizban’s fusion of performance, ritual, and feminist cultural critique, and Emadi’s poetry intertwined with filmmaking and programming.
Representing Nigeria are acclaimed figures such as Dike Chukwumerije, whose socially conscious performance poetry has reshaped the spoken word scene; Tobi Abiodun, a storyteller integrating Pidgin English into his evocative works; Pacella Chukwuma-Eke, a slam champion and published poet; Chidera Emmanuel, founder of a literary hub for emerging writers; Ayomide Fasedu, known for blending music and literature; and Hafsat Abdullahi, a UN Young Leader and multi-platform poet advocating for education and women’s empowerment.
Poetry as Reflection and Resistance
World Poetry Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999, highlights linguistic diversity and offers platforms for both endangered and major languages. Since 2020, ProvidusBank has partnered with the Culture Advocates Caucus, directed by Jahman Anikulapo and supervised by Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, to host these annual celebrations. Past editions have examined themes such as youth empowerment, education, environmental preservation, and socio-cultural pluralism.
This year, the event encourages reflection on how power structures and illusions shape freedom in society. By combining international perspectives with local narratives, the Café underscores poetry’s ability to challenge injustice, inspire communities, and provoke dialogue across borders.
Bridging Generations and Continents
The selection of poets demonstrates an intentional blend of global and local voices, emphasizing poetry as a medium for cross-cultural exchange. As Castaño’s multilingual work meets Nigerian performance artistry, attendees will witness the convergence of traditional literary craft and contemporary performative forms, highlighting poetry’s relevance in contemporary society.
The Café is not only a celebration of words but also a call for intellectual engagement and social responsibility, aligning with Wole Soyinka’s long-standing advocacy for freedom of expression and cultural dialogue.
