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Niyi Osundare: Celebrated Nigerian Poet and Scholar Honored Worldwide

Osundare

Niyi Osundare, a prolific poet, dramatist, and literary critic from Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria, has made a significant impact on the global literary scene. With a rich academic background spanning three continents, Osundare has authored 18 books of poetry, four plays, and numerous essays, monographs, and articles on literature, language, culture, and society. His education includes a B.A. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, an M.A. from the University of Leeds, England, and a Ph.D. from York University, Toronto, Canada.

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Osundare began his teaching career at the University of Ibadan in 1974, becoming a full professor in 1989 and serving as the Head of the Department of English from 1993 to 1997. He also held positions as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an Associate Professor of English at the University of New Orleans, where he became a full professor in 1997 and was later named University Research Professor and Distinguished Professor of English.

Specializing in African Literature, Literature of the African Diaspora, Literary Stylistics, Sociolinguistics, and Creative Writing, Osundare was elected a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters in 2005, the country’s highest academic honor in the humanities. His passion for teaching is evident in his approach, viewing the classroom as a collaborative space for intellectual and social inquiry.

Osundare’s creative works have earned him numerous accolades, including the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize, the Commonwealth Poetry Prize (twice), the Noma Award, Tchicaya U Tam’si Award for African Poetry, and the Fonlon/Nichols Award for excellence in literary creativity and the human rights contributions in Africa. He received the Nigerian National Merit Award in 2014, the highest recognition for distinguished academic and creative achievement in Nigeria.

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Osundare’s poetry, known for its musicality and social relevance, often includes musical directions and draws on both vernacular and literary idioms. His commitment to free speech and artistic activism is evident in his open letters to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his critical poems during General Sani Abacha’s regime, which attracted attention form security agents.

His major poetry collections include “Songs of the Marketplace” (1984), “Waiting Laughters” (1990), “Songs of the Season” (1990), “Selected Poems” (1992), and “Midlife” (1993). “The Eye of the Earth” (1986) won both the Association of Nigerian Authors’ Poetry Prize and the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. His poem “Not My Business” is studied in the AQA—A syllabus for General Certificate of Secondary Education English Language.

He has been honored with honorary doctorates from the Universite de Toulouse-le Maril in France, Franklin Pierce University in the USA, and his alma mater, the University of Ibadan. He continues to be an influential figure in the literary world, contributing to newspapers, radio, and television, and serving as the pioneer Chair of the Advisory Board of the Ibadan Literary Society.

In recognition of his contributions, the Niyi Osundare International Poetry Festival (NOIPOFEST) was established in 2015, celebrating his work through poetry readings, scholarly conferences, and cultural outreach activities. He was also featured in a major documentary by Dialoguetalk, alongside Syl Cheney Coker, highlighting their significant contributions to African literature.

Niyi Osundare’s life and work remain a testament to the power of words and the importance of socially relevant art, making him a distinguished figure in both Nigerian and global literary communities.

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Find out more about Niyi Osundare here

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