Tolu Akinyemi

Last updated

Tolu Akinyemi
Tolu Akinyemi Poetolu.jpg
Born
Toluwalope Akinyemi

Akure, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other namesPoetolu
Alma mater University of Greenwich, London, Federal University of Technology Akure
Occupation(s)Writer, poet
Notable workHer Head Was A Spider's Nest (2021), Funny Men Cannot Be Trusted (2017), I Laugh at These Skinny Girls (2015), Your Father Walks Like A Crab (2013)
Website poetolu.com
Akinyemi (Poetolu) in 2017 at a book reading event in Lagos, organised by GTB Bank Nigeria Tolu akinyemi-poetolu-gtb-rovingheights.jpg
Akinyemi (Poetolu) in 2017 at a book reading event in Lagos, organised by GTB Bank Nigeria

Tolu Akinyemi, also referred to as Poetolu, is a Nigerian writer and poet. [1] [2] His work is notable for its relatable insights and humorous take on everyday human experiences. [1] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Biography and education

Tolu Akinyemi was born in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. [7] His parents worked in the state government's civil service. [8] [9] He attended in the same city, Oyemekun Grammar School, where he was first an assistant senior prefect and later became the senior prefect. He then studied Architecture and Design at the Federal University of Technology Akure, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree in Architecture in 2008. [2] [7] In 2011, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Built Environment Studies from the University of Greenwich. [7] [8] He currently lives in London, England.

Writing

Akinyemi is the author of four collections of poetry. His first collection Your Father Walks Like A Crab, published in 2013, was described by Lola Shoneyin as "a witty debut". [10] In 2017 and 2018, Akinyemi was named one of "100 most influential Nigerian writers under 40". [11] [12] [13] [14] In 2017, he won the Nigerian Writers' Award (Poetry writer of the year) for his poetry collection I Laugh at These Skinny Girls. [15] [16] His works have been featured in advertisements, documentaries, and in cultural and literary publications such as the Association of Nigerian Authors anthologies, [13] [17] Forward Poetry's Great British Write-off Anthology, and Black History Month magazine. [13] In 2017, he obtained the Arts Council England's "exceptional talent endorsement" as a creative writer. [1] [2] [18] [19] This was a part of the British Home Office's "exceptional talent visa" programme to attract to the United Kingdom, exceptionally talented individuals in fields such as the arts and sciences. [20]

Akinyemi's writing has also been described as "poetry for people who hate poetry". [21] [22]

Other works

In 2016, Akinyemi started writing the online Halima Series, an illustrated and humorous social commentary on popular culture and everyday experiences from the point of view of the fictional character called Halima. [23] In 2022, Akinyemi appeared in a cameo role as "Shawn", on the Africa Magic show My Flatmates (Episode 133).

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akure</span> Capital city of Ondo State, Nigeria

Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as of the 2006 population census. Its current population is 774,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ondo State</span> State of Nigeria

Ondo State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ondo borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast for 45 km, Edo State to the east, Delta State to the southeast for 36 km, Ogun State to the southwest for 179 km, Osun State to the northwest for 77 km, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state's capital is Akure, the former capital of the ancient Akure Kingdom. The State includes mangrove-swamp forest near the Bights of Benin.

Gabriel Imomotimi Okara was a Nigerian poet and novelist who was born in Bumoundi in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The first modernist poet of Anglophone Africa, he is best known for his early experimental novel, The Voice (1964), and his award-winning poetry, published in The Fisherman's Invocation (1978) and The Dreamer, His Vision (2005). In both his poems and his prose, Okara drew on African thought, religion, folklore and imagery, and he has been called "the Nigerian Negritudist". According to Brenda Marie Osbey, editor of his Collected Poems, "It is with publication of Gabriel Okara's first poem that Nigerian literature in English and modern African poetry in this language can be said truly to have begun."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliko Dangote</span> Nigerian businessman (born 1957)

Aliko Dangote is a Nigerian businessman and industrialist. He is the first man who built a private refinery in Nigeria. Dangote is the 211th richest individual in the world, with an estimated net worth of US$11.2 billion as of October 2024, according to Forbes and US$27.6 billion according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ini Edo</span> Nigerian actress (born 1982)

Iniobong Edo Ekim is a veteran Nigerian actress from Akwa Ibom State. Ini Edo began her film career in 2000, and has featured in more than 200 movies since her debut. In 2013, Ini Edo was a judge for the Miss Black Africa UK Pageant and De9jaSpirit Talent Hunt. In 2014, Miss Ini Edo was appointed by the United Nations as a United Nations Habitat Youth Envoy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Schumer</span> American comedian and actress (born 1981)

Amy Beth Schumer is an American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. Schumer ventured into comedy in the early 2000s before appearing as a contestant on the fifth season of the NBC reality competition series Last Comic Standing in 2007. From 2013 to 2016, she was the creator, co-producer, co-writer, and star of the Comedy Central sketch comedy series Inside Amy Schumer, for which she received a Peabody Award and was nominated for five Primetime Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Variety Sketch Series in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernardine Evaristo</span> English author and academic (born 1959)

Bernardine Anne Mobolaji Evaristo is an English author and academic. Her novel Girl, Woman, Other jointly won the Booker Prize in 2019 alongside Margaret Atwood's The Testaments, making her the first Black woman to win the Booker. Evaristo is Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University London and President of the Royal Society of Literature, the second woman and the first black person to hold the role since it was founded in 1820.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunle Afolayan</span> Nigerian actor, director and producer (born 1975)

Kunle Afolayan is a Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywood storylines. After starting his film career as an actor in the 1999 political drama Saworoide, Afolayan made his directorial debut in 2006 with Irapada, a Nigerian supernatural thriller, which won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Film in an African Language. His subsequent directing credits include The Figurine, Phone Swap, October 1, and Citation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akure Kingdom</span> Traditional state in Ondo State, Nigeria

The Akure Kingdom is a traditional state with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the successor to an ancient Yoruba city state of the same name. The ruler bears the title "Deji of Akure".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dammy Krane</span> Nigerian singer, composer and performer

Oyindamola Johnson Emmanuel, popularly known as Dammy Krane, is a Nigerian singer, composer and performer. In January 2012, at age 20, he signed a record deal with Hypertek Digital and 960 Music Group. He is most famous for his single hit "My Dear". Dammy Krane is known for his melodic voice, engaging lyrics and his exciting genre of African alternative music. Dammy Krane has received several nominations, including the Next Rated nomination. He won Rookie of the Year at The Headies 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolu Ogunlesi</span> Nigerian journalist and writer (b. 1982)

Tolu Ogunlesi is a Nigerian journalist, poet, photographer, fiction writer, and blogger. Ogunlesi was appointed to the role of special assistant on digital/new media by President Muhammadu Buhari on 18 February 2016.

Grace Jahdiel Benjamin popularly known by her stage name Jahdiel, is a contemporary Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and vocalist. She professionally began her music career in 2006, releasing her debut album Heritage in 2008. She is one of several gospel artists under Loveworld Records of Christ Embassy. Jahdiel is signed to Hammer House Records, a record label owned by her husband Eben.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayobami Adebayo</span> Nigerian writer (born 1988)

Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ is a Nigerian writer. Her 2017 debut novel, Stay With Me, won the 9mobile Prize for Literature and the Prix Les Afriques. She was awarded The Future Awards Africa Prize for Arts and Culture in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chidera Okolie</span>

Chidera Nneoma Okolie is a Nigerian writer who gained national attention with her debut novel When Silence Becomes Too Loud released in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Iduma</span> Nigerian writer and art critic (born 1989)

Emmanuel Iduma is a Nigerian writer and art critic. He is the author of A Stranger's Pose (2018) and Farad (2012). In 2016, Farad was republished in North America as The Sound of Things to Come. He was awarded the inaugural Irving Sandler Award for New Voices in Art Criticism by the Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art, USA. He teaches in the MFA Art Writing Program at the School of Visual Arts, New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dami Ajayi</span> Nigerian writer, poet, and medical doctor

Dami Ajayi is a Nigerian writer, poet and medical doctor who co-founded Saraba, a Nigerian literary magazine in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Duker</span> British stand-up comedian

Sophie Duker is a British stand-up comedian and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tolu' A. Akinyemi</span> Nigerian writer and poet

Tolu A. Akinyemi is a multiple award-winning Nigerian writer and poet best known for his poetry collection, Dead Lions Don't Roar.

The 2019 Nigerian Senate election in Ogun State held on February 23, 2019, to elect members of the Nigerian Senate to represent Ogun State. Ibikunle Amosun Oyelaja representing Ogun Central, Ramoni Olalekan Mustapha representing Ogun East, and Tolulope Akinyemi Odebiyi representing Ogun West all won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emmanuel Daraloye</span> Nigerian music journalist

Emmanuel Daraloye is a Nigerian music journalist. His works have appeared in NotJustOk, TheCable, The Lagos Review, Vanguard, The Guardian, ModernGhana, Legit.ng, and Nigerian Tribune.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Editorial Team (18 September 2016). "Tolu Akinyemi's 'poetry for people who hate poetry'". Black History Month. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tolu Akinyemi; breaking stereotypes and changing perspectives through poetry". The Social African. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. ↑ Ekwerenmadu, Uchenna. "In Defence of Simplicity: Review of Tolu Akinyemi's 'I Laugh At These Skinny Girls'". Daily Trust. Retrieved 15 January 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. ↑ Oyindamola, Shoola (September 2016). "My Thoughts on Akinyemi's ' I Laugh at These Skinny Girls'- A Review". WRR Publishers. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Vershima Agema, Su' eddie (24 June 2016). "I Laugh at These Skinny Lines Or Not". This Day Newspaper, Page 33.
  6. ↑ Jide, Osuntokun (17 March 2016). "Tolu Akinyemi: A new literary discovery". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 Ogunade, Todimu (9 December 2017). "Even after I am dead and gone, I can still exist through my books – Poetolu". Sunshine Herald. Archived from the original on 28 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Meet Tolu Akinyemi; A UK-Based Nigerian Storyteller". Tush Magazine. 7 March 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  9. 1 2 "In The Mind of a Poet: We Talk To Tolu Akinyemi". Ours Magazine. Archived from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  10. ↑ Quadri, Zainab (18 April 2016). "10 Nigerian contemporary poetry books you should read right now". Pulse NG. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  11. ↑ "100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40. (2018 LIST)". NIGERIAN WRITERS AWARDS. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  12. ↑ "100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40. (2017 LIST)". Nigerian Writers Awards. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 Udeze, Edozie (21 July 2018). "Young Nigerian writers shaping the world". The Nation . Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  14. ↑ "The NWA Lists Their 100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40". Brittle Paper . Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  15. ↑ Shola, Oyindamola. "A Conversation With Tolu Akinyemi (AKA Poetolu)". Sprinng Literary Movement. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. ↑ "Winners of 2017 Nigerian Writers' Awards". Nigerian Writers' Awards. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Tolu Akinyemi". Amazon Author Central. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  18. ↑ "Nigerian Writers Database- Tolu Akinyemi". Nigerian Writers Database. 6 March 2019.
  19. ↑ "Tolu' Akinyemi". Goodread. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "Home Secretary on 'Exceptional Talent' visa offer - Home Office in the media". Home Office Media Blog. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  21. ↑ "The Poet Who Writes for People Who Hate Poetry". The Lagos Review. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Ojelabi, 'Joba. "Tolu Akinyemi's 'poetry for people who hate poetry". Black History Month 2023.
  23. ↑ "12 Illustrations By @Poetolu You Will Immediately Relate To". Zikoko. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  24. ↑ "Tolu Akinyemi". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Explore The British Library". British Library. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  26. ↑ Akinyemi, Tolu' (17 May 2013). Your Father Walks Like A Crab; Poetry For People Who Hate Poetry. ISBN   9789789329199 . Retrieved 31 January 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.