Korea, Nigeria poetry festival comes to Abuja

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Nnenna Ukandu

Photos = Korean Cultural Center in Nigeria

The Korean Cultural Center in Nigeria, in collaboration with AROJAH Concepts, held the seventh Korea – Nigeria Poetry Fiesta on March 21 in Abuja. 

World Poetry Day, which falls on March 21, was declared by UNESCO in 1991. The purpose of this day is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry around the world.

The Korean cultural center has been boosting interest in Nigerian and Korean poetry, and has continuously hosted its poetry festival since 2011.

This year, 588 submissions were received. The topic was “the state of the nation.” A total of 472 submissions were received in the adult category, while 116 poem submissions were received in the student category. Only 10 from each category were shortlisted, and a final two from each category were selected as prize-winners.

It was a delightful event as the poets in the Arojah Theatre thrilled the audience with their amazing performances. A few students also performed Korean poems. 

Conversing while swinging,

Self-portrait,

In the field filling up with snow,

Gazing at Mudeungsan Mountain.

This was by the legendary poet So Chong-ju (서정주) (1915-2000), considered the father of modern Korean poetry. He wrote under the pen name Midang, which means "not yet fully grown, or a wish to forever be a young child." He's considered one of the best 20th century Korean poets.

Awards were given out in both categories. In the adult category, the shortlisted poets received NGN 50,000 (approximately USD $164), while the prize-winners received NGN 100,000 each (USD $328). In the student category, the shortlisted poets won NGN 20,000 (USD $65) while the prize winners received NGN 50,000 each (USD $164).

Also at the festival, a cross cultural poetry anthology book was dedicated to two great poets: to Korean So Chong-ju and to Nigerian Niyi Osundare. The anthology is titled “From Here to There.” It's a compilation of poems from Korea and includes entries from the past three years of the festival. The book was presented at the Korean Cultural Center and was given out to guests.

Finally, attendants left the venue thrilled with the performances they saw, and they were quite thankful that a copy of the anthology book was given to each of them for free.

We all look forward to next year’s Korea-Nigeria Poetry Fiesta!

wisdom117@korea.kr

Share this post