James Eze named “The People’s Poet” in Awka

By Dan Scott-Ofoneme

THE poet, James Eze has been formally honored with the title of “The People’s Poet” by Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State. Presenting the award plaque at an elaborate, first-of-its kind evening of poetry titled, ‘Fire & Memory: Celebrating the Poetry of James Eze,’ held in Awka, Anambra State capital last Wednesday, the English Department of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University said the gesture was in “honour of Eze’s poetic excellence, laced in memory and conscience.”

The event was a town-and-gown arrangment that brought scholars, students of English, and academics up close with the literati from Awka, Lagos and Enugu in spellbinding sessions in which Eze’s poems were deeply read, turned into spoken word performance pieces, dramatised, deconstructed for better understanding and performed as songs.

The ceremony which enjoyed the physical presence and participation of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha and other notable literary scholars and teachers from the university gave the students a chance to learn directly from the poet, watch him read his works, perform them, and engage him in one-on-one sessions to gain rare insights into some of his poems and the atmosphere that birthed them.

During the ceremony, Eze read from dispossessed, his debut collection, carefully selecting delicate poems that covered the three segments of the book, spanning the themes of ‘Innocence,’ ‘Transgression’ and ‘Atonement,’ which are the three pillars that constitute the backbone of the book.

From Innocence, he read an introspective and deeply rhetorical poem, ‘Searching for myself,’ and from Transgression, he read a tenderly paasionate love poem, ‘Rainbow,’ in acknowledgement of the Valentine Week and from Transgression again, he also read the searing Biafran tribute entitled ‘Biafra,’ a call and response poem that had the students chimming in with a refrain.

The memorable evening also featured the Vice Chancellor, Omenugha, reading a chapter from the manuscript of her coming book and finally, the symbolic presentation of the award plaque to Eze that clearly designated him as “The People’s Poet” by Honourable Ebuka Igwe, a member of Anambra State House of Assembly representing Idemmili South, along with Dr. Ikechukwu Asika, the Head of the Department of English of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam.

With this recognition, Eze’s debut collection, dispossessed has not only aged well after half a dozen of existence but has also placed him as one of the few Nigerian poets whose work has found deep resonance in the Nigerian society and beyond.

The event attracted literary scholars, academics, culture journalists, art connoisuers, poets, novelists, literary enthusiasts and students of English and literature.

Novelist, Odili Ujubuonu (left); Majority Leader, Anambra State Housee of Assembly, Hon. Ebuka Igwe; ‘The People’s Poet’, James Eze clucthing his plaque and HOD, Department of English, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Dr. Ikechukwu Asika after the event… in Awka