We are pleased to announce Oppong Clifford Benjamin and Jide Badmus as Special Guests for the 6th Words Rhymes & Rhythm Literary Festival — FEAST OF WORDS (FOW) 2021, holding in Abuja on the 26th and 27th of November, 2021. Both special guests are engineers and published poets actively involved in the Nigerian literary space.
Themed ‘BRIDGING WITH WORDS’ in appreciation of the important role of writing/art in our society, especially during times of physical isolation like the 2020 coronavirus lockdown, activities at the Festival will include a writing workshop, literary readings, performances, discussion panels, book swaps, presentation of awards, writing competitions, and a literary picnic.
Guest Profiles
Jide Badmus is a Nigerian engineer, a poet inspired by beauty and destruction; he believes that things in ruins were once beautiful. He is the author of There is a Storm in my Head; Scripture; Paper Planes in the Rain, Paradox of Little Fires, Silk Psalms. Obaluaye is forthcoming with Flowersong Press in 2022. He has a Pushcart Prize nomination. Badmus has curated and edited several anthologies such as Vowels Under Duress; Coffee; Today, I Choose Joy; and How to Fall in Love. He is the founder of INKspiredNG, Poetry Editor for CỌ́N-SCÌÒ Magazine, and sits on the board of advisors for Libretto Magazine. Jide writes from Lagos, Nigeria, and tweets @bardmus.
Oppong Clifford Benjamin is a Ghanaian creative writer, civil engineer and author. Widely published internationally, he has been invited to read his literary works at literary events in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Liberia, Germany, Russia, the USA, and Norway. Oppong’s literary accolades include ‘Ghana Poet of the Year 2013’ awarded by Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers and the prestigious Prof. Atukwei Okai Poetry Prize 2019 (2nd Runner-Up) awarded by Ghana Association of Writers for his debut poetry book Collecting Stars From A Night’s Sky. His other published books include The Virgin Mother, a short story collection, and Bodies & Scars poetry anthology (editor). Oppong is a regular FOW attendee; he delivered keynote addresses at both the 2016 and 2018 editions of the Festival.
Jide will facilitate a poetry writing workshop while Oppong will deliver a lecture on the Festival theme.