Popular performance poet, Akeem Lasisi, is bringing something new into poetry as he plans to hold an exhibition titled African Citations.
The multitalented artist of ‘Iremoje’, ‘Eleleture’ and ‘Udeme’ fame is staging the exhibition to honour accomplished personalities and institutions from different parts of Africa.
“The idea is to explore more possibilities with poetry,” Lasisi says in a statement. “Over the years, I have built a bank of poetic tributes inspired by different factors but largely based on the subjects’ contributions to the advancement of humanity.
“Many of the personalities do not know anyone has dedicated, while a few do. I just feel this is an opportunity to showcase them, celebrate the subjects and expand the frontiers of the poetic form,” he explains.
Adding that African Citations has the potential to ignite twists and surprises, he says it is a continuation of what he has always tried to do with his performance and musical poetry.
Lasisi, who is also the Public Relations Officer at the First Technical University Ibadan, says, “I have had encounters with many people and organisations in the course of my about 30 decades of my performance, journalism and teaching adventures.
“I have performed poetry at many events. I have been commissioned to produce multimedia poetry while I have had cause to admire folks from a distance based on various factors.
“Some of these have been produced into musical poetry and videos. They have been on air, online and others. Now, the experimentation will berth in a gallery setting so that it becomes more total.”
Packaged by Dare Raji
