You Shouldn't Lay Down Your Crown by Graciano Enwerem.

A poet called to share his testimony how his audio was played yesterday in a very "jabronic" almost insignificant radio station. Another poet sent me a recording of his voice performing on stage that was played on TV... not so local a television station, but very far below standard. A fan told me how he listened to Dike Chukwumerije's poem on radio in Lagos and waited for mine until he slept off. I also saw posts of a lot of my poet friends and students narrating how they enjoyed air play yesterday. Oh, I also remember that I was one of the poet invited to perform in a very local television station in Port Harcourt 2 years ago and how when we were done, the staff in charge came and said to me, 'anything for the boys?' I laughed but he was damn serious.

The other poets who had attended the on air meeting previous years calmly said to me that it's normal. They narrated how they've always, 'dropped' something to 'oil their palms' and 'buy fuel'. I ended up 'dropping' 2,000 Naira that day but swore never to grant them interview even if they're inviting:

Sage Hasson,

Efe Paul Azino,

Wole Soyinka,

Donna Ogunnaike,

Olumide Holloway and all other poets that I respect.

I said all of these to say this, we should stop celebrating mediocrity! It is true that we've moved from being almost not celebrated to being 'recognized' but there's more we could have achieved, first as individuals then as a collective bunch of artistes. Only between yesterday and the day before it, over 30 OAPs asked for my audio recordings. Like they don't know that the audios are online. Even when I gave them the links, some of them insisted that I send the files to them because they won't have time to download. I told them that I wouldn't have time to share the files. You see, if this happens to me, I wonder what is the fate of the not so popular poets.

It seems we've gradually started to not just accept but also become satisfied with this trend. The trend where our contents will only be on demand every World Poetry Day. I've always been a sucker for special days and the things people do with them. How some people will never take their spouse on a date until it's February 14th, how most people only go to church on the last day of the year, how some Christians only pray when they're in trouble but this hate for this special day for poetry and the eye-service practices is different. You know why? Because it plays light our efforts to go mainstreams. It ridicules what most poetry promoters like me stand for. Truth is nothing will change if we maintain statuesque. I won't advise any poet to assume a brand that's bigger than his or her worth but I'll definitely charge us to see beyond our individual inclinations and proclivities. It's not about just you. If you lay your crown, people will use it as a carpet. If this happens, no matter how much quality we possess and exhibit, our crowns (which by the way all look same) will look like carpets regardless of the head wearing them. I've bounced events not because the 20K or 30k they're offering won't add value to my personal needs but because I was wondering what they'd offer to the poets under me if that's what they're offering me especially when I compare it to what they've stuffed in the accounts of other artistes.

Funny enough, the events where I was paid well were the same events I was treated well. Contrary to popular opinion, they won't make up for their deficiency of a worthy honorarium with good PR. It has happened countless times to me and numerous friends that I know. Stop celebrating mediocrity. Look beyond your personal needs and have regard for our collectively class. Finally, don't overestimate your worth. I still maintain that you shouldn't lay down your crown. If a platform is bigger than you, instead of going about looking for butt holes to lick, patiently work on your value/brand until you're fit enough to be honored accordingly. Leave your crown where it belongs... On your head! Get better. Buy books that would improve your grammar, rhetoric and pronunciation. Rhyming and the use of wordplay can be improved on. Get mentors to help you make sensitive decisions that will help you brand. Submit to people that have passed the road your preparing to ply. Don't let things happen to you, happen to things. Because like a drop of water on a large body of water, we'll all feel the rippling effects.

Meet Graciano Enwerem. He's a lecturer, poet, presenter, literary critic and the author of SPOKEN WORD POETRY-101.

Twitter

Facebook

Instargram

Comments

From the novel entitled, "Beyond Imagination" by Oladele Dada.

Oladele Dada. It was dawn. The chilly dust-laden wind formed dense fog on the road. The rocky hills and the tall trees made Ajewole a beautiful town. The birds sang aloud, and clanging of stainless dishes in the neighbourhood suggested human activity was at its peak. Humans had begun to move to their various destinations. Adunni had trouble with child bearing and her husband was worried. Then she booked an appointment with her doctor. After several tests, the doctor suggested the couple be patient and that she will surely get pregnant. Not long after, Adunni was pregnant. After several months, Adunni was delivered of a boy. The women in her neighbourhood, alongside the children, sang and danced to her home to celebrate with her. Her husband, Fredrick Olagbade, thanked the Lord and named the boy Juwon. As Juwon grew, his mother had another child whose name was Olakitan. Juwon was intelligent and his parents were struggling to make ends meet. As poverty st...

BOOK EXCERPT: The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

The Farmhouse by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren Chapter One The Family `Once upon a time in the old town of Gid, an old farmer called Erasmus had a horse and a son. The boy’s name was Jason, and the horse was Francis. They lived in a farmhouse, and Francis took them everywhere they went. The farmer had no wife. She died after Jason was born. Erasmus vowed never to remarry and had remained a widower ever since. Taking care of Jason and Francis alone was never easy, but the farmer promised his late wife on her deathbed that he was going to raise Jason into a fine man. One sad morning, the cockerel said it was dawn. The disturbance woke Jason. The boy stormed out of sleep. He removed the blanket and rolled out of bed. He went to the window and peered out. The weather was clear, and the boughs of trees bowed and danced to the sweet movement of the morning breeze. Jason liked the morning, and then he carried himself to the sitting room, where his father was on his knees saying his morning prayers....

NEW RELEASE: Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa

Those Ghostly Victorians by Annette Siketa ABOUT THE BOOK At its zenith, the belief in ghosts in the Victorian era bordered on the hysterical. From stately homes to deserted wells, no dwelling was complete without a resident ghost. Halls and mansions and even the odd palace or two, spawned a multitude of family legends, many of which still persist. Many people claimed to have direct contact with a ghost through an object such as a ouija board or a pen, the latter collectively known as 'spiritual writing'. For example, a secretary allegedly continued to take dictation from his employer long after the latter was dead. Whether it was through books, plays, or supposedly true stories, the influence of the supernatural was profound. And it is not difficult to understand why, especially in the 'lower class', the majority of whom were uneducated. With nothing but drabness and poverty on the horizon, events such as a windy night or a violent storm were likely to set the ima...

NEW RELEASE: “COMING HOME” BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN

COMING HOME BY OMORUYI UWUIGIAREN About the Book Dalmos didn’t just save her life; he became her silent guardian, shielding her from the crushing weight of medical bills and the trauma of her past. When Lizzy reaches out to thank her mysterious saviour, she expects a formal meeting. Instead, she finds a man drowning in a different kind of silence—the lingering grief of losing his wife to a battle he couldn’t win. In the quiet intimacy of a “ party for two ,” two shattered souls begin to piece themselves back together. Lizzy is running from a toxic past and a brutal assault; Dalmos is hiding from a house filled with echoes. Together, they discover that while the world can be cruel, the right person can make it worth surviving. Excerpt Chapter 1 The task at my office wasn't just a project; it was a paper mountain that loomed over my desk, threatening to bury me alive. Every end of the season was like this—a brutal marathon t...

BOOK EXCERPT: THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY by Annette Siketa

THE POLITICALLY INCORRECT DICTIONARY Annette Siketa © Copyright Annette Siketa, 2025 EXTRACT Author’s Note. I have no doubt that some readers will find some of the listings in this dictionary, offensive, and while I regret any discomfort this might cause, neither I nor anyone else has the right to censor history. Therefore, no listing comes with an apology. Readers should bear the following points in mind: • Words such as ‘bastard’, ‘gay’, and ‘queer’, are used in their original context. • Unless specified otherwise, all places are located in England . • Some quoted text could not be verified due to the passage of time. In these instances, the text is quoted exactly as it appears in the source material. • Where a word has evolved into different meanings, the oldest known meaning is usually given first. • As a general rule , some old, misspelt, and hyphenated words have bee...

The City Heroes and Other Stories from the Heart of Africa

Tonight during story time take a trip to the heart of Africa. Make new friends including a clutter of cats otherwise known as The City Heroes. Follow a pair of jungle ants as they rescue their friend from a raging storm. Tag along with a country boy as he hunts wild birds to prepare a feast for his father’s arrival. Understand the true meaning of mercy and charity when a stranger is caught stealing eggs from a farmer. Help a baby named Thomas find his way home after he strays from his father’s boat. Follow Blaize and his newfound canine friend Thatcher as they thwart a group of kidnappers in Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Beautifully illustrated pictures help tell all six stories including The City Heroes, The Jungle Ants, The Country Boy, Stranger on the Farm, Baby Thomas and Blaize and the Master of Enchantment. Encounter adventures beyond your wildest dreams, learn about the beautiful country of Nigeria, and see how easy and how fun it is to learn about a new culture...

BOOK EXCERPT: The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge

The Bald Monkey by Dickon Levinge ABOUT THE BOOK An anarchic black comedy of denial, anger, obsession, revenge and extremely poor judgement. Seven years after losing his wife Henry still grieves. Her body was never recovered and Henry, a photographer who lives in the idealised snapshots of his past, stubbornly maintains she's just missing. Now his estranged sister-in-law, Marion, re-enters his life to finally have her sister declared legally dead. Local gallery owner Sonia 'Groucho' K discovers who was responsible for the tragedy. Wounded by a recent betrayal she sees an opportunity for vengeance-by-proxy. She leads Henry and 'Dizzy' Des, a former convict with a kind heart but a hair-trigger temper, on an elaborate mission to disappear the culprit. The trio conspire in their regular watering hole, The Bald Monkey, and their plan becomes increasingly absurd. Meanwhile, Henry rekindles his once close friendship with Marion, the only remotely level-headed member ...

Ruyi's World of Books & Stories

Search This Blog