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Laipo Magazine

SPOTLIGHT

  • “Food Is Never Just Food” — Nnamdi Anyadu on Dark Fiction, Storytelling, and the Art of the Twist
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 17, 2026
  • “We Need More People Like Shina in Nigeria” — Tobiloba Afolayan on Faith, Betrayal, and Writing Nigeria’s Conscience into Fiction
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 17, 2026
  • Tobiloba Afolayan Presents Shina! in Ibadan, a Nigerian Retelling of Samson and Delilah
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 17, 2026
  • Nnamdi Anyadu Holds A Meal Is a Meal Reading and Signing in Ibadan
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 14, 2026
  • Thairsty
    Thairsty: A Short Story from In the Middle of All This Fire
    by Laipo Magazine
    March 10, 2026
  • How We Became Heroes
    Three Poems by Ifésinachi Nwàdiké
    by Laipo Magazine
    March 3, 2026
  • Love at first page
    Love at First Page Brings Book Lovers Together for Literary Evening in Ibadan
    by Laipo Magazine
    February 26, 2026
  • POETRYMYLITIS
    Lyrical Renaissance: Naija Poetry Fest and Frequency Room to Release POETRYMYLITIS
    by Laipo Magazine
    February 25, 2026

New Writing


  • Thairsty
    Thairsty: A Short Story from In the Middle of All This Fire
    by Laipo Magazine
    March 10, 2026
    Thairsty by Olubunmi Adesuwa Ajiboye is a short story from In the Middle of All This Fire, the Noirledge anthology…
  • How We Became Heroes
    Three Poems by Ifésinachi Nwàdiké
    by Laipo Magazine
    March 3, 2026
    How We Became Heroes by Ifésinachi Nwàdiké is a brilliant, captivating collection that burns with class fury while also being…
  • Taribo
    The Retirement of Inspector Taribo: A Short Story from In the Middle of All This Fire
    by Laipo Magazine
    February 3, 2026
    The Retirement of Inspector Taribo by Richard Ugochukwu Anyah is a short story from In The Middle of All This…
  • Memory and the Call of Waters
    Three Poems by S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema
    by Laipo Magazine
    January 27, 2026
    Memory and the Call of Waters is a collection of poems that interrogates personal and collective memory, juxtaposed with current…

Dispatches


  • Tobiloba Afolayan Presents Shina! in Ibadan, a Nigerian Retelling of Samson and Delilah
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 17, 2026
    Paperworth Books held a book reading and signing for Shina!, the second novel by Nigerian author Tobiloba Afolayan, at The…
  • Nnamdi Anyadu Holds A Meal Is a Meal Reading and Signing in Ibadan
    by Laipo Magazine
    April 14, 2026
    Nigerian writer Nnamdi Anyadu launched his short story collection, A Meal Is a Meal, at RovingHeights Bookstore in Bodija, Ibadan,…
  • Love at first page
    Love at First Page Brings Book Lovers Together for Literary Evening in Ibadan
    by Laipo Magazine
    February 26, 2026
    A cosy, love-themed literary gathering titled Love at First Page took place on Saturday, February 21, at Café One in…
  • POETRYMYLITIS
    Lyrical Renaissance: Naija Poetry Fest and Frequency Room to Release POETRYMYLITIS
    by Laipo Magazine
    February 25, 2026
    By Osarenren Godson – Friday, February 13, 6:00 PM – Lagos, Nigeria The Nigerian creative industry is poised for a…
  • Biodun Jeyifo
    Ibadan Celebrates Literary Icon Biodun Jeyifo at 80
    by Laipo Magazine
    January 15, 2026
    On January 9, 2026, the Tunde Odunlade Arts Gallery in New Bodija, Ibadan, became the venue for an informal gathering…

CLIPS

The Poems I Love brings poetry to life through expressive readings and thoughtful conversations. Hosted by poet and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, the podcast explores classical and contemporary poems from around the world, inviting listeners into shared spaces of language, memory, and feeling. From time to time, special guests join the programme to reflect on poems that have shaped their inner lives, celebrating the beauty of poetry and the enduring power of storytelling.
In Episode 80, Servio is joined by Adedolapo Ogunwuyi, a content strategist, SEO copywriter, and editor. She holds a degree in English and Linguistics from Kwara State University and has built a career spanning publishing, media, digital marketing, and e-commerce, helping brands communicate with clarity, engage the right audiences, and achieve meaningful results through compelling content.
Adedolapo is the co-founder of OptiRise, a digital branding and professional optimisation agency, and the founder of The Housewares Emporium, an online retail business serving customers across Nigeria. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is deeply committed to the empowerment of the girl child and actively volunteers with initiatives that create opportunities for young women.
At the heart of her work is a simple yet enduring conviction: that good writing should inform, connect, and inspire action.
In this episode, Adedolapo Ogunwuyi reads and reflects on two poems:
• Vanity by Birago Diop
• Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Together, these poems invite a profound reflection on mortality, memory, and the enduring questions of legacy, reminding us of both the transience of life and the hope that lies beyond it.
The Poems I Love airs every Wednesday on Spotify and YouTube.
Do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe—and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

#ThePoemsILove #PoetryPodcast #Poetry #Poems #AfricanPoetry #AfricanLiterature #Noirledge #NoirledgePublishing #TPIL #Publisher #Storytelling #NigerianPoets #Literature #IbadanFestival #ServioGbadamosi #AdedolapoOgunwuyi #BiragoDiop #AlfredLordTennyson

Adedolapo Ogunwuyi, Birago Diop, Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
The Poems I Love Episode 80 | Adedolapo Ogunwuyi
Snippet | Episode 80 | Adedolapo Ogunwuyi
Snippet | Episode 79 | Moses Emeka
The Poems I Love brings poetry to life through expressive readings and thoughtful conversations. Hosted by poet and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, the podcast explores classical and contemporary poems from around the world, inviting listeners into shared spaces of language, memory, and feeling. From time to time, special guests join the programme to reflect on poems that have shaped their inner lives, celebrating the beauty of poetry and the enduring power of storytelling.
In Episode 79, Servio is joined by Moses Emeka, an Igbo writer, photographer, and editor based in Ibadan, Nigeria. His work engages African literary aesthetics and the critical life of books, while his essays have explored writers such as Abdulrazak Gurnah within broader literary and philosophical contexts. His poems have appeared in publications including Variety Pack, and he previously served as Political Editor of the now-defunct New York–based online magazine Mixed Mag.
Beyond his own writing, Moses has worked extensively as a first reader and editor for emerging Nigerian writers and remains actively engaged in conversations about the evolving directions of African literature. He is a 2022 SPRINNG Writing Fellow.
In this episode, Moses Emeka reads and reflects on four poems:
• It Begins with Love by Romeo Oriogun
• Don't Hesitate by Mary Oliver
• My Legacy Will Be Different by Kondwa Rayne
• Silver Spoons by Lydia Kasese
Together, these poems invite a meditation on love, courage, inheritance, and the quiet choices through which we shape the lives we leave behind.
The Poems I Love airs every Wednesday on Spotify and YouTube.
Do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe—and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

#ThePoemsILove #PoetryPodcast #Poetry #Poems #AfricanPoetry #AfricanLiterature #Noirledge #NoirledgePublishing #TPIL #Publisher #Storytelling #NigerianPoets #Literature #IbadanFestival #ServioGbadamosi #MosesEmeka #RomeoOriogun #MaryOliver #KondwaRayne #LydiaKasese
The Poems I Love Episode 79 | Moses Emeka
The Poems I Love brings poetry to life through expressive readings and thoughtful conversations. Hosted by poet and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, the podcast explores classical and contemporary poems from around the world, inviting listeners into shared spaces of language, memory, and feeling. From time to time, special guests join the programme to reflect on poems that have shaped their inner lives, celebrating the beauty of poetry and the enduring power of storytelling.
In Episode 78, Servio is joined once again by Oko Owi Ocho, an award-winning poet, performance artist, and scholar. He was longlisted for the Nigerian Student Poetry Prize (2017), received the NSPP Award of Excellence (2018) for his poem Zeyani, and won second prize in the Korea–Nigeria Poetry Prize (2018). Through his writing, performances, and literary advocacy, Ocho continues to make significant contributions to the evolving landscape of contemporary African poetry.
He is the founder and team lead of Afrika-Writes, Creative Director of the Benue Poetry Troupe, and Programme Manager at SEVHAGE. He is also the author of the chapbooks We Will Sing Water and Now I Sing God Into Stones.
In this episode, Oko Owi Ocho reads and reflects on three poems:
• Torrents from Silence by Servio Gbadamosi
• XXII by Niyi Osundare
• Oyo by Peter Akinlabi
Together, these poems open up a rich conversation on memory, place, identity, and the enduring power of language to shape personal and collective experience.
The Poems I Love airs every Wednesday on Spotify and YouTube.
Do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe—and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

#ThePoemsILove #PoetryPodcast #Poetry #Poems #AfricanPoetry #AfricanLiterature #Noirledge #NoirledgePublishing #TPIL #Publisher #Storytelling #NigerianPoets #Literature #IbadanFestival #ServioGbadamosi #NiyiOsundare, #PeterAkinlabi
The Poems I Love Episode 78 | Oko Owi Ocho
Snippet | Episode 78 | Oko Owi Ocho
The Poems I Love brings poetry to life through expressive readings and thoughtful conversations. Hosted by poet and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, the podcast explores classical and contemporary poems from around the world, inviting listeners into shared spaces of language, memory, and feeling. From time to time, special guests join the programme to reflect on poems that have shaped their inner lives, celebrating the beauty of poetry and the enduring power of storytelling.
In Episode 77, Servio is joined by Professor Niyi Osundare, one of Africa’s most distinguished poets, literary critics, essayists, dramatists, and public intellectuals. For more than five decades, Osundare has remained a defining voice in contemporary African literature, earning international acclaim for his lyrical mastery and unwavering commitment to social justice.
Deeply rooted in the richness of Yorùbá oral traditions while embracing a global outlook, his poetry is celebrated for its musicality, vivid imagery, philosophical depth, and fearless engagement with questions of power, inequality, environmental stewardship, democracy, and the human condition. Often described as “the people’s poet,” Osundare has consistently championed the belief that poetry belongs to everyone—not only to the academy. This conviction animates his work, which seamlessly weaves together elegant language, conversational rhythms, songs, chants, proverbs, and performance traditions.
His remarkable contributions to literature have been recognised with numerous honours and awards around the world. His works have been translated into several languages and continue to be studied widely in universities and schools across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.
In this episode, Professor Niyi Osundare reads from and reflects on selected poems from his celebrated collections:
• Poetry Is (from Songs of the Marketplace)
• Earth (from The Eye of the Earth)
• Farmer-bred, Peasant-bred (from Village Voices)
Through these poems, he reflects on the enduring relationship between poetry, the natural world, community, and the moral responsibilities of the artist.
The Poems I Love airs every Wednesday on Spotify and YouTube.
Do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe—and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

#ThePoemsILove #PoetryPodcast #Poetry #Poems #AfricanPoetry #AfricanLiterature #Noirledge #NoirledgePublishing #TPIL #Publisher #Storytelling #NigerianPoets #Literature #IbadanFestival #ServioGbadamosi #NiyiOsundare
The Poems I Love Episode 77 | Niyi Osundare
Snippet | Episode 77 | Niyi Osundare
The Poems I Love brings poetry to life through expressive readings and thoughtful conversations. Hosted by poet and publisher Servio Gbadamosi, the podcast explores classical and contemporary poems from around the world, inviting listeners into shared spaces of language, memory, and feeling. From time to time, special guests join the programme to reflect on poems that have shaped their inner lives, celebrating the beauty of poetry and the enduring power of storytelling.
In Episode 76, Servio is joined by Sodiq Alabi, a Nigerian poet, writer, and communications professional whose work explores memory, identity, movement, and the emotional geographies of belonging. Born and raised in Iwo, Osun State, Alabi has emerged as a distinctive and contemplative voice in contemporary Nigerian literature.
He is the author of The Texture of Air (2015) and the recently released Deaf Birds & Frozen Frames (2024). His poems and essays have appeared in publications such as The Kalahari Review, Konya Shamsrumi, Praxis, and SEVHAGE, as well as major Nigerian media outlets including The Guardian and Premium Times, reflecting his influence as both a literary and socio-cultural commentator.
Beyond his creative practice, Alabi is an experienced communications specialist with academic training from the University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Sussex. He currently leads a communications and research consultancy serving nonprofit, humanitarian, and advocacy organisations—a professional engagement that enriches the depth, nuance, and humanity of his literary work.
In this episode, Sodiq Alabi reads and reflects on:
• An excerpt from Elegy for the Nation by Wole Soyinka
• An excerpt from The Kingdom of the Mad by Esiaba Irobi
Through these powerful selections, he explores poetry’s capacity to bear witness to history, interrogate power, and illuminate the complexities of collective experience.
The Poems I Love airs every Wednesday on Spotify and YouTube.
Do not forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe—and turn on notifications so you never miss a new episode.

#ThePoemsILove #PoetryPodcast #Poetry #Poems #AfricanPoetry #AfricanLiterature #Noirledge #NoirledgePublishing #TPIL #Publisher #Storytelling #NigerianPoets #Literature #IbadanFestival #ServioGbadamosi #SodiqAlabi #Wole Soyinka #EsiabaIrobi
The Poems I Love Episode 76 | Sodiq Alabi
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Essays


    Encounters


    • “Food Is Never Just Food” — Nnamdi Anyadu on Dark Fiction, Storytelling, and the Art of the Twist
      by Laipo Magazine
      April 17, 2026
      Nnamdi Anyadu’s short story collection A Meal Is a Meal was published by Narrative Landscape Press Limited in 2025. The…
    • “We Need More People Like Shina in Nigeria” — Tobiloba Afolayan on Faith, Betrayal, and Writing Nigeria’s Conscience into Fiction
      by Laipo Magazine
      April 17, 2026
      Tobiloba Afolayan’s novel Shina! was published by Paperworth Books in 2025. The book is a contemporary Nigerian retelling of the…
    • Ibadan
      Ibadan – A Creative Capital: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
      by Laipo Magazine
      January 4, 2026
      ÌBÀDÀN, a city with its own heritage of masquerades, monarchs and literary giants, is undeniably central to Nigeria’s cultural history….

    PODCAST

    Trailer

    Latest Episode

    Listen on Spotify

    Reviews and Criticism


    • A Woman's Studio
      Archiving Her Hustle: A Review of Moremi Akano’s ‘A Woman’s Studio’ by Servio Gbadamosi
      by Laipo Magazine
      January 23, 2026
      Poetry is a tool that has been used by several people to meet different needs, and in the hands of…
    • Owuro Rising
      The Rhythm of Memory and Magic in Michael Olobadola’s ‘Owuro Rising’ by Servio Gbadamosi
      by Laipo Magazine
      January 21, 2026
      Michael Olugbenga Olobadola’s Owuro Rising is a novel that gestures towards poetry, not in the conventional sense of form or metre, but…
    • Memory and Culture In Sabitu’s ‘How It Will Be Told’: A Review by Servio Gbadamosi
      by Laipo Magazine
      January 20, 2026
      In an era when identity is increasingly mediated by global images and digital noise, the need to return to the…

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