Adult Love In The Childhood Garden
“Adult Love cements Tanure Ojaide’s critical place and canonical position as one of the foremost poets in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The collection has again shown that despite the buzz (cue: for some fastidious critics, it’s the “fuss”) about contemporary Nigerian poets, especially those in the Diaspora, it is the “older” generation of poets who still define and chart the path of Nigerian poetry of English expression. Also, the collection has shown that despite what some critics thought of Ojaide’s (recent) poetry as essentially and exclusively about the Niger Delta, the environment and the celebration of Aridon (the Urhobo god of memory and the personal muse of the poet), his poetry is not open to easy labelling and categorisation, which seek to pigeonhole creativity and imagination into neat and simple divisions. The collection has shown the sheer creative breadth and depth of his poetic imagination and has also underscored his poetic and critical relevance in the context of Nigerian literature. Indeed, no Nigerian poet (older or younger) can match Ojaide’s poetic (not to mention critical) output and sheer fecundity across all genres. Adult Love is not just a testament to his prolificity and luxuriance but underlines his poetic apotheosis, which comes with not only age and experience but also passion, professionalism, and patience.”
—Ismail Bala, Nigerian poet and scholar.
“This collection holds immense potential for amplifying the poet's voice and craft in fresh, innovative directions. Reading it was a delightful experience, evoking thoughts of our “neighbours” and the interconnectedness of existence. Ojaide consistently reminds readers to treat nonhuman beings as meaningful entities and complements in human life. The first three sections are my favourites. The poet skillfully blends traditional and contemporary themes and techniques, further consolidating his impressive command of both. I must especially commend his consistency in maintaining the train of thought in the second section, where childhood experiences are creatively projected and updated. Moreover, the adoption of the egodi (falcon) as a new trope is both refreshing and commendable, drawing deeply from elements of Urhobo traditional folklore to enrich the collection’s depth and resonance. In all, Adult Love is a remarkable collection that deserves to be celebrated.”
—Enajite Eseoghene Ojaruega, Professor of African Literature, Delta State University, Abraka.
“Adult Love cements Tanure Ojaide’s critical place and canonical position as one of the foremost poets in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The collection has again shown that despite the buzz (cue: for some fastidious critics, it’s the “fuss”) about contemporary Nigerian poets, especially those in the Diaspora, it is the “older” generation of poets who still define and chart the path of Nigerian poetry of English expression. Also, the collection has shown that despite what some critics thought of Ojaide’s (recent) poetry as essentially and exclusively about the Niger Delta, the environment and the celebration of Aridon (the Urhobo god of memory and the personal muse of the poet), his poetry is not open to easy labelling and categorisation, which seek to pigeonhole creativity and imagination into neat and simple divisions. The collection has shown the sheer creative breadth and depth of his poetic imagination and has also underscored his poetic and critical relevance in the context of Nigerian literature. Indeed, no Nigerian poet (older or younger) can match Ojaide’s poetic (not to mention critical) output and sheer fecundity across all genres. Adult Love is not just a testament to his prolificity and luxuriance but underlines his poetic apotheosis, which comes with not only age and experience but also passion, professionalism, and patience.”
—Ismail Bala, Nigerian poet and scholar.
“This collection holds immense potential for amplifying the poet's voice and craft in fresh, innovative directions. Reading it was a delightful experience, evoking thoughts of our “neighbours” and the interconnectedness of existence. Ojaide consistently reminds readers to treat nonhuman beings as meaningful entities and complements in human life. The first three sections are my favourites. The poet skillfully blends traditional and contemporary themes and techniques, further consolidating his impressive command of both. I must especially commend his consistency in maintaining the train of thought in the second section, where childhood experiences are creatively projected and updated. Moreover, the adoption of the egodi (falcon) as a new trope is both refreshing and commendable, drawing deeply from elements of Urhobo traditional folklore to enrich the collection’s depth and resonance. In all, Adult Love is a remarkable collection that deserves to be celebrated.”
—Enajite Eseoghene Ojaruega, Professor of African Literature, Delta State University, Abraka.
