“The Heresiad” The Book That Took Prize-winner Ikeogu Oke 27years To Write
Ikeogu Oke (also known as Ikeogu Oku) was a Nigerian poet, writer, and engineer. He was best known for his poetry, which often explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Oku's works have been published in several literary journals and anthologies and had won several awards for his poetry, including the most prestigious Nigerian Prize for Literature and the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Poetry. In 2017, Oku published his first poetry collection, "The Heresiad," which received critical acclaim.
The book explores themes of devotion, loss, and the human situation through a range of poetic forms and styles. The poems in "The Heresiad" are characterized by their rich imagery, complex metaphors, and intricate language.
The book has been well received by critics, with many praising Oke's ability to explore deep, universal themes through his unique perspective as a Nigerian poet. It won several awards, including the aforementioned Nigerian Prize for Literature, and the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Poetry, and was shortlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.
"The Heresiad" is considered a masterpiece, it takes the reader on a journey to the heart of human emotions, it is a combination of personal and political, the use of language is rich and the imagery evocative. It is a must-read for poetry enthusiasts and readers interested in Nigerian literature.
In an interview four years back with The Interview: https://theinterview.ng/2018/11/26/reflections-on-life-and-poetry-ikeogu-oke/amp/
Poet Ikeogu Oke admirably said:
“Literary worlds often develop around individuals, the likes of Shakespeare, Goethe, Cervantes, Tolstoy, etc. Such is the single trees that have become vast literary forests, extending beyond their native countries to all parts of the world.”
To all the readers and writers out there, keep writing. Do not stop at any bus-stop life takes you.
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Igga, Enugu
16th Jan. 2023
