9 Sep 2009 12:45 Africa/Lagos

Nigerian Poet Publishes Collection Illustrating Life in the African Continent

His Message Offers Hope in Spite of Dismal Circumstances

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- "Shadows of Existence" (published by iUniverse), by Nigerian poet Jekwu Ozoemene, depicts images of the African continent, its people and the universal love that surrounds them in a powerful collection of 46 poems.


Ozoemene became inspired to write his first collection of poetry after listening to Professor Karen King-Aribisala's reading of D.H. Lawrence's "Snake" at the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1993. That reading instigated his literary creativity and introduced him to poetry as an art form -- with its distinctive sounds, rhythms and metaphors.


"Shadows of Existence" showcases the thoughts of a young man who matured much faster than others and struggles with the challenges and frustrations of the adult world: the abuse of women, bigotry, religious differences and marriage. In his attempt to digest the difficulties of adult life, Ozoemene found many of the answers he was looking for in his poetry.


"It's a continent of 53 countries, I scream in my head

Her response, a tilted lgbo babble I barely heard

Like a confluence of a thousand indigenous African tongues

Spoken from the matrix of humanity, voice of all songs

Africa's womb of which bore the womb that bore her grand mum"

- Africa Is Not a Country, Lagos Is My Song


With profound and moving words, Ozoemene discusses the controversial topics that consumed his thoughts, while sharing an inspiring message of hope and tolerance for his homeland.


About the Author


Jekwu Ozoemene is a poet and playwright, who earned an English degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and his specialist MBA in Finance from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. Ozoemene currently resides with his wife and children in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where he works as a senior manager with a bank.


"Shadows of Existence: An Anthology of Poetry"

oooohhhhhhhh, i'm gonna buy this on amazon asap!

Jekwu Ozoemene has depth.