''Wreaths for a Wayfarer: An Anthology in Honour of Pius Adesanmi'' is a 2020 collection of poems edited by Uche Peter Umez and Nduka Otiono in honour of

Pius Adesanmi Pius Adebola Adesanmi (27 February 1972 – 10 March 2019) was a Nigerian-born Canadian professor, writer, literary critic, satirist, and columnist. He was the author of '' Naija No Dey Carry Last'', a 2015 collection of satirical essays. Adesan ...

(1972–2019). It was published by Daraja Press in North America and

Narrative Landscape Press Narrative Landscape Press (founded June 2017) is an independent publishing services and publishing-logistics firm in Lagos, Nigeria, which serves self-publishing authors, small independent presses. It also manages the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidenti ...

in Nigeria.

Development

Adesanmi died on 10 March 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 from

Addis Ababa Addis Ababa (; am, አዲስ አበባ, , new flower ; also known as , lit. "natural spring" in Oromo), is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. It is also served as major administrative center of the Oromia Region. In the 2007 census, t ...

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ha ...

crashed shortly after take-off. He was on his way to an

African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...

conference. Following his death, a call was submission was made open which 267 poems from poets around the world. The collection was in reference to the first book ''The Wayfarer and Other Poems'' published by Adesanmi in 2001. In 2020, The anthology was edited by Nduka Otiono and

Uche Peter Umezurike Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, also known as Uche Peter Umez, is a Nigerian author and academic currently working as an assistant professor of English at the University of Calgary. In addition to publishing several works of children’s fiction, sh ...

and published by Jarada Press in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

and

in January.

Content

The anthology had an

introit The Introit (from Latin: ''introitus'', "entrance") is part of the opening of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist for many Christian denominations. In its most complete version, it consists of an antiphon, psalm verse and ''Gloria Patri'', ...

Niyi Osundare Niyi Osundare is a leading African poet, dramatist, linguist, and literary critic. Born on March 12, 1947, in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria, his poetry is influenced by the oral poetry of his Yoruba culture, which he capaciously hybridizes with other poetic ...

, an introduction by Nduka Otiono and a foreword by

Odia Ofeimun Odia Ofeimun (born 16 March 1950)"Biography: Odia Ofeimun, Nigeria"
Badilisha Poetry X ...

. The book is divided into four parts.

Part I. Wayfarer

* "Scabha or The Sliding Door Operator" — Sihle Ntuli * "When an Iroko Falls" — Iquo Diana Abasi * "How to Survive War in Nigeria" — Iquo Diana Abasi * "I Wet the Earth, I Sing You Wreaths…" — Fareed Agyakwah * "Harvest IV" — Funmi Aluko * "Wayfarer" — Funmi Aluko * "The Wayfarer" — Saudat Salawudeen * "End of Forever" — Saudat Salawudeen * "Muse of Homecoming" — Justus K. S. Makokha * "Encore" — Agatha Agema * "Now that I know young birds die in flight" — Segun Michael Olabode * "The Water-Pot is Broke" — Susan Bukky Badeji * "From absence, memory and farther" — Obemata * "Umbilicals" — Tijah Bolton-Akpan * "The Pilgrim Unbound" — Clara Ijeoma Osuji * "Eclipsed at Noon" — Abdulaziz Abdulaziz * "To the Daughters" — Abdulaziz Abdulaziz * "The Traveler" — Abiodun Bello * "For the Wayfarer" — Chifwanti Zulu * "The Acts of Brother" — 'Bunmi Ogungbe * "Backing His Daughter: For Pius, on Facebook" — Jane Bryce * "Avoiding Sunlight" —

Unoma Azuah Unoma Azuah (born 23 June 1969) is a Nigerian writer, author, and activist whose research and activism focus on LGBT writing in Nigerian literature. She has published three books, two of which have won international awards. She focuses on issues ...

* "Akáṣọléri (Mourners)" —

Kola Tubosun Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún is a Nigerian linguist, writer, translator, scholar, and cultural activist.

* "Last Tweets" — Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún * "Farewell, Wayfarer" — Oyinkansade Fabikun * "Solitaire" — Kafilat Oloyede * "How to Keep the Wake for a Shooting Star" —

Chuma Nwokolo Chuma Nwokolo (born 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer, writer and publisher. Early life and education Chuma Nwokolo was born in Jos, Nigeria, in 1963. He graduated from the University of Nigeria in 1983 and was called to the bar of the Supreme Court o ...

* "Eagle" — Uzo Odonwodo * "In Memoriam" — Uzo Odonwodo * "Can You Do This Thing?" — Sarah Katz-Lavigne * "Lights" — John Chizoba Vincent * "The Meteorite" — Omowumi Olabode Steven Ekundayo * "Black Box" — Ian Keteku * "Paramour of the Pen" — Abraham Tor * "Flying Coffin" — James Onyebụchi Nnaji * "Looking for the Dead" — James Onyebụchi Nnaji * "The Eagle Perched" — Moses Ogunleye * "A Pius Flight" — Kennedy Emetulu * "Kwanza for Pius" — Ifesinachi Nwadike * "Dream-mare" — Nidhal Chami * "A Walk in the Graveyard" — Chimeziri C. Ogbedeto * "Payo" — Biko Agozino * "Iku" — Peter Olamakinde Olapegba * "He left" —

Amatoritsero Ede Amatoritsero Ede is a Nigerian-Canadian poet. He had written under the name "Godwin Ede" but he stopped bearing his Christian first name as a way to protest the xenophobia and racism he noted in Germany, a "Christian" country, and to an extent, t ...

* "Spousal Loss" — Peter Olamakinde Olapegba * "The Face of My Savior is the Ordinary Moment" —Gloria Nwizu * "Denouement" — Gloria Nwizu * "A Conversation between Two Young Cousins" — Ethel Ngozi Okeke * "Sunday Flight" — Emman Usman Shehu * "Departure" — Ivor Agyeman-Duah * "The Count" — Uthpala Dishani Senaratne * "Rude Shock" — Olajide Salawu * "Saturday 12:56" — Ludwidzi M. K. Mainza * "Daughter" — Ludwidzi M. K. Mainza * "Tough Love" —

Nnorom Azuonye Nnorom Azuonye (born 12 July 1967, in Biafra) is a publisher, theater director, playwright, poet and advertising professional. He is also an accredited Methodist Local Preacher with the Methodist Church in Britain and serves as Principal Networker ...

* "In the Midst of it All, I am…" — Anushya Ramakrishna * "Haiku" – Ai-Ku * "Immortality" — Adesanya Adewale Adeshina * "He Rose" — Adesanya Adewale Adeshina * "A Singing Bird" — Adesanya Adewale Adeshina * "Arrivant" — Akua Lezli Hope * "EarthWork Sestina" — Akua Lezli Hope * "Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Proboscidea" — Akua Lezli Hope * "Poem of Relief: When Your Sadness is Alive" — Kennedy Hussein Aliu * "If I Seek" — Kennedy Hussein Aliu * "When You Ask me About my Teacher" — Kennedy Hussein Aliu and Leyda Jocelyn Estrada Arellano * "The Eagle is not the Quills and Talons" — Olumide Olaniyan * "Without a farewell" — Nduka Otiono * "After the Funeral" — Nduka Otiono * "Fugitives from the Violence of Truth" — Efe Paul Azino * "Just but a Journey" — Sam Dennis Otieno

Part II. Requiems

* "Elegy for Pius" —

Helon Habila Helon Habila Ngalabak (born November 1967) is a Nigerian novelist and poet, whose writing has won many prizes, including the Caine Prize in 2001. He worked as a lecturer and journalist in Nigeria before moving in 2002 to England, where he was a C ...

* "This Exodus Has Birthed a Song" —

Echezonachukwu Nduka Echezonachukwu Chinedu Nduka (born 19 July 1989) is a Nigerian poet, author, pianist, recording artist, and musicologist specializing in piano music by West African composers. His work has been featured on BBC, Radio Nacional Clasica de Argentin ...

* "Where to find you: a requiem" — Echezonachukwu Nduka * "Blown" — Richard Inya * "Words melt in his mouth" — Peter Midgley * "Requiem for the Fallen / Mogaka o ole" — Lebogang Disele * "To Our Hero: Rest in Peace" — Lebogang Disele * "What Shall We Do to Death?" — Winlade Israel * "A Star Just Fell "— Winlade Israel * "Requiem" — Peter Akinlabi * "Requiem for Pius" — Rasaq Malik Gbolahan * "Wayfarer" — Rasaq Malik Gbolahan * "Twirling the Beads of Grief…" — Tade Aina * "Say me Rebellion" — Kingsley L. Madueke * "When this Calabash Breaks" — Kingsley L. Madueke * "Requiem for the Wayfarer" — Adesina Ajala * "Song of Sorrow" — Soji Cole * "Planting Season" — Anote Ajeluorou * "For Our Departed Bard" — Maria Ajima * "Memory of Tear" — Joshua Agbo * "Why?" — Margaret Wairimu Waweru * "Letter to Dad" — Margaret Wairimu Waweru * "Missing Voices" — Ugochukwu P. Nwafor * "Tears on Canvas" — Wesley Macheso * "Nausea" — Wesley Macheso * "This Easter" — Wesley Macheso * "When I Am Gone" — Maryam Ali Ali * "Nothing Has Changed" — Maryam Ali Ali * "Protest" — Ejiofor Ugwu * "Our Voice is Gone" — Janet James Ibukun * "Agadaga Iroko / Giant Iroko" — Sunny Iyke U. Okeigwe * "This Poetry" — James Tar Tsaaior * "The Passing of Pius" — Uzor Maxim Uzoatu * "Light Dims to Shine Forever" — Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo * "You Bled Africa!" — Mitterand Okorie * "To the Muse of Isanlu: A Salute" — 'BioDun J. Ogundayo * "You remain with us" — Nkateko Masinga * "A Bit of Narcissism" — Okwudili Nebeolisa * "Bereavement" — Okwudili Nebeolisa * "Dirge for the Departed" — Koye-Ladele Mofehintoluwa * "If Only" — Femi Abidogun * "Falling Birds" — Yusuff Abdulbasit * "Immortality" — Yusuff Abdulbasit * "Harvest of Deaths" — Yemi Atanda * "The Horse and the Tortoise" — Yemi Atanda * "The Chorus Is Death" — Ubaka Ogbogu * "Breaking Bread" —

Obiwu Obioma Paul Iwuanyanwu (born 1962) known mononymously as Obiwu, is a Nigerian-American writer and professor. He is a survivor of the Igbo genocide in Nigeria (1966–1970), and teaches World Literature and Critical Theory in the Humanities Depar ...

* "Still They Hunt for Emmett Till" — Obiwu * "On wisdom's wings" —

Jumoke Verissimo Jumoke Verissimo (born 26 December 1979 in Lagos) is a Nigerian poet, novelist, children's writer and critic. Life Jumoke was born in Lagos. She has a master's degree in African studies (performance) from the University of Ibadan and a bache ...

Part III. Homecoming

* "The Indent (For Pius)" —

Uche Nduka Uche Nduka (born October 14, 1963) is a Nigerian-American poet, writer, lecturer and songwriter who was awarded the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Poetry in 1997. He currently lives in New York City. Life Uche Nduka was born in Ni ...

* "When the sun sets" — Adejumo Uthman Ajibola * "Aridunun Akowe" — Dahunsi Ayobami * "Pius: Myth, Mystic, Mystery" — Tenibegi Karounwi * "Returning the Light as Wreath" — Ndubuisi Martins * "Naija is a Badly-Behaved Poem" — Ndubuisi Martins * "Confessions of a Gypsy" — Richard Kayode O. James * "When the Pious Die" — Uchenna-Franklin Ekweremadu * "Song of the Pilgrim" — Obinna Chukwudi Ibezim * "Pius, the Seed" — Celina O. Aju-Ameh * "Cloud Coffin" — Tola Ijalusi * "Letter to My Father" — Ololade Akinlabi Ige * "I Journey Quietly Home" — Martin Ijir * "Hopeful People" — Ndaba Siban * "Explaining My Depression to You" — Yusuf Taslemat Taiwo * "The Broken Quill" — Nathanael Tanko Noah * "We do not know how to carry this pain" — Edaki Timothy. O * "Stars, Out" — S. Su'eddie Vershima Agema * "Converging Skies and Shadows" — S. Su'eddie Vershima Agema * "Will You?" — Biodun Bamgboye * "Farewell" — Maryam Gatawa * "Transit to Kenya" — Anthony Enyone Ohiemi * "Abiku Agba" — Usman Oladipo Akanbi * "Evening Bird" — Bayowa Ayomide Micheal * "Withered Green" — Augustine Ogechukwu Nwulia * "Home Call…047" — Onuchi Mark Onoruoiza * "Outshining the Stars" — Onuchi Mark Onoruoiza * "The Eagle Has Fallen" — Manasseh Gowk * "Farewell" — Manasseh Gowk * "Death" — Khalid Imam * "The Flood" — Khalid Imam * "Blue Skies" — Yejide Kilanko * "This Very Goodbye" — Nseabasi S. J. King * "The Deserted Road or Elegy for Pius Adesanmi" — Daniel Olaoluwa Whyte * "What My Father Said on His Death Bed" — Gbenga Adesina * "Wayfarer" — James Yeku * "One Meets Two" — James Yeku * "First Goodbye" — D. M. Aderibigbe * "Monster" — Afam Akeh * "Where you are now" — Raphael d'Abdon * "When the Curtains Fall" —

Part IV. A Selection from Pius Adesanmi's ''The Wayfarer and Other Poems''

* "The Wayfarer" —

* "Ah, Prometheus!" — Pius Adesanmi * "Odia Ofeimun: The Brooms Take Flight" — Pius Adesanmi * "To the Unfathomable One" — Pius Adesanmi * "Message from Aso Rock to a Poet in Exile" — Pius Adesanmi * "Entries" — Pius Adesanmi

Reception

References

{{Authority control 2020 anthologies Nigerian poems