In a world that moves with relentless speed, poetry remains one of humanity’s most enduring instruments of memory, reflection, and resistance. Words—carefully chosen, delicately arranged, and courageously spoken—have always shaped civilisations, challenged injustice, and preserved the collective memory of societies. It is in this noble spirit that the Benin Writers Society proudly hosts the maiden celebration of World Poetry Day 2026 in Benin City, Edo State, gathering writers, thinkers, and creative voices from institutions, campuses, and communities.
The historic event will hold at City Café on Boundary Road, Benin City, on March 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM, bringing together poets and lovers of literature under a shared banner:
“Poetry as Memory, Poetry as Resistance — Muses Against Irregular Migration.”
World Poetry Day is a globally recognized literary celebration established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The day was proclaimed in 1999 during the 30th General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, France, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing opportunities for endangered languages to be heard.
Following this proclamation, the first official World Poetry Day celebration was held on March 21, 2000, across UNESCO member states around the world. Since then, the day has been observed annually as a global tribute to poets and to the timeless art of poetry. The initiative was designed to ensure that poetry does not fade into obscurity in an increasingly digital and hurried world but continues to inspire reflection, dialogue, and cultural preservation.
As the American poet Maya Angelou once wrote,
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Poetry gives voice to those untold stories. It becomes the bridge between past and future, both the whisper of ancestors and the echo of generations yet unborn.
Poetry as Memory
For centuries, African societies relied on oral traditions, storytelling, and poetic expressions to pass knowledge from one generation to another. The Benin Writers Society stands firmly in that lineage—honouring the wisdom of our forebears by ensuring that stories are not lost to silence.
The society’s guiding philosophy, “Telling Tales for the Next Generation,” reflects a profound commitment to preserving narratives that define identity, culture, and social consciousness.
As the renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe wisely stated:
“Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
Through poetry, writers become the historians of their time, preserving memories that might otherwise disappear. Poetry becomes a vessel, carrying the voices of the present safely into the future.
Poetry as Resistance Against Irregular Migration
This year’s theme speaks to one of the most pressing social challenges confronting Edo State today—irregular migration. Over the years, many young people from the state have embarked on perilous journeys across deserts and seas in search of opportunities abroad. Many of these journeys end in tragedy, exploitation, or shattered dreams.
The Benin Writers Society recognizes that literature has always been a powerful tool for social transformation. Writers do not merely describe society—they challenge it, interrogate it, and reshape it.
As the legendary American poet Audre Lorde famously declared:
“Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence.”
In confronting irregular migration, poetry becomes more than art—it becomes resistance. It asks difficult questions. It confronts illusions. It reminds society that the search for greener pastures should never lead to the loss of human dignity, identity, or life itself.
Through spoken word, verse, and creative storytelling, poets will use their voices as instruments of social awareness and transformation, reshaping narratives and encouraging young people to rethink the dangerous allure of irregular migration.
A Gathering of Voices
The event will bring together writers, poets, and literary enthusiasts from across Edo State—students, scholars, creative artists, and cultural advocates from various campuses, institutions, and communities. It will serve as a platform for intellectual exchange, artistic expression, and meaningful dialogue about the role of literature in shaping society.
In collaboration with the Edo State Migration Agency, the initiative seeks to highlight the power of storytelling as a tool for awareness and change.
As the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda once reflected:
“Poetry arrived in search of me.”
For many writers gathering in Benin City on this historic day, poetry is not merely a craft—it is a calling.
Following the Footsteps of Our Literary Forebears
Every generation inherits a responsibility: to remember, to record, and to pass forward the truths of their time. The Benin Writers Society recognizes that poetry must continue to evolve as a voice for justice, identity, and social consciousness.
From the ancient griots of Africa to contemporary spoken-word artists, poetry has always been a mirror reflecting society’s struggles and aspirations.
As the Irish poet Seamus Heaney beautifully captured it:
“If you have the words, there’s always a chance that you’ll find the way.”
In choosing poetry as a platform to confront irregular migration, the Benin Writers Society affirms its belief that words can illuminate paths where confusion once reigned.
A Beginning, Not an End
This maiden edition of World Poetry Day in Benin City marks the beginning of what promises to become a lasting cultural tradition. It is more than an event—it is a movement to reawaken the literary spirit of a people and to empower writers as custodians of societal truth.
Poetry remembers.
Poetry questions.
Poetry resists.
And in Benin City, on this historic day, poetry will rise—not only as art but as a powerful voice for change.
Written by:
Miss Favour Munachi Agunwa
agunwafavour@gmail.com
Favour Munachi Agunwa, fondly called Moon by admirers and fans, is a registered nurse, prolific writer, unique actor, on-air personality, seasoned compere, sonorous voice-over artist, communication expert, and Media & Programmes Officer at the Security Situation Room (SSR), Benin.
She is experienced and outstanding in all she does, and her work bridges health, media, advocacy, and writing with depth, clarity, and purpose.
