Okunwe Frank is a spoken word poet who addresses themes of love, hustle, and life in his work. He describes the Nigerian spoken-word poetry scene as being in its infancy but growing and resilient. Frank believes that spoken word poetry plays a significant role in Nigerian society by speaking out about the ills of society. Okunwe Frank had a conversation with our correspondent, Kathryn Mercy Gabriel.
INTERVIEW WITH OKUNWE FRANK
Poemify Publishers
Hello and welcome to Poemify Publishers. It’s a pleasure to have you here. Can we meet you?
Okunwe Frank
I’m Frank, Okunwe Frank. A poet (spoken and page), a web developer (hypertext preprocessor and CMS), and a designer (vector pieces such as logos and icons).
Poemify Publishers
Nice to meet you, Frank. We are glad to have you here, and we are interested in knowing how you make poetry so beautiful. So, what inspired you to explore spoken-word poetry as a means of artistic expression, and how did you first become interested in it?
Okunwe Frank
Dad. He loves telling tales. He used to be his age group’s singer in the village as a child. Those songs involved telling stories. I spent my childhood listening to his folklore. I started writing stories as a kid, started writing online around 2014, and gave my first poetry performance in 2015 at my departmental freshmen welcome party. I was spurred to do that after attending Graham Garrick’s spoken word concert then. I write every day, and I keep it real-life when performing; that’s how I brew beautiful poetry.
Poemify Publishers
That’s really beautiful; it’s in the gene, then. Tell us, Frank, what subjects or themes do you frequently address in your poetry, and why do these subjects or themes resonate with you personally?
Okunwe Frank
Love, hustle, life… They are all personal to me; I’ve failed at all three repeatedly; they can all fall under life; and like I said earlier, I like keeping it real. So I talk about heartbreak, politics, and human struggles because we all have the human condition.
Poemify Publishers
Could you share some insights into the Nigerian spoken-word poetry scene? How has it evolved over the years, and what unique aspects does it possess compared to other poetry communities around the world?
Okunwe Frank
Infancy. It’s still at that stage. Albeit, growth is evident; you can see it in some companies indulging poets for ads and more these days. Thanks to the poets staying resilient even when it’s not yielding, it has managed to become a rose growing in the desert regardless of the limitations. That’s the uniqueness of it—rugged, passionate, and persevering, even when it’s not easily welcomed.
Poemify Publishers
It doesn’t sound so good, but I love the resilience. We would like to know how you approach the creative process when crafting those new spoken words. Are there any specific rituals or techniques you find helpful in capturing your ideas and emotions? What part do you think poetry plays in Nigerian society as a spoken word artist? How does it promote awareness of social issues, encourage change, or do all three?
Okunwe Frank
Stay real; don’t force lines; don’t try to impress; rather, express. You can write it in a day or in a year; each poem takes what it takes; just make sure to write every day. And do a lot of research to keep every line of writing airtight.
Poemify Publishers
That’s being real, like you mentioned earlier. During performances, how do you interact with the audience? How do you evaluate the effect of your work on listeners? Do you seek to elicit any particular feelings or responses?
Okunwe Frank
I make the beginning of some poems akin to call-and-response songs. I research the audience before I get there and tailor the poem to their setting. Typically, the feedback comes unsolicited. And that’s beautiful.
Poemify Publishers
Unsolicited for, maybe because your audience can relate. I’ve gone as far as getting audiomack because, oh, how the poems resonate with me. What part do you think poetry plays in Nigerian society as a spoken word artist? How does it promote awareness of social issues, encourage change, or do all three?
Okunwe Frank
I’ll say it’s one of the dying forms of core artistry that still readily speaks about the ills of society. That’s a good thing.
Poemify Publishers
It is. Apart from your dad, have any specific Nigerian authors or poets had an impact on your writing? How have they influenced your development as an artist?
Okunwe Frank
None. The only person whose writing thrills me is poet Olu.
Poemify Publishers
Okay. In your opinion, what is the significance of spoken word poetry as a medium of self-expression and storytelling, particularly in the Nigerian context?
Okunwe Frank
The industry isn’t perfect at all. But it’s less tainted with folks masking the truth for paychecks. So yeah, it’s playing a significant role in telling things as they really are.
Poemify Publishers
Okay. Share with us which, if any, difficulties you have encountered as a spoken word poet in Nigeria. What challenges did you overcome, and what guidance would you offer to aspiring poets dealing with comparable challenges?
Okunwe Frank
The general populace is unwelcoming, and it can be unrewarding financially. How have I handled that? Style my delivery to be more traditional; get it street-like, akin to everyday conversations. And before the art started paying me, I did it regardless and funded it with my other jobs. Keep up the good work while pushing the poetry; keep your delivery style evolving.
Poemify Publishers
It is great that you found your way around it. We have one last question for you, Frank. Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or collaborations you are currently working on, and what we can expect from your future performances or publications?
Okunwe Frank
One word. Yoruba. More Yoruba poems and Yoruba-themed projects.
Poemify Publishers
It was a great time with you. Thank you for sharing with us.
