Poetry Extra: The Cultural Frontline

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BBC Radio 4 Extra

Poetry Extra

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Weekly opportunity for listeners to revisit the riches of the BBC radio poetry archive

A brand new poetry slot on Radio 4 Extra gives listeners a weekly opportunity to revisit the riches of the BBC radio poetry archive

Poetry Extra: The Cultural Frontline - A Poet's Guide to Lagos

The Cultural Frontline - A Poet's Guide to Lagos

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Poetry Extra, The Cultural Frontline - A Poet's Guide to Lagos

Daljit Nagra selects the best poetry programmes from the BBC's archive.

Daljit Nagra selects The Cultural Frontline - A Poet's Guide to Lagos.  Presented by Efe Paul Azino.  From 2018.

Poet Daljit Nagra revisits the BBC's poetry archive and selects The Cultural Frontline - A Poet's Guide to Lagos.  

Poet Efe Paul Azino introduces us to the thriving spoken word scene in Lagos and - through their poems and stage performances - the priorities of its young people. 

From the political to the personal, by listening to them we get a picture of what's happening today and how they feel about it, whether it’s disillusionment about the upcoming elections, or their thoughts on navigating the challenges of life in the megacity. 

Lagos’ spoken word scene - from new monthly 'Poetry Cafes' set up by Efe, to the Lagos International Poetry Festival – affords a platform for a vibrant movement in which women in particular are creating important work. Young people are seeking to make their voices heard where they're otherwise marginalised. The current crop of spoken word poets is conscious of the city's historical contributions to the creative and artistic life of the continent, and the ghosts of Nigeria's heroes of dissent, from Chinua Achebe to Fela Kuti, set the tone of some of the work being performed.

But spoken word in Lagos isn't just a vent, and the new generation are carving out their own path: there's room for joy and the deeply personal, and a craft and beauty to the best work being created. The pulsating city makes its presence felt throughout the programme as Efe takes us around Lagos gearing up for festival season in autumn 2018, and we meet the people the poetry scene draws in. 

Producer -  Megan Jones

First broadcast on the BBC World Service in 2018.

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