Students under the aegis of the National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife chapter have described Akeem Lasisi as an encyclopedia of creativity.
NASELS-OAU President, Sodiq Oyeleke, and Vice President, Adeyemi Adenike, said this in a congratulatory message to Lasisi on his birthday (Saturday).
According to the students, Lasisi, who is an accomplished journalist, performance poet and musician will remain a respected creator for thousands of years.
Lasisi studied English Language at the Obafemi Awolowo University, one of Nigeria’s venerable tertiary institutions where Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, once taught literature and drama.
They added that Lasisi was one of the distinctive alumnus that is making the department and the association proud.
The statement read: “It’s another opportunity to celebrate a creative guru and encyclopedia of creativity. Alumnus like Lasisi are sources of motivation to us in the department. We celebrate him and pray that God continues to make him prosper.
“It should be noted that his works have become reference points and study text for literary students. Obviously, Lasisi is a unique being for with the capacity to combine three distinctive but inter-related fields together. He is a blessing to his employer, Punch Nigeria, as he has bagged several awards for the Nigeria leading newspaper.”
Lasisi, who is in his 40s, is a composer, comedian, teacher, journalist and award-winning poet.
Lasisi is one of the leading lights in contemporary poetry performance in Nigeria and across Africa.
With a keen interest in oral literature and having experienced vivid traditional entertainment while growing up in Ibadan, his home town in Oyo State South-West Nigeria, he had no problem translating his poetic talent into an entertaining product acceptable locally and internationally.
In 2000, he won the Association of Nigerian Authors/Cadbury Poetry Prize with his first collection of poems: Iremoje: Ritual Poetry for Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Five years later, his Night of my Flight won him the prize again.
Lasisi is also the author of several other books that include Ekun Iyawo (The Bride’s Chant), Right Option English, a grammar book; and Goodness and Messy, a collection of jokes.
Currently the Art Editor of The PUNCH, Nigeria’s most widely read daily newspaper, Lasisi has produced five poetry albums and nine poetry videos.
These include Post Mortem, Ori Agbe (For Wole Soyinka), Wonderland, Eleleture, Udeme, Ekun Iyawo and Promise Kept.
He has performed at many programmes, including those organised by the Ford Foundation, the British Council, French Cultural Centre, Goethe-Institut, Globacom, MTN, GTBank, the Association of Nigerian Authors, the National Gallery of Arts, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation, University of Lagos, Poetry Africa in South Africa and Afrivenir, Germa
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