The Solitary World Of Renowned Poet Odia Ofeimun... No Wife, No Kid, No House, No Car At 65

In the world of poetic pen pushers, only few get all the fame for reasons best known to their readers and the literary world in general. Mentioning poets who made waves in the 70s and 80s, Nigerian poet, Odia Ofeimun’s name would ring a loud bell.

But over the years, little or nothing has been heard about him even though he lives in the heart of Lagos somewhere around Oregun, Ikeja.

What amazes those who know the epoch writer is his sarcastic lifestyle which negates his standard as a celebrated literary commander.

It may interest you to know that at 65, Odia Ofeimun has no wife, and neither does he have a biological or foster child. Feelers around the poet confirmed that his bushy apartment on Sanyaolu Street, Oregun, Lagos is a rented apartment and he still jumps on public bus because he has nothing that could be referred to as a car.

Unlike other top celebrities in the calibre of Odia Ofeimun, he’s frequent at Oregun bus stop waiting for vehicle. What is more shocking and astonishing is what we heard about his discountenance for luxurious lifestyle.

Sources close to the white beard writer divulged to city rovers magazine that on several occasions, Ofeimun declined to accept cars and other lofty gifts from governors, moguls and philanthropists who are concerned about his peasant lifestyle.

The sources told us that Ofeimun’s rationale for a modest lifestyle is not because he cannot afford avalanche rather he prefers to keep a low profile.

Most of his literary works have criticized or condemned the platitudinous attitude of established Nigerian writers. Born in Iruekpen-Ekuma, Edo State, formerly Bendel State, Mid-West and Western Nigeria in 1950. Odia was educated at  University of Ibadan where he began contributing verse to the magazine, Opon Ifa. He was personal assistant to the late sage and politician, Chief Obafemi Awolowo before joining the editorial board of the Lagos Guardian and subsequently became general secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors. In 1989, he left Nigeria to work with Adzido, the leading African dance company in Britain.

Following the appearance of his work in Poems of Black Africa (1975), edited by Wole Soyinka, Ofeimun generated considerable controversy with his first collection of verse, The Poet Lied (1981; revised and enlarged, 1989), which condemned the platitudinous attitudes of established Nigerian writers. His poetry is characterized by a fusion of emotional commitment and political intensity. His rhetorical and imaginative forces are often accompanied by an underlying good humour. A Handle for the Flutist, his second collection, appeared in 1986.

Ofeimun’s published collections of poetry include The Poet Lied (1980), A Handle For The Flutist (1986), Dreams At Work and London Letter And Other Poems (2000). His poems for dance-drama, Under African Skies (1990) and Siye Goli (A Feast Of Return – 1992), both of which engage themes across African and South African history, were commissioned and performed across Britain and Western Europe by Adzido, the London-based Pan-African Dance Ensemble in the early 90s. He is a keen watcher of the “citiness of cities”, he wrote the primary text for the coffee table book, Lagos, A City At Work and has edited two themed anthologies of poetry including Lagos Of The Poets, on the city of Lagos, and Salute To The Master Builder, on the personage of Obafemi Awolowo