By Flourish Joshua

An unfamiliar name has taken the Nigerian arts and culture scene by surprise, capturing international attention with his debut spoken word poetry album “Music Has Failed Us. “ Flourish Joshua joins Abu Ibrahim for an engaging interview.

You strike the society like an activist, a socially conscious Nigerian whose vehicle of activism is poetry. What factored your social consciousness, why activism, and why poetry?

Because without it, my life would be meaningless. Because I believe the words I speak carry power. To keep it simple, poetry is to me what flight meant to the Wright brothers. In my everyday life and through poetry, my social consciousness comes from a desire to leave the world better than I found it. Political or otherwise, I believe every poet is an activist in some way. I’d like to think our souls live for advocacy. So, even if I don’t exactly fancy being called an activist, I guess I’m just doing what poets do.

Well done on your electric spoken word album, “Music Has Failed Us.” How long did it take you to begin and complete it? What’s the highlight of the process for you?

Thank you. Writing the poems was the most challenging part of the process. For example, the poem ‘Music Has Failed Us’ took four years to complete. So, I’d say the entire writing process for the album took about six years. I recorded the album in a day, in a hotel room somewhere in Lagos. The highlight of the journey for me is that I became a better poet in the process.

How did it feel when your album got a Grammy acceptance?

I felt incredibly proud and honoured when my debut poetry album was considered for a Grammy nomination by the Recording Academy. It was a surreal and humbling experience to be recognized at such a prestigious level.

Your spoken word poetry album felt as though if one could, like Jesus, die to take away Nigeria’s failed system, you would joyfully volunteer to. How so?

Beyond artistic brilliance, the goal of ‘Music Has Failed Us’ as a body of work was to mirror our present reality as a society, not martyrdom. So instead of dying, I’d definitely prefer to stay alive and contribute to the salvation of this great country.

What is your favourite track off the album?

This is really tough, but I’d say ‘Everything.’ The poem properly captures my existence as a poet. ‘Outsiders’ also comes close because it’s a poem that captures the reality of the average Nigerian youth.

Feels like your upbringing is one of the things that fashion your style of poetry. In a nutshell, what was your experience like, coming of age?

My upbringing indeed plays a significant role in shaping the poet I am today. I grew up in a home where books served as our toys, igniting my love for literature from an early age. Additionally, my parents frequently played country music, while my elder brother introduced me to hip hop. These influences undoubtedly contributed to my storytelling and lyricism.

Do you write for page or you are strictly a spoken word poet?

I am both. I love being both. In fact, I started with writing on the page before the stage came calling. There is no doubt that I’ll one day release a poetry collection.

It’s good that (spoken word) poetry is gradually receiving the recognition it deserves in Nigeria. Where do you see your art in a couple of years? What’s the dream of it all?

It’s truly beautiful to witness poetry gaining its rightful place in mainstream culture, and I am excited to contribute to its growth. My goal is to continue learning and evolving as a poet while expanding my brand beyond Nigeria. Collaborating with artists from diverse industries has always been a dream of mine, and I hope to make that a reality. Ultimately, I aspire to create art that enriches society and inspires the younger generation to believe in the beauty of their dreams.

What should lovers of your art look forward to?

Lovers of my art can currently look forward to the promotion of my album. When the dust settles, they should expect another album, a poetry collection, and many more pleasant surprises. Until then, they should continue streaming and sharing the album.