Shortlisted poet James Eze says his collection, Unbind Me Now, uses outrage to confront Nigeria’s insecurity, ethnic divisions and the growing disappointment over the country’s direction.
Eze disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, October 7, in Lagos, explaining that the collection was inspired by disillusionment with what he described as Nigeria’s failure to fulfil the promises of independence. He said insecurity, displacement and the departure of young Nigerians in search of better opportunities shaped his reflections on the country.
The poet said he deliberately adopted a poetry of outrage to capture the realities and dilemmas of contemporary Nigeria. He also uses fire as a recurring motif, drawing on its associations with destruction, purification and cleansing to reflect the violence and suffering experienced by Nigerians.
Unbind Me Now, written between 2020 and 2025, is one of three collections shortlisted for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, which is worth $100,000. Eze said he hoped the work would preserve the experiences of his generation and encourage Nigerians across ethnic and political divides to recognise their shared vulnerabilities and seek common ground. The other shortlisted poets are Tares Oburumu and Ogaga Ifowodo.
Leave a comment