This year's theme, Sand Dunes and Ocean Bed: The Template of Dispersal, resonated profoundly with the historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and Cuba, the invited nation. It brought attention to the forced displacement of Africans centuries ago, whose descendants have since sought to reconnect with their heritage through music, poetry, and cultural tributes. This theme aligned with UNESCO’s global focus for WPD 2025, Poetry as a Bridge for Peace and Inclusion, underscoring poetry's significance as one of humanity's most cherished forms of cultural and linguistic expression.
A Night of Poetry, Culture, and Reflection
The prestigious event attracted an esteemed audience, including Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, a delegation from Cuba, and several high-net-worth individuals. The Managing Director and CEO of Providus Bank, Mr. Walter Akpani, delivered a heartfelt speech, applauding Soyinka for his unwavering dedication to curating the sixth edition of WPD and sustaining the Providus Bank Poetry Café, a platform that continues to nurture poetic talent.
Akpani acknowledged poetry’s transformative power, stating:
“Your diligence and passion in keeping the art of poetry alive through the Providus Bank Poetry Café is worthy of celebration. WPD 2025 is a day when voices converge to remind us that poetry is not just an art; it is a force of nature, a movement, and, in its purest form, an echo of the human spirit.
“The theme of this year’s celebration speaks to the eternal forces of change, migration, and evolution. Like shifting dunes sculpted by the wind or the ocean’s bed, ever-changing yet grounded in depth, poetry moves with the currents of time, carrying voices across borders, shaping minds, and fostering unity in diversity.
“Let this be a call to everyone. To the poets—keep writing, keep breaking new ground with your work. Seek to touch the world with your words, take on new adventures with your art, and leave a lasting impression for future generations. Let your origins and places of birth be proud to know that you have exported the best of their culture and become worthy ambassadors.
“As the dunes shift and the tides rise and fall, let us remember that dispersal is not disappearance. It is expansion. It is the spreading of influence. It is the promise that every word, every effort, and every dream has the power to reach distant shores. Let poetry continue to be our bridge, our beacon, and our boldest expression of what it means to be alive.”
Soyinka’s Insight on Displacement and Poetry’s Role in Society
Professor Wole Soyinka, the celebrated literary icon and cultural advocate, took center stage, sharing his reflections on displacement, migration, and the enduring impact of historical events on contemporary society. Before unveiling his latest musical poetry work-in-progress, Image in a Month of Abstinence, he remarked that the event should have been titled An Evening with Cuba rather than An Evening with Wole Soyinka, in recognition of Cuba as the special guest nation of this year’s WPD.
Drawing attention to the tragic realities of forced displacement, Soyinka highlighted the historical plight of the Maroko community, a once-thriving suburb of Victoria Island, Lagos, which was demolished in 1990, displacing its original inhabitants. He connected this local incident to the broader historical context of the transatlantic slave trade, emphasizing how displacement, in various forms, continues to shape human experiences.
Soyinka stressed that WPD 2025 was not just a celebration of poetry but also a tribute to the United Nations’ Decade of Remembrance for Enslaved Peoples and the commencement of a second decade dedicated to the descendants of enslaved people. He asserted that the theme, Sand Dunes and Ocean Bed, speaks to the persistence of slavery in different forms:
“This is why Cuba is here—both as a reminder of the tragic instance of our history on the African continent and also as a spur to the continuing recollection that the task is not yet over. That aberration known as slavery is still very much with us, not only externally but internally on the African continent.”
A Celebration of Poetic Excellence
The evening featured an array of captivating poetry performances from both Nigerian and Cuban poets, further reinforcing the interconnectedness of cultures through artistic expression. Poets took turns delivering stirring pieces that reflected themes of migration, resilience, identity, and the unbreakable human spirit.
The event concluded with a renewed call for poets and creatives to continue using their craft to inspire change, preserve history, and serve as a voice for the marginalized. Through the powerful medium of poetry, Evening with Wole Soyinka successfully honored the past while fostering dialogue for a more inclusive and unified future.