Bayo Oyagbola, a lawyer and poet, has officially launched his debut poetry collection, The Sky’s Forgotten Prayer: Echoes of River, Drum and Heaven, at an event held at the Metropolitan Club in Lagos. Published by Bookcraft, the collection brings together poems written over several years, delving into themes of memory, mortality, spirituality, Yoruba culture, and the enduring human search for meaning.
A Fireside Chat on Language and Meaning
During the launch, Oyagbola participated in a fireside chat where he discussed his use of Yoruba and English, the connection between poetry, music, and dance, and the existential questions that permeate his work. He explained that learning to read Yoruba only after leaving school deepened his appreciation for the language’s richness and broadened his perspective.
Reflecting on poetry as a continuous search rather than a pursuit of definitive answers, Oyagbola stated, “The essence of life is to continue to seek, to search for truth, whatever that may be. To search for meaning, I think, is probably the most important.”
Exploring Humanity’s Greatest Threat
The conversation also touched on Man’s Sorrow Is Man, one of the poems in the collection, which reflects on humanity’s capacity to become its own greatest threat. The discussion returned to the role of poetry in preserving memory and engaging with questions that may not have easy answers.
Tade Ipadeola, a fellow lawyer and poet, also spoke at the launch, offering his perspective on Oyagbola as both a legal professional and a poet. Ipadeola noted the distinctive viewpoint that arises from navigating both worlds and highlighted the collection’s engagement with Yoruba and Nigerian cultural heritage, encouraging attendees to explore the new work.
Readings and a Philosophical Close
The launch featured poetry readings from family and friends, who shared selections from the collection as part of the celebration. The evening concluded with Oyagbola reading “Why,” a poem dealing with cosmological relativity, which he described as his favourite in the collection. The poem contemplates time, existence, consciousness, matter, and the nature of reality, capturing the philosophical inquiry that runs throughout the book.
The Sky’s Forgotten Prayer: Echoes of River, Drum and Heaven is available for purchase locally and online through major booksellers, including Rovingheights and Quintessence. Internationally, it is available on Amazon and Kobo, among others.
