Romeo Oriogun

Romeo Oriogun is a Nigerian poet, essayist and winner of the 2022 Nigeria Prize for Literature. Quotes "I think poetry comes from a place of truth." Speaking on truth and poetry "The poet is a witness; he writes about these events and memories as a way of saying we shouldn't forget that there was a time certain things happened." On the role of poetry in preserving memory "I am Queer, I am Nigerian. I do not have the luxury of forgetting my identity." Reflecting on identity and writing "Still we are humans first; it is the only identity that should matter." Speaking on humanity and identity "I'm always looking for that tender moment in a poem, that moment that always surprises you." On his writing process "When I'm writing a poem I'm asking myself, at what moment do I realize that what I'm writing is not just history, but something I also carry within me." On memory and personal history "Sometimes this is the price I pay for writing but it is better than keeping quiet." Speaking on the challenges of writing as a queer poet "Each poem I write is a door into another." Reflecting on the impact of his poetry External links Category:Living people Category:Poets from Nigeria