In September, Bash Amuneni will take to the stage to share his compelling spoken word poetry at Hunter Gatherer Coffee in Southsea. “There is a Lunatic in Portsmouth” promises to be a compelling evening celebrating the human experience through free expression, connection and community.
About Bash
Bash is one of Nigeria’s foremost performance poets. He has performed at many high-profile events, including The Lagos International Poetry Festival, The European Union of Human Rights Commission, The African Parliamentary Union and Poetry Africa. His language and storytelling deftly redefines narratives and challenges contrived ideas.
Bash grew up on a military base in Nigeria bordered by wild farmlands, situated on the edge of one of Africa’s longest rivers. Around the time he turned thirteen years old, he stumbled upon a book at his family home which contained a collection of poems. Captivated by the magic of poetry, Bash quickly devoured the works within the pages which contained the compelling writing of Robert Frost, Odia Ofieman and David Diop.
He became fascinated by the emotion of language and how poetry serves as a powerful tool for changing narratives and elevating conversations. In Secondary School, he would often jump at the chance to recite the poem “Africa, My Africa” by Diop. Bash was overwhelmed by the deep and almost unshakeable love for the continent which was so richly expressed by the poet. “Those powerful emotions I felt whenever I rendered this poem, which touched on the nerve of post-colonial African renaissance, is perhaps one of the reasons I am a poet today.”
Asking The Questions
Bash’s writing is renowned for asking necessary questions, pushing for answers with a true sense of urgency. From metaphorical sketches of Nigerian cities and socio-political conditions to the inevitable engagement with love, Bash’s famed poetry collection published in 2017 interrogates the subtleties of the human condition. ‘There is a Lunatic in Every Town’ intertwines the earthy feel of real experience with folklore, memory and romantic intimacy. Since then, he has spent his time researching, writing, collaborating and strutting his stuff on poetry stages, performing at important festivals from Nigeria to South Africa and Cameroun to Kenya,
Bash sees poetry as an enduring movement between places, people and ideas. “I look at the qualities of great narrative writing- compelling, moving, clear, empathetic, employing the best use of words and phrases. I like it when poems use precise imagery and descriptive words that bring out the story’s details and paint a rich picture. I like it when the writing shows the writer is really sweating the small stuff. I think of the five senses, and I like to use adjectives that help describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings. I like the spontaneous too. Many times, I also like to sit with a writing for long periods; re-editing until I get the best words that totally describe my exact thoughts and intentions.”
Bash moved to Portsmouth due to a need for adventure and his powerful desire to experience new places and people. “I think it sort of rejuvenates me and my creative contemplations. Portsmouth is a dream city. Finding myself here was a mix of an opportunity from the UK Government and the presence of family ties. What I love most about the city is the seaside, clean air, and tolerable temperatures.”
The Bash Amuneni Prize
The Bash Amuneni Prize has become a vital platform for upcoming young poets in Nigeria. The initiative celebrates the joy of performance whilst driving for meaningful change on issues that affect young Africans. Bash devotes a great deal of time to the project, even from Portsmouth, guiding the fledgling poets and enabling a diverse number of rich voices to be brought to life. This year’s theme, “Poetry for Climate Change” has been met with an unprecedented number of submissions. Bash explains that he chose the theme “to give voice to this call that needs desperate and urgent attention. Taking action for our planet cannot be waived to further dates. We must act now, and it is a collective call.”
For Bash, the poetry prize is very much a legacy, embodying the spirit of creativity, expression and excellence. Bash says, “It’s just me attempting to create another platform to help the dream of an African child. The most amazing thing about these entries would be the innocence of it all, wrapped in that raw and unrefined delivery. It is inspiring to see the hunger and honesty in those submissions. I am truly humbled by these young poets and their attempts in tackling various themes through poetry.”
The Future
Bash is excited about his new life in Portsmouth and the endless possibilities for creative endeavours. “In the immediate, I have a new poetry manuscript in the works. I hope I get a publisher here willing to take a risk on it…(laughs). In the near future, I am looking at getting a poetry album out too and taking to more stages across the world. I am drawn to creating bigger platforms and supporting the dream of young poets from Africa. I am still playing with the idea of film, where the entire dialogue is poetry and performances. The goal is to just give my heart and soul to poetry and watch how it keeps amazing me and opening the world to us.”
Bash Amuneni will be performing on Friday 27th September at Hunter Gatherer Coffee 7.30-9.30pm. There is also an exciting opportunity for other poets to join this immersive experience and share their own work. Open Mic slots will be awarded on a first come first served basis and strictly limited to 5 minutes.
