Titilope Sonuga is Edmonton’s Ninth Poet Laureate
Titilope Sonuga, an award-winning poet, writer and spoken word artist has been recognized as Edmonton’s ninth poet laureate. Following the successful election, Titilope Sonuga will be Edmonton’s poet laureate for two years, starting from the 1st of July 2021. She succeeds Nisha Patel, who served as a laureate for the last two years.
As an ambassador, Titilope will reflect Edmonton’s life, city, and people through readings and poetry, both at official and informal gatherings.
On Titilope’s new feat, Donald L. Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton said:
”Since 2005, the City of Edmonton has been entrusting artists to observe and reflect our lives, our city and our people through poetry. I am delighted to welcome powerhouse local poet and community builder Titilope Sonuga to the role of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate and see how she transforms the role, and our city through her passion and stunning prose”.
”Titilope Sonuga will also bring a welcoming and inclusive spirit to the role. Titi’s focus on healing and hope makes space for all Edmontonians to come together through poetry and that is exactly what the City needs at this moment, ” said Sanjay Shahani, Director of the Edmonton’s Arts Council.
The award-winning poet is the creator of the ”Breath in Poetry Collective” and has served on various artistic and community boards in Edmonton. Titi’s spoken word album, ”Mother Tongue” was released in 2013 followed by a second collection of poetry, three poetry collections – ”Down to Earth” (2011), ”Abscess” (2014) and ”This Is How We Disappear” (2019).
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In 2011, she won the Canadian Authors Association Emerging Writer Award and the 2012 Maya Angelou Poetry Contest. Titilope became the first poet to appear at a Nigerian presidential inauguration ceremony, where she performed at the May 2015 inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari. She was also the 2015-2016 ambassador for Intel’s ”She Will Connect program” and spoke at TEDxEdmonton in 2014.
Congratulations Titilope Sonuga, we are proud of you.