And The slam of champions has finally come to an end!
Last week, I attended the slam of champions organized by @slamofchampionsnigeria at transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja Nigeria. When I first got the call up by @soba_fest to represent them being the reigning slam champion of sobafest slam 2025. I immediately showed interest because I know this is an opportunity for me to explore, to learn and to get experiences.
Actually I started writing poetry for a while now, but I started slamming in 2024, and since then it has been nothing short of appreciation to the Almighty. Abuja too was a nice experience, I am glad I shared the stage with some of the people I've been looking up to.
@shafaatu__x@pacellachukwumaeke@_saheedsunday@saadaisayahaya@obongg_ette
It's nice sharing the stage with you guys, even though we've known each other for a while, but it's great connecting with you all again.
I will also like to thank @withlovejiddahfor the support. Thank you very much Jiddah!
I also met some great people too, @o_s_johnson@jer_priest@baaji_akura
It was nice connecting with you guys all. @obinna_melody_ i am happy we connected again. Let's keep the fire burning! The Nigerian literary space is growing a lot of talents these days and I like the fire everyone is coming up with. I must say, the slam of champions is the best slam I've attended so far!
#poetry #slamofchampions2026
#performancepoetry.
Hello world!
We are excited to share that the #SOBAFest25 Slam Sultan, Naziru Suleiman, has been invited to compete with other Nigerian slam winners at the 2026 @slamofchampionsnigeria , for a spot to represent Nigeria at the World Poetry Slam Championship in Durban, South Africa.
We wish him the very best as he keeps flying the flag high!
Are you in Abuja, or can you travel? Then head to Transcorp Hilton on Friday, 30 January to witness the tightly-contested slam.
#slampoetry #sobafest #slamofchampionsnigeria #nazirusulaiman
Four years ago, I had my first stage poetry performance at @soba_fest Poetry Slam and I can still remember how it felt, emerging as the second runner up. A year later, I went ahead to have my first win of a Poetry Slam on the same stage. SOBAFest is my home!
This year, SOBAFest gave me my first invitation as a guest to a festival to speak on a panel, Language at the Margin: Writing, Translating and Creating Across Tongues where we discussed the ENGAUSA poetry writing style alongside my boss @abwordsmith_ and my beloved sister
@khaarahs_empire whom we've started this journey together from day one and moderated by the curator @blackbookishgirl
Also, I was part of the judges of the #sobafest25 Poetry Slam together with @abwordsmith_ and @official_yahuzeey the author of "The Rainbow is not as Beautiful as my Ruins"
Thanks to @emelife_uc and the team for bringing something this beautiful to life, like they have always done.
#sobafest #poetry #sobafest25 #believe #growth #makingadiffrence
Thank you to everyone who sponsored, attended, volunteered and contributed to #sobafest25, it was beautiful because we had you there.
Videos will be posted in the subsequent posts.
Stay glued to our pages, and check out our posts in the meantime. All in all, keep loving literature and keep attending festivals.
#sobafest25 #sobafest
Day 3, The Award Night.
This night became a night to remember for the winners as they shone bright to receive their awards and the Prizes attached to it.
Slide 1 featured The Poetry Slam Winners, R-L
Slide 2-4 featured presentation of the awards to the slam winners.
Slide 5 featured The Queen Aminah Short Story Winners R-L
Slide 6-8 featured presentation of the awards to the Queen Amina Short Story winners.
Rest of the slides featured friends and well wishers with the awardees.
Congratulations to our winners!! 🎉
#sobafest25 #sobafest #awards #awardnight
Day 3 highlights in pictures, Night of Performance.
This day came with more performances, more mingling and definitely outdoorsy.
We sipped poetry, short stories over hot tea despite the chilly weather.
Check the slides, let's recount the moments together.
#sobafest25 #sobafest #nightofperformance
The tour guide spoke and we, the audience listened with rapt attention. The tour exceeded our expectations and deepened our knowledge.
@caliphatetimes_ng took the best moments for us, we will forever hold these pictures dearly till they fray at the edges like some of the artifacts, because we are history, creating history in the seat of caliphate.
#sobafest25 #sobafest #heritage #museumtour #triptothepast
Day 3 highlights in pictures!!
We set out to do one thing and that was to journey to the past, through history and uncover the heritage of Sokoto State.
The Tour filled us with knowledge we wanted, the ones we didn't know we want and it is safe to say that, we now know more about the seat of caliphate and how it came about.
#sobafest25 #sobafest #triptothepast #museum #tourism
@khaarahs_empire and @emotionalpalace left the audience in awe with their performances.
The performance also intersected with the theme of the festival, the fusion of English and Hausa to make Engausa.
Where you there?
#sobafest25 #engausa #sobafest
10 talented contestants, 3 deserving winners!!
The twist in this year's festival was @olohidebby , a Junior Secondary Student who became the first runner up during the slam.
The participants performances were electrifying, and finger snapping, the hall couldn't get enough of them.
Slide 1 features the winners R-L.
Slide 2-11 features all the contestants
Slide 12 features the judges for the sobafest slam
Slide 13 features the winner and the first runner up with two of the judges.
To all the participants and winners, keep slamming, keep winning. We are rooting for you.❤️
#sobafest25 #sobafest #poetryslam #poetrycompetition
One of the things we thrive at is inclusivity. Our festival brings adult, teens and children together for anyone passionate about arts, books, and literature .
We exhibited some arts and had the artists share their work, inspirations and stories behind their pieces with @p_g.r.e.e.n and @jcin__udus
#sobafest #sobafest25 #artwork #artexhibition #artenthusiast
We had a discussion with one of ours on his debut chapbook "The Rainbow Is Not As Beautiful As My Ruins", moderated by another poet @ibnyushau44
The conversation explored the beauty of grief and the ruins it can cause.
Slide 1: The author @official_yahuzeey
Slide 2: Fasasi Ridwan
Slide 3: A book lover posing with the copy of the book.
#booksbooksbooks #authors #poetrycommunity #poetry #festival #sobafest25 #sobafest
