Education: Masters
in Business Administration [ObafemiAwolowo University] - 2006; Professional
Diploma in Public Relations - 2002; B.Sc. (Hons.) with First Class in
International Relations [ObafemiAwolowo University] – 1995.
Career:
ECOBANK Nigeria Plc - [Jan. 1998 – June 1999]; Fountain Trust Bank Plc (Enterprise Bank)-
[July 1999 - July 2004]; Guardian Express Bank Plc (Enterprise
Bank) - [July 2004 –Dec 2005]; Spring
Bank (Enterprise Bank) - [Jan 2006
– May 2007];First Bank Nigeria Plc[June 2007 – Dec 2008];Sterling Bank Plc, [January 2009 – To Date]
Current position: Group Head, Strategy and Communications Department, Sterling Bank Plc
Commentary:
Born June
26, 1971, and having served in various positions up to the level of Assistant
General Manager, Shina has had a rather unique Banking career. He has been
privileged to work in two Banks that have gone through mergers and transitions
and has been opportuned to be present during some of them.
Asides a ‘healthy’
banking career, Shina is also an Associate Member of the Nigeria Institute of
Public Relations (ANIPR) as well as the Institute of Public Relations (AMIPR)
UK
Married
with a kid, Shina can be described as a person with good interpersonal, communication
and motivational skills and a lover of sports as well as the arts.
she will be speaking on the "Art of Spoken Word Poetry (from Page to Stage)."
Who is she?
The Poet, Donna
Donna is Nigerian - and proud of it.
She is a Senior Associate in Nigeria’s leading internationally recognized law firm, “Adepetun, Caxton-Martins, Agbor & Segun” (www.acas-law.com). She is a legal/regulatory specialist with over 11 years of experience in extensive research and practice in Oil & Gas, Corporate Commercial, Labour, Property and Environmental law sectors. She is a high ranking member of the Energy and Project Finance Group of the Firm.
HER POETRY:
Donna, since childhood, has had an unwavering love for the arts, winning prizes in literature and fine arts in her secondary school, Atlantic Hall Co-Educational Secondary School. She started writing her thoughts at the young age of 13 and has not stopped since then.
Donna’s style of writing invokes a lot of imagery as she takes her audience on a vocal and imaginative journey through every poem she recites. She is often invited to recite poems written by other artistes who have favoured and enjoyed her creative style of delivery.
Her vision is to deploy words into the conscious self of every human being; cause them to pause, reflect and adjust the decisions they make which impact on their lives and on the lives of the people around them. She believes that change comes within the individual and that if thoughts and decisions are deployed effectively, then the resultant actions would eventually permeate the moral and social fiber of a community and the world at large – one individual, one thought, one decision at a time.
The DVDs and Audio CDs of the first anniversary edition of WORD UP are out.
The event was tagged Word Up Volume 5, and it held on August 17, 2013
at TerraKulture Hall, Victoria Island, Lagos.
It featured some of the best, young Spoken Word Poets in Nigeria.
The DVDs and Audio CDs will be available at the venue of the seminar on "The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria." The date is September 14, 2013, and venue is Bogobiri House,
Maitama Sule Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The time is from 2pm
It is not everyday you get to see, hear and enjoy two amazing Spoken Word Poets perform together on stage. Atilola is one of Naija's top female Spoken Word Poet, and she trained and groomed Titilayo, who won the Season 1 of War Of Words (Slam Poetry Competition).
They performed together on stage at WORD UP Volume 5, and only one word fits the bill, AWESOME!!!!
Check out the video and you will know you need to buy the DVD.
Titi and Atilola performing together on stage at WORD UP Volume 5 (First Anniversary Edition) which held on August 17, 2013 in Lagos, Nigeria. WORD UP is the biggest Spoken Word Poetry event in Nigeria. It features A-list Spoken Word Poets on the same stage.
Poets at all levels of experience worry about whether or not our poetry sucks. Often, as we contemplate our poetry, we experience gnawing doubts about our abilities as poets and about the quality of our work. However, the question of “how to figure out if your poetry sucks” tends to be a beginner’s question.
Experienced poets, whether we acknowledge it or not, usually know when our poetry sucks. But as a beginner, it’s natural to be confused by what makes a “good” poem.
Lacking experience, it can be difficult to tell whether or not your poetry is any good.
You know what they say about beauty being in the eye of the beholder? Well, poetry is like that. If you think a poem is beautiful, if it moves you, if it makes you think and seems to speak some truth to you, then that’s a “good” poem.
However, if you’re looking to publish your poems, then you’ll need to develop a sense of what critics and poets agree makes for good poetry.
Luckily for the beginner, there are some simple indicators that distinguish good poetry from weaker versions.
One Sucky Poem and One Not-So-Sucky Poem
As an exercise in determining what makes for a good poem versus a weak poem, take a look at this excerpt of one of my poems:
The light reflects your skin. Impossibilities recede. I trace where I have been, find the knots and knead. Run my fingers through your curls, twisting and bereaved. Pulling me into your world, from your mouth the air I breathe. You are not alone, as you walk away. I am here with you right now, praying that you will stay. I’m steady on this ground, holding on with all my might. You are not alone, your fears eclipsing light
Now, consider this excerpt from another poem I wrote:
Stories sculpt figures, construct apartment buildings plant fields and wield iron, forge whole countries of strangers we come to believe we know. Stories create things. Poetry takes them apart. Unstitching the unseemly seam, breaking open rocks, chiseling crystal composites, uprooting forest ferns just to smell the fertile musk of soil and finger the tangled, threaded flesh.
This poem is entitled “Poetry, say it.” This isn’t the greatest poem, but it is a stronger poem than the first. It manages to use relatively original descriptions, its premise is more interesting, its language is active, and its images are concrete.
If we are indeed going to make Spoken Word Poetry an Industry in Nigeria we need to be more professional in all we do, cos Talent is not enough. So, would you be interested in a seminar on the "Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria?" Lets talk about you, us, the events, the business, the industry and the Nation. Are you interested? Holla back if you are.
Wetin Poets dey do sef?
The seminar on "The Business of Spoken Word Poetry in Nigeria" will hold on September 14, 2013. We will be having different speakers and I can assure you, they will blow your mind. Stay tuned for more details.
Wetin Poets dey do sef?
#BusinessOfSpokenWordPoetryInNigeria. For over 3 years, they've been organizing a weekly open mic poetry and music show and have had different celebrities grace their stage. They will be at the Seminar on Sept. 14 to tell u how, but first, can u guess who?
Wetin Poets dey do sef?
#BusinessOfSpokenWordPoetryInNigeria She is one of the top female Spoken Word Poet in Nigeria. Her words are very deep they pierce thick skulls and prick stony hearts, causing people to pause and meditate on what they "wear," oops, on what they heard. She will be around on September 14 at the seminar to talk on "From Page to Stage," aka the art of Spoken Word Poetry. Can you guess who she is?
P.S. I am one of her greatest fans, dunno if she knows this.
