Author Profile - Agbleze Selorm

Biography:

Agbleze Selorm was born in April 1987 to Mr. Geoffrey Agbleze and Ms. Akambi Esinam. Selorm is a former student of Mawuli school, Ho and is currently reading Bsc. Agricultural science in the University of Ghana, Legon. He resides at Denu, in the Volta region of Ghana and likes reading and writing poetry as well as engaging in educative discussions.


Five Questions with Agbleze Selorm:

1. How long have you been writing poetry?

I have been writing for the past five years, however I wrote my first poem in class three entitled "the cat."


2. What got you interested in writing poetry? Was there any poetry-related activity at Mawuli school?

I got into poetry because to me it was a simple way of telling hidden tales and emphasizing issues of concern about life and society.

Poetry at Mawuli school was a way of expressing thoughts on the notice board and it was employed by students to express their views on situations.



3. Who are your favorite poets? Which poets have most inspired you and informed your work?

I do admire and draw inspiration from the works of many poets, however Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, David Diop and Kofi Awoonor are my favorite poets. I admire the detailed pictures they paint with their words and the simple elegance of their expressions. An example is Mtshali's "An Abandoned Bundle".


4. What is your opinion about the state of poetry in Ghana today? The state of poetry on the campus at the University of Ghana, Legon?

I believe that poetry in Ghana is silent and its place taken over by contemporary music. Poetry in most cases has been reduced to "chew and pour" in the academic institutions, thus the burning flame of admiration has been quenched to a large extent.

Although this attitude has found its way into the University of Ghana, there has been a few meetings and poetry recitals held on campus. Radio Universe, the University's official radio station also holds a program on poetry every Sunday. These could be the start of a much needed uplifting of campus poetry.



5. What do you think needs to be done to promote and strengthen African poetry?

I think that avenues should be created through which African poems can be exhibited in Africa and beyond just like One Ghana, One Voice and interactions between African poets should be intensified through meetings. Outstanding poets should be rewarded and the growing generation should be taught simple African poetry and rhymes. They shall then grow to appreciate the history and tales of their land.

Contact Agbleze:

agblezes(at)yahoo.com

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Very quaint. i enjoyed reading this poem. it transcends ordinary emotions into something that eats into the reader's soul. Good work, Selorm

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