| Intro | Nigerian poet, writer and creative |
| Is |
Writer Poet |
| From | Nigeria |
| Type | Literature |
| Gender | male |
| Birth |
1985, Akure, Nigeria |
| Age | 36 years |
Tolu Akinyemi, also referred to as Poetolu is a Nigerian writer and poet. His work is notable for its simple and humorous take on everyday human experiences.
Biography
Tolu Akinyemi (in full, Toluwalope Akinyemi) was born in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. His parents worked in the state government’s civil service. He attended Oyemekun Grammar School, where he was Senior Prefect. He then studied Architecture and Design at the Federal University of Technology Akure, earning a Bachelor of Technology degree in 2008. In 2011 he obtained a Master of Science degree in Built Environment Studies from the University of Greenwich. He currently lives in London, England.
Writing
Tolu Akinyemi is the author of three collections of poetry. His first collection ‘Your Father Walks Like A Crab’ (2013), was described by Lola Shoneyin as “a witty debut”.
In 2017 and 2018, he was named one of ‘100 most influential Nigerian writers under 40′. In 2017, he won the Nigerian Writers’ Award (Poetry writer of the year) for his poetry collection “I Laugh at These Skinny Girls”. His works have been featured in magazines and anthologies including the Association of Nigerian Authors Anthologies (‘Verses from the Sun’ and ‘A Way with Words’), Forward Poetry’s ‘Great British Write-off Anthology’, and Black History Month Magazine. In 2017 he obtained the Arts Council England’s, ‘exceptional talent endorsement’ as a writer.
Other works
In 2016 he started writing the online ‘Halima Series‘, an illustrated and humorous social commentary on relationships and popular culture.