Title: The Years of Blood with Adedayo Agarau | Ep. 13
Episode Number: #13
Guest: Adedayo Agarau
Release Date: 4th July 2025
Description:
On the show this week, we have our first poet on the podcast, and we hit a goldmine, landing a prominent name in the African poetry space in Adedayo Agarau, a Wallace Stegner Fellow. He joins us to discuss his journey as a poet and the alternating parallels he has had to navigate the further he has gone in his career. Adedayo starts off (4:39) talking to us about his new book "The Years of Blood" developed based on his life growing up in Ibadan and the horrors he witnessed. Then we take a deep dive into his academic pursuits (14:32), having bagged numerous monumental professional certifications and received global notoriety for his work, and how that shaped his view of the genre. Then he breaks down, narrating his racist experience (35:53) from a student in Washington, Iowa, where he lectured. This leads us into the conversation about Nigerians in the diaspora (40:51) and their connection to the issues in the country, even though they live abroad. This and more on this episode! Enjoy this amazing episode.
Key Takeaways:
1. Not western enough for white people and not Nigerian enough for Nigerians
2. The certifications don't make you a better writer, just another writer
3. You have to define yourself as an African writer proudly even in diaspora
Listen Now On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Cast, Goodpod, Google Podcasts, Afripod, Jamit, and all DSPs
Connect with Us:
Website: NkemCreatives
Twitter/X: @nkemcreatives
LinkedIn: Nkem Creatives
Instagram: @nkemcreatives
Resources & Mentions:
Pre-order Author's Book: The Years of Blood
Guest’s Social Media: Adedayo Agarau
Episode Credits:
Episode Host: Anita Chinwendu Opara
Audio Producer: Daniel Odia
Podcast Manager: Daniel Odia
Show Owner: Nkem Creatives
Nkem Creatives brings you insightful conversations that celebrate African storytelling and literature. Join us on this journey as we amplify the voices shaping the narrative.
