Nigerian poet James Ngwu Eze has released a new collection of poems titled 'Unbind Me Now', which addresses the country's socio-political and economic realities. The 160-page collection, published by Masobe Books, is described as a work forged in "fire, grief, and moral urgency". It explores themes of political violence, ancestral memory, exile, pandemic silence, and ecological collapse. A review of the collection notes that fire is a recurring presence across its 71 poems.
Eze's anger and passion for the betterment of the masses are evident in his poetry. He believes that poetry should not whisper when circumstances demand a shout. The poet's sense of mission is driven by his concern for ordinary Nigerians who carry the weight of a country that promises freedom but keeps its people in chains. Eze's collection is a call to action, urging Nigerians to recognise their common predicament and transcend divisions.
'Unbind Me Now' is one of three books shortlisted for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, along with Ogaga Ifowodo's 'Why Does God Need a Gun?' and Tares Oburumu's 'Flora's Love Colony'. The winner will receive $100,000. Eze's collection was not written with the prize in mind but rather as a response to the poet's growing sense of urgency and outrage.
The poet's sense of disillusionment with the country's direction is a recurring theme in the collection. Eze grew up believing that the future should be better than the past, but Nigeria appears to have inverted that progression. He notes that everyday life has become an exercise in calculation, with people obsessing over personal safety and the safety of their families.
Eze's daughter once asked him, "Why is Nigeria so bad?" The question forced him to confront the reality of violence and fear in the country. He chose to express his feelings through poetry, using his voice to speak for those silenced by fear and to call for change. Eze distinguishes outrage from violence, emphasising that his collection is a clarion call, not a call to arms.
The title 'Unbind Me Now' allows the poet persona to appropriate the voices of people who have suffered violence, displacement, and loss. Eze speaks for those silenced by fear, families who have lost loved ones, and citizens whose freedoms have shrunk. The poet enters the fire on behalf of others, becoming a human shield against obstinate fate.
Eze's journey as a poet has been long and deliberate. His debut, 'Dispossessed', won the Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize in 2020 and was longlisted for the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2022. His second collection, 'Goosebumps', explored love and intimacy. The three books form a trilogy, with a third book already in the making.
Key points
- The collection 'Unbind Me Now' addresses contemporary socio-political and economic realities in Nigeria.
- Eze's poetry is a call to action, urging Nigerians to recognise their common predicament and transcend divisions.
- The poet's use of fire as a recurring motif symbolises his outrage and passion for change.
