Edmonton welcomes its ninth poet laureate
Titilope Sonuga
Poet, writer, storyteller
On July 1, 2021, Titilope Sonuga will become Edmonton’s ninth Poet Laureate.
Titilope Sonuga is a poet, playwright and performer whose work grasps moments of tenderness and persistent joy at the intersection of blackness and womanhood. She is a leading voice in local and international poetry communities who has travelled extensively as an artist and facilitated adult and youth poetry workshops worldwide. She has served on various artistic and community boards in Edmonton and is the founder of the Breath In Poetry Collective. Sonuga is the author of three collections of poetry, Down to Earth (2011), Abscess (2014) and This Is How We Disappear (2019) and has released two spoken word albums, Mother Tongue (2011) and Swim (2019). She has facilitated numerous youth and adult poetry workshops locally and internationally. She has also penned three plays and has scripted global advertising campaigns for organizations such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Google, Intel Corporation, The World Health Organization, White Ribbon Alliance and The MacArthur Foundation.
“Since 2005 the City of Edmonton has been entrusting artists to observe and reflect our lives, our city, and our people through poetry,” says Mayor Don Iveson. “I am delighted to welcome powerhouse local poet and community builder Titilope Sonuga to the role of
Edmonton’s Poet Laureate and see how she transforms the role, and our city through her passion and stunning prose.”
Supported by the City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Arts Council and the Edmonton Public Library, the role of Edmonton’s Poet Laureate is to reflect the life of the city through readings and poetry. As an ambassador for the literary arts, the Laureate brings poetry into a range of official and informal city events.
“As Poet Laureate, Nisha Patel has been a dynamic voice, exploring diverse and challenging themes in her poetry. Her passion for mentorship has empowered emerging voices in Edmonton’s literary community and has offered a unique lens on the stories that touch our city,” said Edmonton Arts Council Director, Sanjay Shahani.
“Titilope Sonuga will also bring a welcoming and inclusive spirit to the role. Her focus on healing and hope makes space for all Edmontonians to come together through poetry and is exactly what the City needs in this moment.”