Gboyega Odubanjo
Gboyega Odubanjo | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1996 London, England |
| Died | c. 31 August 2023 (aged 27) Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, England |
| Occupation | Poet |
| Language | English |
| Education | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Alma mater | University of East Anglia, University of Hertfordshire |
Gboyega Odubanjo (30 January 1996 – August 2023) was a British-Nigerian poet from East London, England.
Early life and education
[edit]Gboyega Odubanjo was born on 30 January 1996,[1][2] in London, England, where he also grew up.[3]
Odubanjo attended the University of East Anglia between 2014 and 2019.[4] He earned his Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy in 2017, and his Master's degree in poetry in 2018.[5] He was studying for a PhD in creative writing at the University of Hertfordshire at the time of his death.[3][4]
Gboyega was posthumously awarded a Doctor of Philosophy by the University of Hertfordshire for a programme of work entitled Adam: Fear of a Black Planet, as his work had been completed before his death.[6]
Career
[edit]Odubanjo's first pamphlet, While I Yet Live, was published in 2019 by Bad Betty Press.[5] This was followed by Aunty Uncle Poems, which won the Poetry Business Competition. After his death, Faber announced that Adam, a first full-length collection, would be published in 2024. The book revisits the unsolved murder of an unidentified black boy whose body was discovered in the River Thames in 2001.[2]
Odubanjo was a board member and former guest editor of Magma Poetry.[5] He was the editor of bath magg, an online magazine of poetry, and an editor at independent publisher Bad Betty Press.[3][4]
Death
[edit]In August 2023, Odubanjo died in an accidental drowning at the Shambala Festival in Northamptonshire where he was due to perform.[7][8] He had been reporting as missing for several days before his body was found.[1][9]
Awards
[edit]Received
[edit]- 2020: Poetry Business New Poet's prize for Aunty Uncle Poems[4][5]
- 2021: Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors[4]
- 2021: Michael Marks pamphlet award for Aunty Uncle Poems[4][5][10]
Shortlisted
[edit]- 2020: OutSpoken Prize for Poetry for While I Yet Live[5]
- 2024: T. S. Eliot Prize for Poetry for Adam[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kent-Smith, Jasmine (1 September 2023). "Family and friends of Gboyega Odubanjo issue statement following discovery of body in search for 'inimitable' missing poet". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Gboyega Odubanjo, poet acclaimed for his 'brutal honesty' and 'side-splitting humour' – obituary". The Telegraph. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Moses, Claire (1 September 2023). "Body Is Found in Search for Missing British Poet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f McMenemy, Rachael (1 September 2023). "Gboyega Odubanjo: Tributes to 'incomparable' poet after body found". BBC News. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gboyega Odubanjo wins Michael Marks Poetry Award". www.newwriting.net. December 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Neal-Holder, Paige (2 November 2023). "Gboyega Odubanjo: Poet to be awarded posthumous degree". Newsbeat | BBC News.
- ^ Bradbrook, Kate; Kris Holland (30 April 2024). "Gboyega Odubanjo inquest: Coroner says poet's death was accidental". BBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ MacLeod, Logan (30 April 2024). "Tributes paid to 'acclaimed' poet and 'beloved' son who tragically died at popular music festival in Northamptonshire". Northampton Chronicle & Echo. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ Hughes, Seren; Peter Chappell (1 September 2023). "Gboyega Odubanjo: family criticise police search after body found". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Gboyega Odubanjo: Aunty Uncle Poems". Michael Marks Awards. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Creamer, Ella (1 October 2024). "TS Eliot prize for poetry shortlist contains 'a strong strain of elegy'". The Guardian.