CELEBRATION OF 2026 WORLD POETRY DAY BY BENIN WRITERS SOCIETY-- THE CITY BREATHES IN VERSE

By Favour Munachi Agunwa
agunwafavour@gmail.com

There is an undeniable energy in the air—a kind of quiet excitement that words can barely contain. Benin is alive with something special, something historic. Today marks the very first World Poetry Day celebration in this city, and you can feel it—this shared anticipation, this collective heartbeat of creativity, expression, and culture.

This is more than an event; it is a movement. A gathering of voices, stories, rhythms, and truths that have long waited for a stage this significant. Today, at City Café, poetry is not just performed—it is experienced. It echoes through conversations, lingers in silence, and comes alive in ways that remind us why words matter.

From the seasoned poet to the emerging voice, from the lover of art to the curious observer, this celebration brings together a convergence of minds and moments that leave a lasting imprint. It is a day where expression takes center stage, where language transcends its oridnary limits, and where creativity finds its fullest release.

Benin is not just hosting World Poetry Day—it is stepping into a new identity, one that embraces art as a powerful force of connection and transformation. And as the city awakens to this reality, you can sense that something remarkable is unfolding.

Today, we gather not just to listen, but to feel. Not just to speak, but to connect. Not just to attend, but to belong.

The stage is set. The voices are here. The moment is now.

— *Favour Munachi Agunwa*
Registered Nurse | On-Air Personality | Communication Expert | Actor
Media & Programs Officer, Security Situation Room
Director of Research & Documentation, Benin Writers Society
📧 agunwafavour@gmail.com