Niyi Osundare

Niyi Osundare studied at University of Leeds, York University and University of Ibadan. The recorded working language is English and Nigerian Pidgin. Employment is recorded with University of Ibadan and LSU New Orleans. Distinctions recorded are Noma Award for Publishing in Africa, honorary doctor of the University of Toulouse-II and Tchicaya U Tam'si Prize for African poetry.

• Name — Niyi Osundare • Occupation — * Poet • playwright • literary critic • linguist • Notable Works — Songs of the Marketplace (1983), The Eye of the Earth (1986), Waiting Laughters (1990), Green: Sighs of Our Ailing Planet (2022) • Awards — Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize 1986, 1989, & 1994, Commonwealth Poetry Prize 1986, NOMA Award 1991, Tchicaya U Tam'si Prize for African Poetry 2008, Nigerian National Order of Merit 2014 • Birthplace — Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria • Education — Amoye Grammar School, Christ's School, University of Ibadan, University of Leeds, York University • Genre — Poetry, plays, literary criticism • Years Active — 1981–present

Osundare gained degrees in English at the University of Ibadan (BA), the University of Leeds (MA), and York University, Canada (PhD, 1979). Previously professor (from 1989) and Head of English (1993–97) at the University of Ibadan, he became professor of English at the University of New Orleans in 1997. Osundare has a wife, Kemi, and three children.

In 1997, he accepted a teaching and research post at the University of New Orleans. In 2005 Osundare was caught in Hurricane Katrina, and he and his wife were stuck in their attic for 26 hours. Their neighbour, who at the time was driving by in his boat, heard their shouts for help. They were rescued and bounced around from rescue shelters until they ended up in Rindge, New Hampshire, where Osundare could get a teaching job as a professor at Franklin Pierce College and things settled down. The experience later informed his poetry collection City Without People, which explores themes of loss, trauma, survival, and recovery.

Osundare's poetry is distinguished by its engagement with social justice, political criticism, environmental concerns, and the experiences of ordinary people. Literary critics have identified his work as part of a tradition of socially committed African poetry that addresses corruption, inequality, and the consequences of political misrule. A notable feature of Osundare's poetry is its incorporation of Yoruba oral traditions, folklore, song, and performance techniques. Scholars have argued that his work combines indigenous expressive forms with modern poetic structures, producing a style that is both accessible and innovative. Critics have also highlighted Osundare's distinctive use of language, particularly his adaptation of English to reflect African cultural realities and oral performance traditions.

In 2016, Osundare, along with his lifelong friend, the Sierra Leonean poet Syl Cheney-Coker, was the subject of a documentary called The Poets, by director Chivas DeVinck. The film follows Osundare and Cheney-Coker on a road-trip through Sierra Leone and Nigeria as they discuss their friendship and how their life experiences have shaped their art.

Environmental concerns occupy a prominent place in Osundare's poetry. Collections such as The Eye of the Earth explore the relationship between human communities and the natural environment, while later works continue to address ecological degradation and environmental responsibility. Scholars have described Osundare as an important voice in African ecocriticism, noting his sustained engagement with issues such as deforestation, environmental destruction, and climate-related anxieties.

In addition to his academic and literary work, Osundare has been active as a newspaper columnist and public commentator. Through essays, interviews, and regular opinion pieces, he has addressed issues relating to democracy, social justice, language, education, and cultural identity in Nigeria. Osundare's poetry has been translated into several languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, and Slovenian. His work has been presented at literary festivals, universities, and cultural institutions across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia.