Senator Ihenyen

Senator Iyere Ihenyen was born in Lagos in the 80s, but hails from Esan-West L.G.A., Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. And if you are wondering if he is a Senator of the Republic, he is not (at least yet)! Senator is his first name! He writes poetry, short fiction and engages in literary research.

Recognised by a U.K-based organization, Outspoken, in 2006 as ‘one of the significant voices in Africa pushing the boundaries of contemporary African Literature,’ he is a member of a number of Internet-based literary circles, such as the African Writer, Krazitivity, Ederi, among others. The late and respected Nigerian editor and critic, Okey Okpa, fondly called ‘Foot’, who was before his sudden death the Publisher, Coast2Coast Publishing, usually described the young writer as his ‘future Poet Laureate’ in 2008.

While some of Senator Ihenyen’s poems have been published in local dailies such as the Daily Times, New Age and Business Times, his early works have also been featured in international anthologies and sites published by the U.K.-based Anchor Books, Poetry Stop, Canada, and the U.S.-based Voices Network, where his poetry has been given special international recognition. In 2006, he participated in the British Council Crossing Borders Workshop with Dinesh Alirajah.

Recently, he was featured in far away Barcelona as ‘the true voice of Africa’ based on his use of language, imagery and experimentations by Literatur ad Art, a Spanish literary site. His poetry has over the years been widely introduced to readers, especially on the Internet. Using the Internet, the young writer organises private poetry writing workshops for budding poets.

Currently in a full-time Law Degree programme at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, he has served as the Campus President of Golden Minds Nigeria, a youth-focused organisation – publishers of Jingle magazine, where the author contributes as a staff writer.

The author, who has completed Colourless Rainbow: Poetry of My Childhood, a volume of poetry forthcoming from the Lagos-based Coast2Coast Publishing, is currently working on his second volume of poetry centred on HIV/AIDS. On World AIDS Day 2009, he launched the project, Ripples Across Lives: Poetry Against HIV/AIDS as an open avenue for all to let their voices be heard towards raising awareness and sensitisation on the epidermic.

He has an inveterate interest in Literature, especially creative writing, and has since been working on a literary text for students and writers. With a creative mind, Ihenyen has growing interests in copywriting, legal writing, publishing, web design, idea development, and interpreneuship.

His poetry has been shaped by such great writers as William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, Leopold Senghor, Wole Soyinka and Niyi Osundare. Others are Gabriel Okara, J.P. Clark, Kofi Anyidoho and Tchikaya U’ Tamsi.

Colourless Rainbow: Poetry of My Childhood, published by Coast2Coast, Lagos in February 2011, has hit the bookstands.

e-mail: senatorihenyen@yahoo.co.uk

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