Connect online with like-minded poetry fans and give your brain a workout with the creative and problem-solving challenges of our collaborative translations sessions. Perfect for translators, poets and language lovers stuck inside for the foreseeable future.

This online workshop season will take place over four weeks, through hour-long Zoom session each Tuesday lunchtime. This format will let us spend time with a single poetic voice. The workshops will be lead by the Nigerian linguist and writer Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún and the poet Edward Doegar.

The PTC's first-ever online Poetry Translation Workshop season will be taking a deep dive into the work of Yorùbá poet Ọláńrewajú Adépọ̀jù , sometimes known as Lanrewaju Adepoju, who at different times has been a radio star, a scourge on politicians, an advocate for the masses, a religious leader and a poetic conscience for the Yorùbá-speaking nation.

All the details:

• The PTC will deliver these workshops online via Zoom.

• This online series will follow our usual workshop format, working as a group to translate the poem line by line.

• Working from a bridge translation of the original poem, guided by a translator and poet to facilitate the sessions.

• Four sessions lasting one hour each over four weeks.

• Working on one longer poem over the four sessions, including some dedicated time to edit the final poem.

• In advance of the beginning of the series, we will share the original poem and the bridge translation that the group will be working from as well as further materials to aid the experience like audio examples of the poetry and a video introduction to the poet by the translator

• Every Tuesday lunchtime, 13:00-14:00, from 21 April to 12 May.

• £25 for the four sessions; £15 concession.

• We are offering concessions to refugees, students, OAPS, the unwaged and those whose income has been affected by the ongoing pandemic.

• To try and make the online experience as enjoyable and manageable as possible, places will be restricted - if you book please do make sure you can attend.

• Workshop materials and the log-in details to join the sessions through Zoom, with joining instructions, will be sent out by email when you book your place.

The Poet

Ọláńrewajú Adépọ̀jù (also sometimes called "Lanrewaju Adepoju") is one of the most notable exponents of the ewì spoken-word poetry in Yorùbá, and one of the most influential voices in the genre. His work is influenced by griots, West African poets and storytellers. Adépọ̀jù is known primarily for his politically-charged poetry. He was detained by military administrators for some of his activism, but the talent behind his voice and words was never questioned

The Translator

Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún has worked for many years as a linguist (currently at Google Nigeria), lexicographer, Fulbright scholar of Yorùbá (Southern Illinois University), and schoolteacher of English in Lagos, Nigeria. In 2016, he was the recipient of the “Special Prize” of Premio Ostana, given for work in indigenous language advocacy.