For the author of the poetry collection, ‘Incantations’, Nwachukwu Egbunike, it has become expedient to explore the pull of ancestral voices, and discover poetry as invocation, bridge and living fire.

Speaking during his book presentation and conversations held at Alliance Francaise Lagos recently, he observed that in African tradition, an incantation is more than a chant.

To him, it is poetry spoken to open doors between the living and the ancestors, the visible and the unseen.

Describing act of writing poems as a calling, Egbunike also carries ancient rhythm unto the page, blending beauty, ritual and heartbeat of everyday life.

To him, the poem journeyed through two worlds, shaped by catholic faith and Igbo heritage.

Saying some carry weight of grief where silence echoes with the presence of those who have passed into memory, he added others celebrate joy of being alive, reminding us how fragile and precious each moment is.

He added, ‘the gods are not silent. Like the Christian God, they are also forgiving. When an incantation is invoked, it’s like a conversation between the living and the dead. And it is not just anyhow conversation. They are made to appease the gods. Also, some Christian gospel musicians like the late Osinachi and Tope Alabi also embrace incantatory lines in their songs.’

He noted there are also poems that awaken voice of conscience, a light that may flicker but never dies out.

Speaking further, Egbunike also said Incantation is a bold and tender experiment, transforming oral tradition into written verse and invites readers to listen closely.

A renowned digital scholar and prolific writer, Egbunike is also the author of two other poetry collections, BlazingMoon and Nka!, released in 2015 and 2021 respectively.

Both collections have been shortlisted for the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Prize for Poetry.

Senior Lecturer at the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Egbunike’s poetry is characterised by metaphysical depth, cultural resonance and penetrating imagery.