Christopher Okigbo is Africa's most celebrated poet. He occupied the poetry chair of the continent's post-conquest literary academy in the 1960s – with Chinua Achebe in charge of the novel faculty and Wole Soyinka as head of drama. Since then, Okigbo's poetry has influenced the work of several poets including those of his generation such as brothers Michael and Kevin Echeruo, Pol Ndu, Obiora Udechukwu and Okogbule Wonodi, and the post-Biafra-War generation of poets, especially Sesan Ajayi, Chimalum Nwankwo, Olu Oguibe, Esiaba Irobi, Niyi Osundare, Maik Nwosu, Uche Nduka, Obi Nwakanma, Nnorom Azuonye, Nnamdi Azuonye and Akomaya Oko. Elsewhere,

Heavensgate

, Okigbo's 1962 published poetic work, enriches the concluding thoughts in Jay Wright's poem, “Beginning Again” (from his

The

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Citation: Ekwe Ekwe, Herbert. "Christopher Okigbo". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 July 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3403, accessed 19 March 2024.]

3403 Christopher Okigbo 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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