Iquo DianaAbasi is a creative writer, performer and social activist. She writes prose, poetry and scripts for radio and screen. Her collection of short stories, Èfó Rírò and Other Stories was released in 2020.
Her first collection of poems, Symphony of Becoming, was shortlisted for the NLNG Nigeria prize for literature, and the ANA poetry prize. It has also been shortlisted for the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature.
An avid student of human nature, Iquo writes about social issues, womanhood, the environment and the need to embrace our humanity as a precursor to healing.
She is an alumnus of Fidelity Bank’s International Creative Writing Workshop, and was writer in residence at the Ebedi International Writers Residency.
Her writings appear in African Literature Today, Poetry Potion, AfricaInWords Kalahari review, Saraba magazine, Ebedi review, ANA Review, and Olisa.tv. She has also been featured in several print and online poetry anthologies.
Iquo is known to perform her poems with a touch of Ibibio folklore. Stages she has graced include: Pa Gya! Arts Festival, Providus Bank Poetry Café, Lagos International Poetry Festival, Ake Arts and Book Festival, The Big60 Cultural Exchange, Wole Soyinka @80, Lagos Black Heritage Festival, The Macmillan Literary night, and more.
Iquo is passionate about the environment and spreads the message of sustainable environment through various activities with the not-for-profit organisations: Beach Samaritans Initiative and CATE (Children and the Environment).
She has worked on several radio drama projects targeted towards communication for social change, with the African Radio Drama Association, since 2011.
Iquo is involved in advocacy and activism against sexual and gender-based violence through her work with the not-for-profit; Jabez Place.
Iquo resides in Lagos, where she has just completed work on a novel, a second volume of poetry, and edits a speculative fiction magazine, omenana.com.
“Success Comes To Those Who Dare To Live Out Their Passion, No Matter How Obstacles And Challenges Try To Deter Them. Passion Keeps Them Going”
– Iquo DianaAbasi