Poet, activist, and immigrant creates a new poetic language to confront injustices

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In a world of conflict and division, poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo taps into the power of poetry to cut through the noise and focus attention on oppression, violence, the plight of undocumented immigrants, racism, hatred, and the urgent need for change.

In his groundbreaking collection, POETA: Sonetas and Sonnets (September 17, 2024; TogetherInWitness, Olatinpo offers a searing exploration of what it means to be human in the 21st century, using an electrifying new poetic language: the soneta.

Poet and activist Pelumi Olatinpo’s story

Pelumi Olatinpo knows injustice and suffering intimately. As a boy, he lived under military dictatorships in his home country, Nigeria. At age 14, he moved to Italy with his family, yet struggled with the language barrier and lack of opportunities for people of color. After several challenging months, Pelumi and his siblings were treated to a vacation in Toronto, Canada. A few weeks later, his mother and youngest brother returned to Italy. Thanks to the resources of a family friend, Pelumi and his 12-year-old sister stayed—with a bold plan to start their new life in America. Together, under the cover of moonlight, they took a 15-minute speedboat trip on the Niagara River and crossed the wide open Canadian border into the United States. They arrived on the shores of Buffalo, New York, as undocumented immigrants.

As Pelumi would quickly learn, “illegals” faced financial strain, social stigma, and barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and many basic rights. When their brother died in drowning accident, Pelumi and his sister could not travel to Italy to see his body or mourn with their parents.

Embracing the core American values of hard work and equality, Pelumi completed high school and gained admission into six colleges—but couldn’t attend any due to his status. In 2003, he enrolled in local nursing school. Two years later, he graduated and passed the board exam. Despite his credentials as a licensed practical nurse, he was often thwarted by his lack of papers and spent nearly ten years working inconsistently and wherever available as an independent contractor. Out of frustration, he considered returning to Nigeria.

Fortunately, President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program offered hope for a change. At last, Pelumi and his sister were able to obtain Employment Authorization Documents, Social Security numbers, and a path to citizenship. Inspired by the digital transformation sweeping the globe, he went on to study technology and cofounded a consulting services company. In 2022, he became a proud United States citizen.

About POETA

In POETA, Pelumi Olatinpo draws on his experiences to explore the struggles of immigrants, the brutal reality of racism, and other issues of outrage. His tool for raising awareness is the soneta. What makes this poetic form not only innovative but truly revolutionary:

• Brevity and Impact: In six lines, with a maximum of ten words per line, the sonata forces a distillation of raw emotion and complex ideas, demanding the reader’s full attention.
• Versatility: From war and oppression to love and resilience, the soneta confronts the full spectrum of human experience.
• A Weapon for Change: The soneta’s intensity makes it the perfect tool to expose injustice, spark dialogue, and inspire action.
• Bridging Divides: The sonata invites the blending of languages and cultures, promoting understanding and connection in a fractured world.

Urging readers to engage in a dialogue with poetry, POETA provides a compelling exploration of immigration, injustices, war, and other issues that cut to the core of our humanity.

You can follow Pelumi Olatinpo on Twitter.