Poetry International Poetry International
54th Poetry International Festival Rotterdam
The Last Poem

The Last Poem

Salome Agbaroji reads the last poem of the day.

At our festival, the last poem of the day is a moment shared between all the participants and audience members present that day. Throughout the entire festival venue, we signal the end of the day with The Last Poem, a moment in which everyone’s attention is shifted towards the final moment of the day. The honor of The Last Poem on the Friday of the festival is reserved for the Youth Poet Laureate of the USA, Salome Agbaroji!

Salome Agbaroji is a Nigerian-American poet, performer and activist. Through her poetry, Agbaroji pushes for social change and community action, focusing on themes of racism, oppression and inclusion as well as femininity, Christianity, home and family. Overcoming the sometimes exclusionary academics of poetry, she has learned that: “you don't have to look a certain way for your words to mean something, for your words to be worthy of a stage for an audience”. Agbaroji’s insightful perspective and lovable eccentricity lend her performances a power that leaves he...

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At our festival, the last poem of the day is a moment shared between all the participants and audience members present that day. Throughout the entire festival venue, we signal the end of the day with The Last Poem, a moment in which everyone’s attention is shifted towards the final moment of the day. The honor of The Last Poem on the Friday of the festival is reserved for the Youth Poet Laureate of the USA, Salome Agbaroji!

Salome Agbaroji is a Nigerian-American poet, performer and activist. Through her poetry, Agbaroji pushes for social change and community action, focusing on themes of racism, oppression and inclusion as well as femininity, Christianity, home and family. Overcoming the sometimes exclusionary academics of poetry, she has learned that: “you don't have to look a certain way for your words to mean something, for your words to be worthy of a stage for an audience”. Agbaroji’s insightful perspective and lovable eccentricity lend her performances a power that leaves her audience with a lasting impression, food for thought and a hunger for more.
In 2022 Agbaroji was selected as Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate. As the current National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States, she continues her fight against educational inequity and illiteracy, aiming to ensure that all people have access to the power that lies within their voice and words. She has performed her spoken word poetry at the Golden Globes Pre-Show as well as the NFL Rams Halftime Show and has been honored with awards such as the Scholastic Arts and Writing Award. Agbaroji currently attends Harvard University, studying Government and Political Science.

 

Friday June 7th

22.15 - 22.30

LantarenVenster – Foyer


Pricing

This program is freely accessible as part of our LantarenVenster foyer program. 

Language and duration

Language: English

Duration: 15 minutes

Festival poets

See also

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Versopolis
J.E. Jurriaanse
Gefinancierd door de Europese Unie
Elise Mathilde Fonds
Stichting Verzameling van Wijngaarden-Boot
Veerhuis
VDM
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère