Premium Times reviews Fatai Kehinde's poetry book challenging identity prejudices
Premium Times reviews Fatai Kehinde's poetry collection 'Judge Me on a Blank Page,' published September 20. The review highlights how Kehinde challenges traditional poetry forms with direct, declarative language rather than ornamental structures, drawing from his experience carrying three passports across three countries to argue for seeing individuals beyond preconceived prejudices tied to birthplace or skin color.
The book connects to contemporary Nigerian societal issues where people are often judged by category—through profiling, algorithmic sorting, or social media reductionism—rather than as individuals. Specific poems like 'Hate Is an Inheritance' examine prejudice as an inherited trait, while 'One Person Is Not a People' reasons its way out of bias. The reviewer notes the style's strength in clarity and persuasiveness but notes limitations when exploring tenderness, where plainness reads as caution rather than restraint.
This review matters for Nigerian readers navigating identity complexities in a diverse society. Kehinde's demand that judgment be earned by evidence, not inherited from strangers' actions, speaks directly to current conversations about ethnicity, religion, and social media stereotypes. Whether you seek poetry that merely adorns or poetry that convicts and inspires change will determine if this book resonates with you.