Tolu' A. Akinyemi

Tolu A. Akinyemi is a multi-award-winning Nigerian writer and poet best known for his poetry collection, Dead Lions Don't Roar.^[1][2][3]

Tolu A. Akinyemi - Lion of Newcastle

Tolu' A Akinyemi at the North East EXPO, 2018

Early life and education

Akinyemi was born Tolulope Adeola Akinyemi in Ado-Ekiti. He is a trained Economist with a degree from Ekiti State University and a master's degree in Accounting and Financial Management from University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.^[4][5]

Career

Akinyemi moved from Nigeria to the UK in 2010 and has since published fourteen books.^[6][7][8][9] Akinyemi released his debut book of poetry, Dead Lions Don't Roar, in 2017.^[10]

Akinyemi released Dead Dogs Don't Bark, his second book of poetry and third book in 2018.^[11] It was followed by Dead Cats Don't Meow, which was released in April 2019 and featured a multi-national book tour of the UK and Nigeria.^[12]

Akinyemi's books have been released both in print and online. His poems have been analysed as being "poetry of uplift" by the journal of English Studies in Africa.^[13]

Akinyemi is also a performance poet and has headlined at Great Northern Slam, Crossing The Tyne Festival, Feltonbury Arts and Music Festival, The Havering Literary Festival.. He was the guest poet at Havering Libraries Black History^[14] Month event in October 2021 and has previously headlined at Woolwich Centre Library National Poetry Day event in October 2018.

He was endorsed as a writer with exceptional talent by the Arts Council England.^[15][16]

Honours and awards

In 2020, he won the Best Indie Book Award for his poetry collection, A Booktiful Love.^[17] His collection of short stories, Inferno of Silence, won the 2021 IRDA Discovery Award^[18] for short stories and Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2021) for Best Cover Design (Fiction).^[19]

Philanthropy

Since 2017, Akinyemi has donated a percentage from the proceeds of his books to charity. He supported the Age UK Northumberland's friendship line campaign with £1000.^[20][21][22]

Bibliography

• Dead Lions Don't Roar: A collection of poetic wisdom for the discerning ISBN 978-1-999815905^[23][24]
• Unravel your Hidden Gems ISBN 1999815998 T & B Global Concepts Ltd (April 2018)^[25]
• Dead Dogs Don't Bark ISBN 978-1999815929 T & B Global Concepts Ltd (September 2018)^[26]
• Dead Cats Don't Meow – Don't waste the ninth life. ISBN 9781999815943 T & B Global Concepts Ltd (April 2019)^[27][28]
• Never Play Games With The Devil ISBN 9781999815967 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (August 2019)^[29]
• A Booktiful Love ISBN 9781913636005 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (May 8, 2020)
• Inferno of Silence ISBN 9781913636029 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (May 7, 2020)
• Black # Inferior ISBN 978-1913636067 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (Jan 1, 2021)
• Never Marry a Writer ASIN B08LR144Y7 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (2021)^[30]
• Everybody Don Kolomental ISBN 978-1913636111 The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD (Apr 1, 2021)
• I am Not a Troublemaker ASIN : B096H3W6JK Publisher : The Roaring Lion Newcastle Ltd. (June 1, 2021)^[31]
• I Wear Self-Confidence Like a Second Skin ASIN : B0968SVC6M Publisher : The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD. (May 30, 2021^[32])
• Born in Lockdown: Amazon.co.uk: Akinyemi, Tolu A. 9781913636289 Born in Lockdown: Amazon.co.uk.
• A god in a Human Body ASIN : B08ZR7FDKM Publisher : "The Roaring Lion Newcastle" (January 1, 2022)^[33]

References

1. Moyosore, Faith Agboola. "Great blend of themes". The Nation. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
2. Adebayo, Bukola. "Akinyemi out with Dead Lions Don't Roar". The Punch NG. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
3. Literary, Review. "Grab Your Chance Now". The Sun: Voice of the Nation. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
4. Isobel, Sophie. "Dead Lion's Don't Roar". BDaily UK. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
5. Okolo, Edwin. "With "Dead Lions Don't Roar", Tolu Akinyemi opts for relatable simplicity". Ynaija. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
6. "Amazon Author Central". Amazon Author Central. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
7. "With Unravel Your Hidden Gems, Tolu Akinyemi digs deep for glory". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
8. The, Partner. "OkadaBooks For the Weekend Featuring 'Never Play Games with the Devil". Business Day. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
9. The Newsroom. "Poet to see work in print". New post leader UK. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
10. Akubiro, Henry (16 September 2017). "Grab your chance now". The Sun (Nigeria).
11. Akubiro, Henry (23 March 2019). "Wake Up From Your Slumber".
12. "New book, Dead cats don't meow, hits shelves in April". Vanguard Nigeria. 24 February 2019.
13. Hållén, Nicklas (2018). "OkadaBooks and the Poetics of Uplift". English Studies in Africa. 61 (2): 36–48. doi:10.1080/00138398.2018.1540152. S2CID 166164213.
14. Ross, Jordon. "Havering celebrates Black History Month". www.havering.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
15. "New Book Launch Makes Hat Trick For Local Author". Northern Insight UK. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
16. "Explore University of Hertfordshire Library". University of Hertfordshire Library. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
17. "Best Indie Book Award". Retrieved 8 January 2021.
18. "Announcing the 2021 Discovery Awards Winners!". IndieReader. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
19. Awards, Next Generation Indie Book. "Next Generation Indie Book Awards". indiebookawards.com. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
20. "New book to raise funds for Age UK Northumberland". Northumberland Age UK. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
21. Northern Insight UK. "Tolu Supports Sunshine Fund". Issue 35. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
22. Anna, Toms. "Business Book to Raise Charitable Funds". Retrieved 6 June 2020.
23. "Explore the British Library". The British Library. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
24. Realistic, Poetry. "'Dead Lions Don't Roar' by Author Tolu' A. Akinyemi". Realistic Poetry International. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
25. Akinbuiro, Henry. "Discovering the genius in you". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
26. Nwakunor, Gregory Austin. "Akinyemi and the realities of life in Dead Dogs Don't Bark". The Guardian NG. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
27. Ucheibe, Ijeoma. "Tolu Akinyemi's Dead Cats Don't Meow is "Extremely Empowering"". The BagusNG. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
28. "New book, Dead Cats Don't Meow hits shelves". Vanguard ngr. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
29. Toms, Anna. "Never Play Games With The Devil". London Connected. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
30. Landsman, Jordana. "Never Marry a Writer by Tolu' A. Akinyemi". The US Review of Books. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
31. Akinyemi, Tolu' A. (2021-06-01). I am Not a Troublemaker. Ishika Sharma. The Roaring Lion Newcastle Ltd.
32. Akinyemi, Tolu' A. (2021-05-30). I Wear Self-Confidence Like a Second Skin. Chris Nwoko. The Roaring Lion Newcastle LTD.
33. Akinyemi, Tolu' A. (2022-01-01). A god in a Human Body. The Roaring Lion Newcastle.