By Haleema Adaba
Ogaga Ifowodo new poetry book, Why Does God Need a Gun?, set for release by Masobe Books, explores verse on faith, captivity, and reflection
Last December came with a piece of good news to literary enthusiasts.
Ogaga Ifowodo’s latest book of poetry is ready.
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” I’m happy to announce the imminent release by Masobe Books of my sixth poetry book, _Why Does God Need a Gun?_ It is my reflections in verse on what I began by calling Creeds and the Incredulous, and a little later, The (In)Credulous,” Ifowodo anniunced on his facebook page.
Words on the street has it that the America-trained wordsmith has relocated to Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, from where he has been making a living for a whike.
For his new book, he wrote: “It takes its title from a question asked by the poet-persona of her captors in the poem that is the spine of the collection, “From the Forest of a Million Demons (Leah Sharibu Lifts the Veil).”
Six excerpts from the poem have been published by __Brittle Paper,_ prefaced with a book announcement. https://brittlepaper.com/2025/12/masobe-books-to-publish-ogaga-ifowodos-why-does-god-need-a-gun/
“I’m also happy to announce that the storied organ, _Presence Africaine,_ has also published, in bilingual format, five excerpts from the long title poem in a special edition devoted to Frantz Fanon, with the theme Frantz Fanon: Une Vie de Signs (Frantz Fanon: A Life of Signs. [No. 207, 2025]). I’m grateful to Prof Christiane Fioupou, acclaimed translator of Soyinka and Niyi Osundare into French, and currently working on a translation of one of Femi Osofisan’s major plays as well.”
To readers, the author asks them to click on the _Brittle Paper_ link and get a copy of _Presence Africaine,_ No. 207 (2025), especially if your French is in need of poetic exercise.
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“You will have the English originals for a delightful reading experience!”
