Poetry has the power to inspire action and give people the courage to speak out against injustice. – Khairat Abdulrazzaq

 

"POETRY HAS THE POWER TO INSPIRE ACTION AND GIVE PEOPLE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE." – KHAIRAT ABDULRAZZAQ

 

Khairat Abdulrazzaq is a Nigerian poet and Architecture student, and the second prize winner of the African Human Rights Poetry Competition. Her work explores diverse themes, with a strong focus on social issues. When she is not writing, she can be found hunched over her laptop drafting floor plans or unwinding with a movie. She lives in Abuja with her family.

WA: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A POET?

KHAIRAT: My name is Khairat Abdulrazzaq. I am a student and poet. I began writing poetry a few years ago as a personal journal to document my life. Over time, I transitioned to free verse poetry, focusing mainly on life and social issues.

WA: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS POETRY COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: I learned about it through an online poetry blog.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: The prompt encouraged us to reflect on a human rights issue, and that deeply resonated with me. I believe poetry can be a powerful force for advocacy and change.

WA: WHAT SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE DID YOUR POEM FOCUS ON?

KHAIRAT: My poem Before focuses on the young girls kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters.

WA: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR HUMAN RIGHTS THEME FOR YOUR POEM?

KHAIRAT: I grew up in Nigeria during the height of Boko Haram’s insurgency and vividly remember the Chibok girls’ kidnapping. More than a decade later, many are still missing. In Boko Haram-controlled areas, abductions of girls continue—it did not end with Chibok. I wanted to refocus attention on this ongoing crisis.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE THE INSPIRATION OR STORY BEHIND YOUR SUBMITTED POEM?

KHAIRAT: Once I settled on the topic, I researched extensively. Knowing about an issue is different from experiencing it. I read Amnesty International’s reports to better understand the victims’ perspectives.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POETIC STYLE OR APPROACH TO WRITING ON SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES?

KHAIRAT: I approach these topics with empathy. Social and human rights issues are, at their core, human issues. I often tell stories from a single perspective to humanize the subject.

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHILE WRITING YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: My biggest challenge was capturing the emotions authentically. Writing about something I haven’t personally experienced can be tricky, and I wanted to avoid sensationalizing the subject.

WA: HOW DO YOU THINK POETRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA?

KHAIRAT: Poetry can be a powerful tool for advocacy and raising awareness of human rights issues.

WA: IN WHAT WAYS HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION CHANGED OR BROADENED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

KHAIRAT: It has shown me how much change poets can inspire in their societies through art.

WA: WERE THERE ANY OTHER POEMS OR POETS IN THE COMPETITION THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED OR INSPIRED YOU?

KHAIRAT: I was inspired by Aishat Yahkub, whose work I recently discovered. I admire the way she tells stories and addresses important issues.

WA: WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR POEM?

KHAIRAT: That people are never just numbers—every issue has a human cost, even if we are not the ones paying it.

WA: HOW HAS THIS COMPETITION HELPED SHAPE YOUR GROWTH AS A POET AND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE?

KHAIRAT: While deciding on my theme, I considered many human rights issues. It reminded me how urgent and numerous these challenges are across the continent.

WA: DO YOU BELIEVE POETRY HAS A UNIQUE ROLE IN CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES? WHY?

KHAIRAT: Yes. Poetry can move emotions in a way that compels people to take action and speak out against injustice.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING WITH POETS FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES?

KHAIRAT: It was enlightening. Knowing that poets from 25 African countries participated was mind-blowing. It reminded me that many are committed to making change through their art.

WA: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THE THEMES YOU EXPLORE IN YOUR POETRY?

KHAIRAT: I write about issues that feel close to home, even if they are not my direct experiences. Whether Nigerian, African, or women’s issues, they are often just one degree of separation away from me.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR POETRY WILL HAVE ON BOTH AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND THE GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT?

KHAIRAT: I hope my work inspires change and raises awareness both within Africa and on global human rights platforms.

WA: HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE USING POETRY AS A TOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY?

KHAIRAT: I will continue using poetry to amplify marginalized voices and drive meaningful change in my community.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE ENTRANTS OF THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: Write honestly. Write about what you believe in. Just write.

WA: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY UPCOMING POETRY PROJECTS OR PUBLICATIONS YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

KHAIRAT: I am currently working on a collection of poems addressing various social issues.