Nigerian poet and literary editor Adedayo Agarau has been announced as a recipient of the 2025 Poets & Writers Get the Word Out Poetry Cohort. a publicity incubator designed to support early-career writers as they prepare for the release of their first or second major books.
Agarau, known for his deeply personal poetry, will be working closely with an experienced book publicist to maximize the reach of his forthcoming collection, The Years of Blood, set to be published by Fordham University Press in September 2, 2025.
Agarau joins nine other poets in the 2025 cohort, all of whom have major poetry collections forthcoming in 2025 or 2026. Among them are Genevieve DeGuzman (Karaoke at the End of the World, JackLeg Press), Isabella DeSendi (Someone Else’s Hunger, Four Way Books), and m. mick powell (Dead Girl Cameo, One World). The cohort also includes poets such as Yamini Pathak, Alison Lubar, and Bernardo Wade, each of whom brings unique perspectives and poetic styles to the literary landscape.
“The Get the Word Out” program offers invaluable publicity training and mentorship, helping poets navigate the complexities of book promotion in today’s competitive literary market. Participants will engage in targeted seminars with industry professionals, gaining insight into media engagement, event planning, and audience building. By equipping these poets with strategic publicity skills, the program ensures their work reaches wider and more diverse audiences.
Agarau’s recognition in this cohort further cements his growing influence in contemporary poetry. The Years of Blood won the Poetic Justice Institute Editor’s Prize for BIPOC writers, stressing its powerful exploration of themes such as history, identity, and resilience. A finalist for the 2024 Ruth Lilly-Rosenberg Fellowship, Agarau has also been selected as a Wallace Stegner Fellow for 2025 and is a Cave Canem Fellow. In addition to his work as a poet, he serves as the editor-in-chief of Agbowó Magazine, a prominent journal dedicated to African literature and art, and as a poetry reviews editor for The Rumpus.
Congratulations Adedayo Agarau!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
