2000 Blacks: Poems

by Ajibola Tolase

2000 Blacks probes the complexity of economic and politically motivated migration from Africa, which has been referred to as “African Brain Drain.” In the first sequence of poems, Ajibola Tolase explores Africa’s history and encounters with the Western world, providing poetic insight into the economic instability precipitated by the transatlantic slave trade and exploitation of mineral resources. Moving inward, the second sequence plumbs the poet’s complex relationship with his father, connecting his emotional and then physical absence with the consequences of community disintegration.

Genres: Poetry, Africa

80 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Nurain Ọládèjì · Rating 5 out of 5]

2000 Blacks pulses with feeling and skill. It's the kind of book that reminds us why we seek poetry in the first place. Nostalgia blends with ambition and meditations on music, love, and displacement, on family and difficult job of looking inward to confront oneself, all conveyed with remarkable skillfulness through inventive sonnets, abercedarians, palindrome and other forms. A debut of staggering excellence with music with tunes to which you'll always hum.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

such incredible work from Tolase. every poem is so strong and so immaculate.

[Tia Credle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, harsh, and elegant introduction to Ajibola Toalase and his poetry. I feel like this book really shows us why poetry exists and how it is important for all.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

"How do I say at ten I had more friends among the dead than the living?"

The real question.