Taiwo Michael Oloyede
The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), through its diaspora arm— Writers of African Origin in the Diaspora (WAFORD)—has launched Finish Line, the debut poetry collection by US-based Nigerian poet Abby Kesington.
The virtual event, hosted by WAFOD Coordinator Prof. Bill Ndi, was more than a book unveiling; it became a celebration of resilience and self-discovery. Kesington, who poured years of emotional struggle and transformation into her work, described Finish Line as “a piece of my soul.”
“I wrote it while grappling with job loss, depression, and a search for my voice,” she said.
“Every stanza carries pain, hope, and healing. Writing was the process through which I reclaimed …
The book, a five-year labour of love, was born in the midst of Kesington’s darkest hours. She recalled days spent transporting patients to hospitals—some heading to chemotherapy or hospice care—before returning home to write. “Their strength reminded me I still had something left inside me,” she shared. “Writing became my healing.”
During the event, Kesington read from several poignant pieces, including The Voice, I Am Gem, and the title poem Finish Line. She revealed that The Voice emerged after a panic attack during a public reading—an intense moment of vulnerability that ultimately fueled her creativity. “On the outside, I was smiling,” she said, “but inside, I was battling impostor syndrome. That war became a poem.”
Explaining the symbolism behind the title, Kesington, a former high school sprinter, noted, “I used to think life was a sprint—fast and goal-driven. But now I see it as a marathon. You stumble, pause, cry, but keep going. The finish line isn’t the end. It’s transformation.”
Prof. Ndi commended Kesington’s ability to transform personal experience into powerful verse. “Her poems don’t just speak—they shout, they whisper, they weep,” he said. “She turns pain into poetry, and poetry into a mirror for society.”
PAWA Secretary-General Dr. Wale Okediran praised Finish Line as a cultural milestone and a testament to creative endurance. “Writing is not a sprint; it’s a journey of stamina,” he remarked. “Abby’s title is both poetic and purposeful—it distills the essence of her struggle and survival.”
Dr. Okediran also used the occasion to challenge WAFOD to establish international creative residencies, modeled after the successful Nigerian program he has overseen, which has hosted over 350 writers from 12 countries. “Let’s create similar sanctuaries abroad where African writers can complete their work and mentor the next generation,” he urged.
Chief launcher Dr. Ango Fomuso Ekellem described Finish Line as a deeply resonant work. “Abby’s poems are rich in imagery and layered in meaning,” he said. “They reflect a soul in dialogue with itself and the world. Poetry like this brings change when we least expect it.”
One especially moving moment came with Kesington’s reading of I Am Gem, a reflection on immigration and self-worth. “Coming to the U.S., I lost myself,” she said. “This poem is a reminder that even flawed, we shine—we are gems.”
Kesington credited her sister, Tosin Kesington, a Nigeria-based English teacher, for shaping the manuscript. “She polished every word,” the poet said, dedicating the piece, Will You? To her.
Finish Line is organized into four thematic arcs—Life of Anxiety, La Femme, Pot Pourri, and The Travels—each mapping a different stage of Kesington’s emotional and creative evolution.
When asked about the recurring phrase “grand design” in her work, Kesington answered simply: “That’s God. I don’t preach in the poems, but I reflect what I’ve lived.”
Since completing the collection, she has written over 30 new poems and continues to write daily. “Sometimes it’s a squirrel, a butterfly, or just a sunrise that sparks a poem,” she said. “This is just the beginning.”
Her message to others: “To anyone told to dim their light—this book is for you. Write your own story. Don’t let the world write it for you.”
