Family of poet Gboyega Odubanjo raise £59k in fundraiser to start foundation

nme.com:

reported missing last week when he failed to turn up to his performance at the Northamptonshire festival. After an extensive search by local police and various rescue teams it was confirmed by authorities that a body had been found in the early hours of Thursday morning (August 31).At the time a formal identification had yet to take place, however, Odubanjo’s family were informed of the update.

Police also confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.Now, Odubanjo’s relatives have launched a fundraising campaign in his memory and have since raised more than £50,000 to start a non-profit organisation.The fundraising page, set up by Rose Odubanjo, looks to continue the poet’s legacy and provide support for low-income Black writers.

It currently stands at £59,000 raised.“We, the close friends and loved ones of Gboyega, express our profound sadness and grief at the loss of one of our brightest and most talented stars,” Rose said in a statement (via The Guardian) “Gboyega was the source of incredible joy and laughter for all of us, and we are utterly heartbroken to hear that his life has been so suddenly cut short.”Odubanjo was an editor at Bath Magg (“a magazine of new poetry”) and was also a Roundhouse Resident Artist.

The poet was a recipient of the 2021 Eric Gregory Award for his New Poets Prize Pamphlet Aunty Uncle Poems.One of his pamphlets titled While I Yet Live, was published by Bad Betty Press in 2019.