Simbo Olorunfemi

Simbo Olorunfemi is a Nigerian poet, journalist, and business person with a background in TV production and brand management. His follow-up, Eko Ree, won first prize at the 2004 contest. As a journalist, he has written columns for several Nigerian newspapers.

Olorunfemi works professionally as a television producer. He has been credited on several popular local shows, and was nominated as TV producer of the year in 1991.

Background Simbo Olorunfemi received his general education at Federal Government College, Idoani and a political science degree from Ondo State University. He then studied to become a journalist at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism,

Career Poet Olorunfemi first published work, Rhythm of the Coins, was described by Nigerian journalist May Ellen Ezekiel Mofe-Damijo as "an endearing work" with "clear, simple, and easy to understand" language. The Punch described the book as "a simple, lucid, and reflective work of art," while the Daily Champion called it "a promise that the Nigerian literary scene is not entirely off-course." Rhythm of the Coins was shortlisted for the 1993 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Poetry Prize, earning an honourable mention.

Rhythm of the Coins was followed by the highly anticipated In his introduction to the book, cultural affairs officer Ambrocio Lopez writes "I believe Simbo has magnificently captured the pulse of life of the city... [he presents] urban conversations that challenge us to examine our very being."

Eko Ree: The Many Faces of Lagos took first place in the 2004 ANA/Cadbury Poetry Prize competition. The accompanying $1000 prize was the largest awarded by the competition. Writing for Vanguard, Uzor Uzoatu strongly disagreed with the judges, writing "no so-called poem in the collection is anywhere near successful... Eko Ree contains the lightest verses you ever read anywhere since kindergarten, words that are neither sublime nor solid." Olorunfemi himself poked fun at the critique during his official acceptance speech. His work was selected for inclusion in the 2009 anthology of Nigerian Poetry Lagos of the Poets.

Olorunfemi's works have been translated to Hindi and German.