Fund In Memory Of Poet Raises Over £70,000

The family of a talented award-winning poet who died after going missing from the Shambala Festival in Kelmarsh have raised over £70,000 to start a Foundation in his memory.

The Gboyega Odubanjo Foundation aims to continue his legacy by supporting low-income black writers.

Gboyega Odubanjo

Mr Odubanjo, 27, from East London, had been due to read his poems at the festival last month, but did not arrive for his performance.

His body was found four days after he was reported missing from the event – police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

The fundraising page, set up by his sister Rose Odubanjo, has received over 2,700 donations and posting an update, Rose said: “We, the loved ones of Gboyega Odubanjo want to thank you all for your support for his GoFundMe.

“This is helping us with his final arrangements and with the development of the Gboyega Odubanjo Foundation for low-income Black writers.

“Gboyega was passionately committed to platforming those he believed in. He was the type of man to bring a poet out of retirement. We thank you all for telling us stories of him in the comments here, for sharing your love, for being the community that we need right now.”

An inquest into Mr Odubanjo’s death was due to open on Friday, but has been postponed to a date to be fixed.

His funeral will be held later this month.