Renowned poet and author Tolu’ A. Akinyemi has released the official video for his electrifying poem The Angel of the North, blending poetic performance with compelling visual storytelling.

The Angel of the North is a poetic call culled from his 2023 collection of poems for young people, You Need More Than Dreams, published by The Roaring Lion Newcastle.

A tribute to the iconic landmark spreading its wings on a hill in Gateshead, Akinyemi’s lyrical chants reconceptualise the statue as a symbol of ascension, resistance, transformation, and sacred remembrance.

“I call on the angels of the North:

a poet torn

by the lingering storms of bias.”

This haunting refrain turns the poem into a clarion call against oppression and marginalisation—to break through systemic limitations and rise beyond imposed societal ceilings.

Produced and directed with depth and clarity by Benson Omoruyi, the video conjures a celestial yet grounded atmosphere, allowing the poem’s themes to speak to both the eyes and the soul. Akinyemi himself calls this a “poetic incantation,” transforming the poem into a ritual awakening.

Rooted in ideas of racial fairness and empowerment, Akinyemi’s work continues to challenge boundaries and amplify marginalised voices.

Watch the full video now on Tolu Akinyemi’s official YouTube channel.