Born in 1991 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Lao Lionel Alex Bonaventure, known by his stage name Nin’wlou, meaning “Words of Fire” in the Wê language, is a poet, slam artist and jurist who has become a prominent voice in contemporary Ivorian slam. A member of the École des Poètes de Côte d’Ivoire since its founding in 2013, Nin’wlou’s work bridges ancestral oral traditions and urban modernity, exploring identity, social justice, resilience, youth and contemporary society. He currently serves as President of the Fédération Ivoirienne de Slam Poésie and previously served as President of the École des Poètes de Côte d’Ivoire until 2025. He is also actively involved in developing and mentoring emerging slam artists. His distinctions include the 2024 ECOWAS Prize for Best Slammer at MASA, PRIMUD Awards for Best Slammer in 2022 and 2023, the 2022 National Bernard Dadié Prize for Young Writers, and the 2017 third prize at the Libres Ensemble Slam Competition during the Jeux de la Francophonie. Through his artistic and cultural work, Nin’wlou continues to champion spoken word as a vehicle for expression, awareness and social transformation.
