Nigerian-American poet Daniel Somtochukwu Umemezie has been named the 2026–2027 United States National Youth Poet Laureate, becoming the 10th young writer to receive the prestigious honour.
The 18-year-old, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, was selected from hundreds of young poets connected to more than 120 youth poetry programmes across the United States. His selection was announced by Urban Word, the organisation that founded the National Youth Poet Laureate programme.
Umemezie is also the second Nigerian-American to hold the national title, following Salome Agbaroji, who became the first Nigerian-American National Youth Poet Laureate in 2023.
Born and raised in Nigeria, Umemezie moved to the United States with his family at the age of 13 after his mother secured a nursing job there. The family initially settled in Texas before moving to Iowa, where he attended Cedar Falls High School.
His experience of moving between Nigeria and the United States has become an important influence on his poetry. His work explores identity, memory, heritage and the experience of growing up between two cultures.
In his poem, “I Come From Two Nigerias”, Umemezie reflects on his memories of Nigeria and the different realities associated with his Nigerian identity. His poetry has also been described as a way of connecting the two worlds he has experienced.
His journey into poetry developed alongside a broad interest in the arts. Before receiving the national honour, he served as Iowa’s 2025–2026 Student Poet Ambassador and became involved in youth poetry programmes in Cedar Falls. He also founded the Iowa Youth Poetry Council, according to the University of Northern Iowa.
The National Youth Poet Laureate programme, founded by Urban Word, recognises young writers whose work demonstrates artistic excellence, civic engagement and social impact. The programme connects youth literary organisations across the United States to identify and celebrate emerging poets.
Speaking about his plans as National Youth Poet Laureate, Umemezie said he wants to champion multilingual and diasporic poetry, as well as poetry that allows young people to explore identity and engage with social and political issues.
His achievement has also received recognition beyond the literary community. In June 2026, US Senator Chuck Grassley formally recognised Umemezie in the Congressional Record, describing him as the first Iowan to receive the national poetry honour and noting the influence of his childhood in Nigeria on his work.
Umemezie is now studying at Iowa State University, where he plans to study aerospace engineering, while continuing his work as a poet and youth literary advocate.
His story offers another example of how Nigerian heritage continues to shape young people making an impact in different parts of the world, with Umemezie using poetry to explore the intersection of culture, identity and belonging.
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