Marvellous, Osahon, Fatihah win 2024 Kukogho Iruesiri Samson Poetry Prize

Poetry Sango-Ota has named Marvellous Mmesomachi Igwe, Osahon Oka, and Fatihah Quadri Eniola winners of the 2024 Kukogho Iruesiri Samson Poetry. The prize, currently worth ₦250,000, celebrates poems published in Poetry Sango-Ota within the calendar year.

With this announcement, Marvellous, with his captivating poem “O Cidade”, wins the first prize and ₦125,000.

“My God!! This is not a budding poet, this is a poet. This is language. This is home. Well done @mesomaccius!!” renowned poet, Romeo Oriogun, commented on X (formerly Twitter) months ago upon its initial publication.

A comment reminiscent of Jumoke Verissimo’s blurb on Dami Ajayi’s Clinical Blues, “Dami Ajayi is a poet.”

Oka’s “Udu” earned second place and a cash prize of ₦83,000, while Eniola’s “Miracle Markets” secured third place, winning ₦41,000.

I Echo (Humble Vandalism) and Diving Inyang Titus (Heavenly Descent) were named Finalists.

The Kukogho Iruesiri Samson Poetry Prize, run by Poetry Sango-Ota, hopes to spotlight Nigerian poets whose works explore themes of place, culture, and the landscapes that shape identity.

The prize is named in honour of Nigerian publisher, writer, and editor, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, whose grassroots devotion to emerging poets has significantly impacted the Nigerian literary scene.

About Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

Kukogho Iruesiri Samson is a writer and publishing entrepreneur who has made a lasting impact on Nigerian literature. His poetry collections, including What Can Words Do (2013), I Said These Words (2015), and Words of Eros (2017), have garnered recognition, with awards such as the 2018 GTBank Dusty Manuscript Prize and the 2017 ANA Prize for Fiction (first runner-up).

Beyond his own literary work, Kukogho has played a crucial role in mentoring young Nigerian writers. As the CEO of Authorpedia Publishers and editor-in-chief of CỌ́NSCÌÒ MAGAZINE, he continues to promote Nigerian writing both locally and internationally.

To read the winning poems, visit Poetry Sango-Ota.