NIGERIAN NEWSDIRECT POETRY PRIZE 2020: LONGLIST
The process has been long and tedious, though fruitful. Thankful to the judges for their diligence & brilliance sorting through the hundreds of entries (total: 1132 submissions).
We present to you, in no particular order, the longlist for Nigerian NewsDirect Poetry Prize 2020:
- Olowo Qudus Opeyemi – COMPLEXES
- Efe Ogufere – REFRACTION
- Aiyejinna Abraham Oshokunofa – THE ATLANTIC IS A POT OF TEARS
- Olaitan Humble – HAIL MARY
- Ujiogba Sharon Moyinoluwa – RIGHT BEFORE A WHOLESOME WEEKEND
- Ayinla Jemimah – ODE TO THE ONE I LOVE
- Olalekan Daniel Kehinde – NEWSPAPER HEADLINE ON A SUNDAY
- Michael Isangedighi Imossan – THIS POEM IS AN ANALOGY
- Chidera Ihekereleome-Okorie – BLOOM
- Azeeza Adeowu – RAIN, RAIN
- Omolola Okunlola – THIS CITY
- Mesioye Johnson – 12 PILLARS OF NON-ACCEPTANCE
- Ojo Taiye – SWANNED GIRLS, LONG GONE
- Praise Osawaru – MONOLOGUE BEHIND A BOLTED DOOR, SOMEWHERE IN IKORODU
- Ebube Udeoba – A BOY IS SUCH A FRAGILE THING
- Oluwatobi Ezekiel Poroye – CITY OF RUINS
- Ọlákìtán T. Aládéṣuyì – SINNER, LOVER, RIGHTEOUS
- Erhu Kome – WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FAT
- Timi Sanni – SACRILEGE
- Ọbáfẹ́mi Thanni – LET ME
- Chiemeziem Everest Udochukwu – A REPLY TO THE NEWEST EMAIL IN MY INBOX
- Ruth Adaeze Ikonne – WE ARE HERDSMEN
- Anuoluwa Soneye – HERE, SILENCE IS GOD’S COMMANDMENT
- Joy Mamudu – ONCE UPON A MORNING WALK
- Victoria Ajose – THE NIGHT’S TOUCH
- Nurain Oladeji – GARDENING
- Anointing Kelechukwu Obuh – THE AUDACITY OF SACRIFICE
- Chisom Okafor – IN WHICH THE CARDIOLOGIST DISCOVERS, FROM ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY, THE AETIOLOGY OF MY HEART MALFUNCTION
- Zakiyyah Dzukogi – HE GAVE BACK MY FATHER’S HEAD
- Adetutu Adediran – READING LUCILLE CLIFTON
- Ehi-kowochio Ogwiji – WHY MY BREASTS ARE CRADLED ON A CHEST THAT IS SLIGHTLY TOO BROAD FOR A WOMAN
- Joshua Morley – THE ROOT OF THINGS
- Chiwenite Onyekwelu – AT AN OLD FRIEND’S FUNERAL
- Abiodun Usman Adeyemi – WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY HOME IS HOME
Winners & finalists will be announced March 31, 2021.
Signed,
Pamilerin Jacob
Coordinator
