We are delighted to announce the winners of our inaugural poetry prize:
First Place (N70,000): Chidera Ihekereleome-Okorie – BLOOM
Second Place (N50,000): Praise Osawaru – MONOLOGUE BEHIND A BOLTED DOOR, SOMEWHERE IN IKORODU
Third Place (N30,000): Ọbáfẹ́mi Thanni – LET ME
Finalists
Chiemeziem Everest Udochukwu – A REPLY TO THE NEWEST EMAIL IN MY INBOX
Olaitan Humble – HAIL MARY
Joshua Morley – THE ROOT OF THINGS
Ujiogba Sharon Moyinoluwa – RIGHT BEFORE A WHOLESOME WEEKEND
Ehi-kowochio Ogwiji – WHY MY BREASTS ARE CRADLED ON A CHEST THAT IS SLIGHTLY TOO BROAD FOR A WOMAN
Oluwatobi Ezekiel Poroye – CITY OF RUINS
Joy Mamudu – ONCE UPON A MORNING WALK
Ọlákìtán T. Aládéṣuyì – SINNER, LOVER, RIGHTEOUS
Erhu Kome – WHAT IT MEANS TO BE FAT
OLALEKAN Daniel Kehinde – NEWSPAPER HEADLINE ON A SUNDAY
Aiyejinna Abraham Oshokunofa – THE ATLANTIC IS A POT OF TEARS
Efe Ogufere – REFRACTION
Ruth Adaeze Ikonne – WE ARE HERDSMEN
Ojo Taiye – SWANNED GIRLS, LONG GONE
Anuoluwa Soneye – HERE, SILENCE IS GOD’S COMMANDMENT
Ebube Udeoba – A BOY IS SUCH A FRAGILE THING
Adetutu Adediran – READING LUCILLE CLIFTON
The first place winner of the prize is automatically appointed to the role of Nigerian NewsDirect Poet Laureate, and is expected to play an advisory role to the organization in all things poetry. A year tenure beginning from the date of this announcement.
There is an additional lump sum of N50,000 to be paid to the Poet Laureate in September. The roles of the Poet Laureate include:
1. Advise the organization on all things poetry.
2. Suggest or carry out a project in conjunction with our Poetry Column (the type of project is subject to the Laureate’s discretion).
3. Take control of the PoetLaureateNND social media handle for the next one year. (Twitter and Instagram)
4. Partake in, at least, one poetry reading (virtual or in-person), to be organized by Nigerian NewsDirect, during their tenure.
A chapbook containing the poems of Winners & Finalists will be released in April.
Signed,
Pamilerin Jacob
Coordinator