The NIGERIAN NEWSDIRECT CHAPBOOK AWARDS is an initiative of Poetry Column-NND that seeks to promote the voices of Nigerian poets, as the column does weekly in our newspaper. We hope to prioritize consistency of the award, and in so doing, document the vibrant work being put out by contemporary Nigerian poets.

Two selected poets will each win:

1. N25,000
2. Digital Chapbook published by Poetry Column-NND

Submission Window: August 15 – October 15, 2022

GUIDELINES:

• Eligibility: Nigerian
• Submit a manuscript of 17 – 20 poems on singular or diverse themes
• Include a cover page with the following details: title and author’s name
• Manuscripts must be original works of the entrants
• Some poems in the manuscript may have been published, but the manuscript as a whole must be previously unpublished
• Send manuscript in .doc or .docx format (Times New Roman, size 12, single line spacing)
• A maximum of 4 preliminary pages for dedication, acknowledgments, blurbs, and foreword
• Include a bio not more than 100 words on the last page of your manuscript
• Works promoting bigotry of all kinds will be rejected
• Contact details (email address and phone number) of the author should be in the body of the mail and forwarded alongside the cover letter and manuscript to poetrycolumnnnd@gmail.com

 TERMS

• Only manuscripts which meet our standards will be considered for publication.
• Selected manuscripts will be published on our site – www.nigeriannewsdirect.com for free download
• Authors retain copyrights to their work, but give us the sole rights to electronically distribute same

Poetry Column-NND is currently closed for submissions as our updated Submission Guidelines specify.

Closed Period: From October to December, we do not receive unsolicited poetry submissions but will instead publish works carefully selected by our curators, if possible. General submissions will open up again in January.

Signed,
Pamilerin Jacob
Curator

Throughout the month of August, the column will be open to pieces that explore the poetics of the natural world, not distinct from civilization, but deeply impacted or quickened by it. The poems need not strictly be about climate change (though that would be wonderful).

Despite being surrounded by plants, we are mostly unaware of their presence, their sacred roles; the mountains seem in public memory merely tourist, capitalist instruments for consumption.

We seek poems that will emphasise attention to life, to plants, to mountains, to hills, to rivers, to springs, to forests, to savannas, to deltas in Nigeria — we want poems full of contemplation of the natural world, its beauty or ills. We want traditional (haikus, sonnets etc) and free verse poems packed with flowers, birds, lizards. Not just birds, but Ibadan Malimbe, Anambra Waxbill, Adamawa Turtle Dove etc — not just mountains, but Olumo Rock, Zuma Rock, etc — not just plants but Gliricidia, Pigweed, Rose Apple, etc. We want to see the Nigerian landscape in your poems.

Practical examples of poets who have carried on this tradition of nature contemplation include JP Clark, Mary Oliver, Joy Harjo, Wendell Berry etc.

Other guidelines for submission remain the same. Good luck!

Pamilerin Jacob,
Curator