Calling all African poets! There are two exciting opportunities to submit your work right now. The Commonwealth Foundation Poetry and Spoken Word Prize and the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry are both open for submissions from poets living and working in Africa.
Both of these prizes are a great opportunity for African poets to showcase their work and be recognised for their talent. If you are an African poet, I encourage you to submit your work to one or both of these prizes. Read on to learn more.
2 OPPORTUNITIES OPEN FOR AFRICAN POETS
Table of Contents
Commonwealth Foundation Poetry and Spoken Word Prize
Are you an aspiring poet exploring spoken word performance? Are you an established writer experimenting with new ways to engage your audience?
Our latest #adda call explores poetry in its many forms and traditions. As well as written poetry, we are inviting submissions of video recordings of spoken-word poetry for the first time.
We strongly encourage submissions in different mother-tongues, with either English subtitles or accompanied by an English translation.
Deadline: 22 October 2023, 23:59 in your time zone.
Submission Link: https://www.addastories.org/call-poetry-spoken-word/
Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry
The Sillerman Prize is awarded annually, with submissions open between September 15th and December 1st. The African Poetry Book Series is made possible through the generosity of philanthropists Laura and Robert F. X. Sillerman, whose generous contributions have facilitated the establishment of the APBF. In recognition of their invaluable support of our work, Mr. and Mrs. Sillerman have welcomed the use of their name for the First Book Prize for African Poets.
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion in Senegal.
The African Poetry Book Fund Editorial Board, including Kwame Dawes, Chris Abani, Matthew Shenoda, John Keene, Gabeba Baderoon, Bernardine Evaristo, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, and Aracelis Girmay will judge. A winner will be announced in early January, with notifications sent shortly thereafter.
For more information and to submit, click here.
