KEN EGBAS PRIZE FOR FESTIVAL POETRY (CALABAR 2017) – THE SHORTLIST
Poets in Nigeria (PIN) and Festival Poetry Foundation (FPF) are pleased to announce the shortlist for the maiden edition of Ken Egbas Prize for Festival Poetry (Calabar 2017). Centered on cultural heritage, black pride and environmental consciousness, the contest received 105 poems which were reviewed in line with the aforementioned themes.
Please, find below the shortlisted poems and their authors in no particular order:
- THIS IS A SONG FOR YOU AND I – Nureni Ibrahim
- HOW TO SPELL BLACK – Ekomobong Ekpenyong
- I WANT YESTERDAY – Winlade Israel
- A VERSE FOR MY COUNTRY – Joshua O. Aire
- A LETTER TO DAWN – Ogwiji Ehi-kowochio Blessing
- BLACK IDENTITY – Ridwan Adelaja
- THE TOWN CRIER’S MESSAGE – Olawale Ibiyemi
- COME-AND-LIVE-AND-BE-AT-REST (C-A-L-A-B-A-R) – Jonathan Otamere Endurance
- A STRANGER AMONGST MY PEOPLE – Ikeobi Samuel Chukwubuokem
- FEARLESS AM I – Olubela Murewa
The initiative, an offshoot of the annually organized Festival Poetry Calabar, was launched in 2016 via an address by Dr Ken Egbas wherein he pledged the sum of ₦500,000 for the sponsorship of the prize for a five-year period. Authors of winning entries will be announced on Saturday 16th December and thereafter awarded a total cash prize of ₦70,000 at the 3rd edition of Festival Poetry Calabar holding from 21st – 23rd December, 2017.
Kolade Olanrewaju Freedom
For: PIN & FPF