Taiwo Michael Oloyede The Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), through its diaspora arm— Writers of African Origin in the Diaspora (WAFORD)—has launched Finish Line, the debut poetry collection by US-based Nigerian poet Abby Kesington. The virtual event, hosted by WAFOD Coordinator Prof. Bill Ndi, was more than a book unveiling; it became a celebration of resilience and self-discovery. Kesington, who poured years of emotional struggle and transformation into her work, described Finish Line as “a piece of my soul.” “I wrote it while grappling with job loss, depression, and a search for my voice,” she said. “Every stanza carries pain,…

Yusrah staring into the distance, pink scarf crestfallen on shoulder.

The Forward Prizes for Poetry, widely regarded as the most prestigious awards in the UK and Ireland’s poetry calendar, have officially opened for submissions for their 2025 edition. Since their inception in 1992, the prizes have celebrated the finest voices in poetry, from emerging talents to literary giants, with a roll call of past winners that includes Simon Armitage, Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, and Claudia Rankine. This year, the awards continue to honour exceptional poetic achievements across four categories: Notably, the Best Single Poem – Performed category has broadened its scope, now inviting submissions directly from poets themselves as…

Peter Gizzi’s Fierce Elegy has been honored with the TS Eliot Prize, a prestigious accolade recognizing the most exceptional poetry collection published in the UK and Ireland. This £25,000 award, regarded as a pinnacle of poetic achievement, celebrates Gizzi’s masterful exploration of grief and loss. Deeply informed by the mourning of his two brothers, the collection dares to confront the profoundest questions of existence, weaving a lyrical sequence that is at once haunting and illuminating. The judges, in their admiration, praised the collection for its boldness and its ability to grapple with life’s most daunting uncertainties, elevating Fierce Elegy as…

Sun 12 Jan 2025, 7pm Hear the best new poetry coming out of the UK and Ireland, read by the ten shortlisted poets for this year’s prize, in an event hosted by poet Ian McMillan. The TS Eliot Prize, widely regarded as the most prestigious award in poetry, has unveiled its eagerly anticipated shortlist for 2024. Known for recognizing both established literary giants and groundbreaking emerging voices, the prize continues its legacy of reshaping the poetic landscape. Judging Panel This year’s shortlist was meticulously curated by an esteemed panel of judges, including Mimi Khalvati (Chair), Hannah Sullivan, and Anthony Joseph,…

The literary landscape of Nigeria is set to welcome a transformative addition this November with the debut of the Abuja International Poetry Festival (AIPFest). Scheduled to run from 14 to 16 November, the inaugural festival, themed “Afro Futurism and Digital Culture”, will explore what it means to be an African poet in an era of digital innovation and cultural transformation. AIPFest promises to be more than just another poetry event; it is designed as a cultural nexus, where poets, dreamers, intellectuals, and adventurers converge to interrogate the intersections of African identity and technological evolution. By weaving together the threads of…

T. S. Eliot Prize 2024: Spotlight on Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam The T. S. Eliot Prize 2024 shortlist has been unveiled, celebrating ten exceptional collections that reflect the evolving landscape of contemporary poetry. Among these works is Gboyega Odubanjo’s Adam, a visceral and resonant exploration of identity, ancestry, and existential longing. Odubanjo’s Adam anchors itself in themes of creation and loss, threading personal and collective narratives through richly textured language. One of its standout poems, “A Story About Water,” first appeared in The Poetry Review (Autumn 2020) and has since become emblematic of Odubanjo’s ability to weave the elemental with the…

The Aké Arts and Book Festival, Africa’s largest literary celebration, is set to return for its highly anticipated 12th edition. Scheduled to take place from November 20 to 23, 2024, at Bon Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, this year’s festival promises an exciting array of events under the theme: Finding Freedom. Founded by Lola Shoneyin, award-winning author and cultural advocate, the festival has become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s literary and cultural landscape, attracting writers, thinkers, and audiences from across the globe. The 2024 theme, Finding Freedom, delves into the universal human pursuit of autonomy amidst adversity. Festival founder Lola Shoneyin shared…