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The Ikeogu Oke Poetry Prize

Open: 15 April 2020
Deadline: 15 September 2020
Guest Judge: Maxwell Opia-Enwemuche
Awards: First place is publication, a NGN 50,000 worth book publishing prize, and 10 contributor copies of the winning chapbook. Three finalists will be announced, and all previously unpublished work will be considered for publication as a general submission to the journal.
Reading Fee: NGN 1,500
To submit, click here 
 

History

Our annual poetry prize proudly honors author, journalist and award-winning poet, Ikeogu Oke. In 2017, he won the Nigeria Prize for Literature for his first collection of poetry ‘The Heresiad’. The Ikeogu Oke Poetry Prize is awarded annually to a poet whose work explores life in Africa. Special attention is given to poems that exhibit multiple vectors of thinking: artistic, theoretical, social, religious, and political.

Guidelines

  • Send 15 to 30 pages of poetry. Please include no more than one poem per page.
  • Simultaneous submissions and previously published poems are acceptable.
  • All entries must be sent online and be must contained in a single document.
  • The author’s name should not appear in the document (.docx or .doc).
  • A non-refundable NGN 1,500 reading fee must accompany your work.

To submit, click here 

Deadline

The deadline is September 15th, 2020, 12 a.m.
 

Prize

  • The winner will receive a prize of NGN 50,000 cash prize 10 copies of the published manuscript. The author will have the opportunity to purchase additional copies at a discount.
  • The author will have the option to sign a royalties contract to sell the chapbook with Poemify Publishing Inc.
  • Poemify Publishing Inc will design, print, and bind the chapbook. The cover will be decided in cooperation with the winning author.
  • All finalists will be announced in April of the following year on the Poemify Publishing Inc blog and social media channels.
  • Due to the number of submissions, we cannot leave each manuscript personalized feedback. Authors will receive acknowledgment of receipt and panel decision. Check here for notification of the winner.

Winners & Finalists