Prize

The PEN Nigeria Poetry Prize

The PEN Nigeria Poetry Prize will be awarded yearly to the writer of the winning poem selected from all poems published the previous year in Saraba (i.e. Poems published in the magazine and chapbooks in 2010 are eligible for the 2011 prize).

The Publishers and Editors of Saraba will select a longlist of 20 poems, after which a guest reader (who is a published poet) shall make a shortlist of 5 poems. The winning poem shall be decided by a named Judge (Niran Okewole for 2011).

The winner will be awarded a medal and the sum of 20,000 Naira (endowed by Jumoke Verissimo) while the four other shortlisted poets will be given the sum of 5,000 Naira each (endowed by Saraba). We are hoping that each year the Prize monies will increase.

All poems published in the magazine and chapbook (print or electronic) are eligible for consideration. The works of the publishers, editors, the Prize sponsors, as well as members of their respective families are however not eligible.

The Prize will be awarded to only Nigerian writers living in Nigeria at the time of publication of the poem. There will be an award-giving event in December 2011 where the Prizes shall be awarded.

The decisions of the Judge and the Prize sponsors are not subject to review and questions as to the propriety of decisions will not be entertained.

Timeline –

September 30, 2011: Longlist announced on the website

October 31, 2011: Shortlist announced on the website

December 2011: Winning poem announced at the Prize-giving event and online simultaneously.

Please visit this page for updates on the Prize

  • About Saraba Magazine

    Saraba is an imprint of Iroko Publishing whose goal is to create unending voices by encouraging young, previously unheard writers to publish their works, assist emerging writers (i.e. those who have been published little or not at all, whose talent are recognizable and whose works are qualitative) in establishing their voices by creating a platform for their writing to be showcased. Through an actualization of these purposes, Saraba would ensure that there is no generational gap, that succeeding generations of writers in Africa have have a platform to express their art.
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