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Are you a Nigerian poet with a passion for creative expression? Here’s an exciting opportunity to gain recognition for your poetic talent!
Entries are now open for the inaugural Joe Ushie Poetry Prize, established by the Joe Ushie Literature Foundation to honour the best poem by a Nigerian writer each year.
The first award will be presented in January 2026 during an award dinner in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Prize
$500 USD will be awarded to the winner of the 2026 Joe Ushie Poetry Prize.
Eligibility
- Open to Nigerian writers of all ages and backgrounds.
- Entrants must submit previously unpublished poems.
- Proof of Nigerian citizenship is required.
Submission Guidelines
- Each entrant may submit up to three poems.
- Each poem must not exceed fifty lines.
- Entries must be in English.
- Submit your poems as email attachments to:
[email protected] - Subject line format: [NAME OF ENTRANT]’S ENTRY FOR THE 2026 JOE USHIE POETRY PRIZE
- Friends, family members, and close associates of the judges and prize organisers are not eligible to participate.
Deadline
All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. GMT on 31 July 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.
Panel of Judges
- Dr. Rome Aboh, University of Calabar, Nigeria – Chairperson
- Dr. Asha Jeffers, Dalhousie University, Canada – Member
- Dr. Mathias Iroro Orhero, Louisiana State University, USA – Member
About Joe Ushie
Joseph Akawu Ushie, widely known in literary circles as Joe Ushie, is a celebrated Nigerian poet and a Professor of General Stylistics and Literary Criticism at the University of Uyo.
Hailing from Cross River State, Prof. Ushie has made significant contributions to African poetry, both as a scholar and a creative voice.
His published poetry collections include:
- Popular Stand (1992)
- Lambs at the Shrine (1995)
- Eclipse in Rwanda (1998)
- Hill Songs (2000)
- A Reign of Locusts (2004)
- Tsunami Blues (2007)
- Yawns and Belches (2018)
Prof. Ushie was a Fulbright Fellow in New York (2002) and represented Africa at major global literary events including the “Worlds in Discourse” Conference in Malaysia (2005) and the Philippine PEN International Conference in 2010.
His work has been featured in numerous international anthologies and translated into Spanish, Finnish, French, and German. Among his many recognitions, his poem “Africa Today” stood out as the only African poem selected for the 2015 Global Poetry Anthology in Montreal, Canada.
The Joe Ushie Poetry Prize honours his literary legacy and lifelong dedication to promoting poetry.
More Information
For detailed guidelines, rules, and future updates, visit the official website: The Joe Ushie Poetry Prize.
This is a great opportunity for emerging and established Nigerian poets to gain recognition and share their work with a wider audience. If poetry flows through your veins, don’t miss this chance to shine!
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