Prism International has revealed the winner and runner-ups of the 2024 Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize, honoring a trio of African poets of Nigerian descent whose work illuminates the profound and the imaginative.
Judged by poet Oliver Baez Bendorf, this year’s competition prize winners are:
Winner
- Chiwenite Onyekwelu for his beautiful poem, “Taking My Father on a Walk After His Hypertensive Stroke Episode”
1st Runner-Up
- Michael Okafor for his poem, “I Keep Touching Myself To The Theory That The Bullet Is A Metaphysical Construct”
2nd Runner-Up
- Kyle Okeke for his poem, “Gate of Wonder”
The Pacific Spirit Poetry Prize, hosted annually by Prism International, awards $1,500 to the winner, $600 to the 1st Runner-Up, and $400 to the 2nd Runner-Up, along with publication in an upcoming issue of the magazine.
Readers and poetry enthusiasts are encouraged to explore the winning works in an upcoming issue of Prism International and visit prismmagazine.ca for more information about the contest and the vibrant community of writers it supports.
Congratulations Chiwenite Onyekwelu, Michael Okafor and Kyle Okeke on your deserved win!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
