The Idumaese Alao Foundation (IAF) has officially announced the call for entries for the 2025 edition of the Idumaese Alao Prize for Literature, inviting Nigerian poets across the globe to submit unpublished works for a chance to be recognized and rewarded.
Established in 2024 in memory of the late Idumaese Alao, the prize seeks to spotlight and celebrate excellence in poetry, with a specific focus on writers who are unafraid to explore new literary frontiers. The foundation emphasized its commitment to discovering creative, brave, and experimental interpretations of this year’s theme: “The Beginning and End of Humanity.”
Submission Guidelines
- Plagiarism and AI-generated content will not be tolerated
- Eligible poets—Nigerians aged 18 and above residing anywhere in the world are encouraged to submit only one original, unpublished poem not exceeding 40 lines.
- Submissions are to be sent via email to idumaesealaofoundation@omniinkus.com with the subject line: 2025 IDUMAESE ALAO PRIZE FOR LITERATURE. A cover letter in the body of the email should include a third-person bio, current location, and a portrait photo of the author.
- All entries must be submitted on or before May 10, 2025, in Microsoft Word format (Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 spacing), with no identifying information on the poem itself.
Judging this prize are Nigerian poet and scholar Osieka Osinimu Alao, whose work has appeared in The Offing, The Shore, and Lumiere Review, and Saddiq Dzukogi, author of Your Crib, My Qibla and Assistant Professor of English at Mississippi State University. Dzukogi is also the winner of the 2021 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry.
According to the foundation, the winner of the prize will receive ₦100,000, while the runner-up will be awarded ₦50,000.
Best of luck to all applicants!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
