The Brigitte Poirson Prize for Literature has recently unveiled its 2024 Longlist for its poetry and short story categories.
Chosen from a pool of over 230 entries across the poetry and short story categories, 11 exceptional short stories and 20 remarkable poems graces the list.
Here’s a list of all poems longlisted:
- Living Makes Man a Faithful Sinner by Clement Abayomi
- A Body That Refuses to Be Quiet by Chioma Christabel Okpetah
- Amnesia by Mazpa Ejikem
- Hope Is a Bird with Broken Wings by Adindu-Nwokorie Uzomadii
- Room Ghazal by Chiwenite Onyekwelu
- Home Is a Four-Lettered Word Beyond My Reach by Abdulwahab Fatima Zahara
- Playlist of Paperback War: EP 1 by Ebuka Evans
- Layers by Ese-Ose Idemudia
- Benediction by Ojo Olumide Emmanuel
- Akpabana’s Banquet by Hillary Ofukocho Anfofun
- To Grow Is to Wither by Qudus Olowo
- How to Test Healing by John “Penwielder” Ebute
- You Cannot Kill the Fire of Grief Through Interactions with Genitals by Abduljalal Musa Aliyu
- Memory Is a Bird by Agboola Tariq A.
- Kaduna by Ókólí Stephen Nonso
- And God Watches in Utter Disbelief by Abiodun Ekundayo
- A Poem of My Unbecoming by Prosper C. Ìféányí
- Swallow by Oluwakemi Ladejobi
- God in Lowercase by Hero Jason
- If by Annah Atane
And here are the amazing 11 that made the short story Longlist.
- Soup by Chinaza James-Ibe
- (Discard Me) Like a Broken Doll by Daniel Echezonachi Maxwell
- The In-Between by Gloria Ogo
- Trust Fall by Oyinloye Michael Oluwatomis
- An Oversized Shoe by Jessica Ajuonuma
- Semicolon by Awwal Owolabi
- The Day God Died by Feyikemi Olajide
- To Be a Woman Is to Be Without a Name by Chidera Solomon Anikpe
- Interview by Ola W. Halim
- The Breadwinner by Olufunmi Alaba
These outstanding entries are vying for prestigious honours, including a $300 cash prize shared between the winners of each category, a chapbook publishing contract, publication in the December issue of Cọ́nscìò Magazine, and the 2024 BPLP e-anthology.
The Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize (BPLP), formerly known as the Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC), is an annual literary prize accepting both poetry and short fiction. It is dedicated to recognizing the often-overlooked talent of young Nigerian writers. Formerly recognized as BPPC, this literary prize stands as one of Nigeria’s reputable contests, particularly popular among the emerging generation of poets. Its inception dates back to February 2015, paying tribute to Brigitte Poirson, a distinguished French poet, lecturer, and editor who tirelessly supported and elevated African poetry throughout her career
The shortlist will be revealed on Saturday, December 21, 2024, with the winners announced on Saturday, December 28, 2024.
For more information on the Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize 2024, click here.
Congratulations to all longlisted writers!
