Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize Unveils Inaugural Shortlist

The Arole Agarawu Foundation has revealed the final shortlist of ten writers for the inaugural edition of the Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize. Founded by Adedayo Agarau, the foundation established the literary programme to promote artistic excellence and preserve African cultural heritage.

The competition opened for submissions in February, inviting original and unpublished work from poets of African descent across the globe. Organisers received entries from 356 applicants representing 21 countries, amounting to an evaluation of more than 3,500 individual poems across the entire review process.

Selection Process and Finalists

Following multiple rounds of reading, editorial deliberations, and assessment, the initial pool of 356 candidates was narrowed down to a longlist of 30 writers before the final ten contenders were determined.

Among the finalists announced are Kenyan writer Salma Abdulatif Yusuf for the poem “GRAINS OF PARADISE,” alongside several Nigerian poets: Isaiah Adepoju for “Alfred: Cantos,” Rasheed Ayinla Shehu Shehu for “Baggage of Assorted Wishes,” Ameen Animashaun for “Dog Fighting a Heron,” Chiwenite Onyekwelu for “John the Baptist,” and Blessing Omeiza Ojo for “Monologue with God in his Bivo.”

For the wider African creative industries, targeted literary awards provide critical infrastructure for talent discovery and intellectual property development, providing writers with recognition that frequently feeds into cross-disciplinary storytelling, performance, and performing arts ecosystems.

Source: Afrocritik