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Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize 2025 - Longlist Announcement

Longlist Announced

We are delighted to announce the longlist for the inaugural Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize. Supported in partnership with Bakandamiya, the prize celebrates artistic excellence and spotlights remarkable voices shaping contemporary African poetry.

From a strong and diverse field of entries, the judges have selected a longlist that reflects the vitality and range of poetic practice across the continent. We thank every poet who submitted their work and congratulate those who have been longlisted.

Longlist: Writers and Works

  1. 1. Sa'ada Isa Yahaya – Deceptive Poem
  2. 2. Eliongema Udofia – Praise Song
  3. 3. Taiwo Hasaan – conversations with my mother on the prayer mat
  4. 4. Alfred Olaiya – A Song for Boys Passing Briefly
  5. 5. Anselm Eme – DUST AND DAWN: THE ASHES OF BEGINNING
  6. 6. Ali Shuaib – Gaze of Foe
  7. 7. Olobo Ejile – The Gathering of Locusts
  8. 8. Ayòdéjì Israel – the world will not be there
  9. 9. Chiwenite Onyekwelu – February
  10. 10. Daniel Aôndona – Travelogue

The shortlist will be announced in the coming weeks, followed by the naming of the winners. Stay tuned for further updates and join us in celebrating these outstanding voices.

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