On Saturday, 23 May 2026, Northern Writers Forum announced the winners of 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 shortlist of five outstanding works, the judges have selected a winner and two runners-up. We congratulate every poet who was longlisted and shortlisted, and we thank all who submitted their work to this first edition of the prize.
The winning poems will be featured on NWF Journal (Northern Writers Forum Journal). Visit nwfjournal.com.ng for publication updates.
Poets, judges, and community members joined us online to celebrate the inaugural edition and hear the results live.
We celebrate these poets and their work, and we look forward to what the Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize will continue to nurture in the years ahead.
The judges have selected the shortlist for the inaugural Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize — five outstanding works from a strong field of entries.
We are delighted to announce the longlist for the inaugural Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize. These poets have been longlisted from a strong field of entries celebrating artistic excellence in contemporary African poetry.
The inaugural Ladi Kwali Poetry Prize celebrates artistic excellence and spotlights remarkable voices shaping contemporary African poetry. Submissions are currently closed.
A transformative mentorship and publishing program empowering emerging writers from Northern Nigeria. Applications for the 2025 cohort are currently closed.
