This is the fourth year of The Brunel University African Poetry Prize, a major poetry prize  aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. The prize is sponsored by Brunel University London and Commonwealth Writers. It is open to African poets worldwide and each poet has to submit 10 poems to be eligible.

Each year the quality of entries improves and this year 10 talented new poets were deserving of a place on the shortlist, instead of the usual 6. These are:

Gbenga Adesina (Nigeria); Victoria-Anne Bulley (Ghana); Mary-Alice Daniel (Nigeria); Chekwube O. Danladi (Nigeria); Amy Lukau (Angola); Ngwatilo Mawiyoo (Kenya); Momtaza Mehri (Eritrea/Somalia); Saradha Soobrayen (Mauritius); Warsan Shire (Somalia) and Chimwemwe Undi (Zambia/Zimbabwe/Namibia

The winner will be announced on May 11, 2016.

For more information on the poets and to view their poems:  http://www.africanpoetryprize.org/

Like we would say in pidgin English over here in Nigeria, Naija use vex dey enter shortlists dey win prizes on top everywhere…