The Nigerian writer was awarded the prestigious prize for his “beautiful and deeply passionate” writing. The Brunel International African Poetry Prize is a major annual poetry prize of £3000, aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. Now in its fifth year, the Prize is sponsored by Brunel University London and Commonwealth Writers.
British-Nigerian writer, Bernardine Evaristo, Professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University London, initiated the award in 2012 in order to revitalise African poetry, which at that time was almost invisible on the literary landscape. The Prize planned to draw attention to this poetry and to encourage a new generation of poets who might one day become an international presence.
The Prize works closely with the African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) and since its inception, most of the poets who have been nominated and/or won this award have published chapbooks with the African Poetry Book Fund series of ‘New Generation Chapbook Box Sets’. http://africanpoetrybf.unl.edu/.
