Romeo Oriogun from Nigeria has emerged the winner of the 2017 Brunel International African Poetry Prize for his “beautiful and deeply passionate” writing on masculinity and desire.

Now in its fifth year, the £3,000 major poetry prize, sponsored by Brunel University London and Commonwealth Writers, is aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. It is open to African poets worldwide who have not yet published a full poetry collection.

The judges were unanimous this year in their decision that among a shortlist of ten stunning new poets selected from nearly 1,200 entries, Oriogun – who only began writing three years ago – should receive the prize for his outstanding poetry.

The judges said: “Romeo Oriogun is a hugely talented and urgent new voice in African poetry. His poems are deeply passionate, shocking, imaginative, complex and ultimately beautiful explorations of masculinity, sexuality and desire in a country that does not recognise LGBT rights. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Oriogun lives and writes in Nigeria. His poems have been featured in Brittle Paper, African Writer, Expound, Praxis, and others. He is the author of Burnt Men, an electronic chapbook published by Praxis Magazine.

Now in its fifth year, the £3,000 major poetry prize, sponsored by Brunel University London and Commonwealth Writers, is aimed at the development, celebration and promotion of poetry from Africa. It is open to African poets worldwide who have not yet published a full poetry collection.

The judges were unanimous this year in their decision that among a shortlist of ten stunning new poets selected from nearly 1,200 entries, Oriogun – who only began writing three years ago – should receive the prize for his outstanding poetry.

The judges said: “Romeo Oriogun is a hugely talented and urgent new voice in African poetry. His poems are deeply passionate, shocking, imaginative, complex and ultimately beautiful explorations of masculinity, sexuality and desire in a country that does not recognise LGBT rights. We wish him all the best for the future.”

Oriogun lives and writes in Nigeria. His poems have been featured in Brittle Paper, African Writer, Expound, Praxis, and others. He is the author of Burnt Men, an electronic chapbook published by Praxis Magazine Online.

Oriogun was one of four Nigerian poets to reach this year’s shortlist, which included Sahro Ali (Somalia); Leila Chatti (Tunisia); Kayo Chingonyi (Zambia); Saddiq Dzukogi (Nigeria); Yalie Kamara (Sierra Leone); Kechi Nomu (Nigeria); Richard Oduor Oduku (Kenya); Rasaq Malik (Nigeria); and Nick Makoha (Uganda).

The judges this year were the poets and academics: Chris Abani (Northwestern University); Kwame Dawes (University of Nebraska); Safia Elhillo (winner of the 2015 Prize); Patricia Jabbeh Welsley (Penn State University) and chair and founder, Bernardine Evaristo (Brunel University London).

The Prize is a partnership between Brunel and Commonwealth Writers, and works closely with Kwame Dawes and the African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) at the University of Nebraska.

All the winners and most of the shortlisted poets of the past four years have had poetry pamphlets published with APBF in their New Generation African Poets series of box sets, in partnership with US publishers Slappering Hol Press and Akashic Books. Some of these poets have also published, or are about to publish, their first full length collections.

Source:http://www.africanpoetryprize.org/winner-2017-romeo-oriogun

frank317:
Lol... Who brought this up na... Well the book has been published in okadabooks, u can buy it there for just 200 naira

Long time Frank!

lolaHikmat(f), chinchong, Carlcaresophia, surelove(f), Pavore9, nellyme(f), Aminat508(f), Babare(m), yankydollars(f), Chuksemi(m), capip120(m), Tundeajani(m), Hollyb(f), pellycute(f), MightyFortress, Miracy(f), khennnie(f), DIVA58(f), underage(f), zizman, Harmvirus(f), Emmaxx, naijacenter(f), darlynlara(f), Dusha94(f), Harbosede02(f), sniperliz(f), Xtargold(f), MzLakore(f), Perfecter4real(m), prettyrose(f), McJANNY(f), tspun(m), Honeyhearted(f), jadelyn007(f), Sophiegurl(f), sexyglow(f), Unluvable(f), Sexitee03(f), Mismak(f), prommy12(f), Francex(f), Cutepie1(f), eastermaris(f), blackbeau1(f), favouredseed(f), agohavivi(f), Wesslier(m), emmabest2000(m), Adebayor1(m), nwadinma(f), shilling(f), Thoniameek(f), MrsChima(f), aadetoyin(f), MyneWhite1(f), Emyo(m), Cuddlemii, caramel007(f), Aafulenu(f), Nayah(f), freecocoa(f), Tinkybabe(f), Jhenny(f), Sapphire86(f), Egbagirl(f), RealHotGirl(f), BarbieBlues(f), Mrskillz1(f), kreamidiva(f), bukydiamon(f), ronkebp(f), Lolaabokoku(f), Flawlessdiva1(f), Hannae(f), mamamusty(f), nikkyshyne(f), yuzedo, lovito(f), sexymoma(f), mzkanye(f), Lilimax(f), debbianah(f), fpeter(f), Omosivie1(f), Sadeluhv(f), owolabifunke14(f), Jessicanoble(f), Sliimchiic(f), Sweetlemon(f), Ajibel(m), aniiii(f), Wealth2mighty(f), mesther96(f), bright007(f), Popowaa, yindamola, Shugamania(f), aanumama(f), femishoshogmai(f), Ivynwa(f), Busybody2(f), lolaluv1(f), Bisjosh(f), queenafric(f), vivaciousvivi(f), klasiknonie(f), angelTI(f), Iyabetajos(f), Eneze1(f), wilybabe(f), simplifier(f), Ejaisky(f), BukkyDan(f), SlendyMEE(f), temhab(f), enohbong, Caracta(f), koolJ1(f), SpicyMimi(f), pwettydhiva(f), HerHotness(f), rachiks(f), jslimz(f), texanomaly(f), vickyozohu(f), Ishilove, omotol(f), Nomski0(f), nanauju(f), Joy4mi(f), MsPweshy(f), bumzel89(f), Odunnu, SexyDuby(f), Cynsky76(f), phildmarshal(m), ifyroberts(f), Orelly(f), trinity042(f), Mikebis(m), ifekemmy(f), Ladybianca(f), Fishoy(f), mysticgal(f), vera031(f), Bluediamond1(f), flow1759, MissFibre(f), princesa(f), Redmosquito(m), Neduzze5(m), Mynd44, adeemi07(f), luvmijeje(f), jaygem(m), Titugirl(f), maedan(f), frank317, bigbabyboy, AbdulFattah(m), DuBooVay(f), orelove4liff

Ladies and gents , I'm well pleased to inform you that my poem made the final shortlist for Nigerian Meritorious Writer's Award. However, to fare well in this contest I need a substantial amount of likes and comments so as to proceed to the last stage where a panel of judges will ultimately decide the winning entry.
I gladly anticipate your support fam!
Here is a direct link to like and comment as well as share.
https://mbasic.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=271943503164413&id=172187503140014&refid=17&_ft_=top_level_post_id.271943503164413%3Atl_objid.271943503164413%3Athid.172187503140014%3A306061129499414%3A2%3A0%3A1470034799%3A-2186624407654140393&__tn__=%2As
Here is an excerpt :
(An Acrostic) There Is A Greatness In Us
There, inside everyman sleeps a giant,
However rich or poor, stout or pliant
Everyday, a Sage reminds me of a time
Remote as age, when gods were in prime:
Earth, they say was a large chunk of waste,
Ignorant of a greatness, highest on the caste.
Seek counsel from that vast Iroko you see,
A lowly shrub once was, barely the size of pea.
Give not heed son, to men with tongues uncouth.....

LolaHokmat, verily verily your story is full of sweetness. It's been long I read any story on Nairaland since the days of Flow1579, Frank etc but somehow your story hit a strong chord.
However, you've a lot of work to do on your punctuations and few typos up there to correct. And while I appreciate the fact that it's a short story so the tempo of the plot must move fast, I feel it's too speed. Someone like me likes suspense a lot and ever since Dare and Stella re-meeting, there haven't been any engaging suspense to sustain interest except of course for Tiara's involvement.
Anyway, you own your story and so the reins are in your hand. But please you can try and include some plot slower to reinforce suspense.
On the overall, you've a simple, yet engaging story dear. Thumbs up and please serve us the next goddamn update. Can't wait!

Love will not help you love
In your slumber, heaven offers its muse
But shan't spur your verses in motion
When each line as in your dream
Like a plot it is, fades in your head.

A poem will not scribe itself
Though the rhythm dance merrily
Your pen, ink-rich gazes
From a pile of poetry manuals.
A song will not sing itself
It wants of a voice, melody and sweat.

A war cannot fight itself
But by a pair of steel swords
And witless rage on either side
Peace will not quell its rift
It needs humble hearts
Ego bruised and seared
By the glittering scars of meekness
And arms ready to do no more harms
Though the enemy lines crumble in disarray
And the walls levelled to bramble
Lo! The White Flag needs not taboo their communal pride.

A story will not write itself
The gods give their alms of inspiration
So let your fingers wield the quill
Buried in a blanket of cobwebs and dust.

Your mouth in quick bursts
Must spit wits as an adder's fangs
A poem will not fight for the commons
If each lines in trenches lie
Signalling, "we're but civilians"
But then, without wait, I'll shoot my words
Clean and fair, with youth and zeal
A bunch of fingers on either arms
And that question friend, is
Will your poem write itself?
This song ain't goin' write itself" Eminem -When I'm gone.

So it's a new year. Most of our failures arise out of inactions and rarely out of our actions. Imagine if Wole Soyinka upon being inspired failed to rouse himself from slumber and write great poems like Abiku, Telephone Conversation, Civilian and Soldier and the likes.
Or if Shakespeare expected one magnanimous God to write the globally acclaimed works of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Othello or Merchant of Venice. Or if Bill Gates didn't take a decisive action to found Microsoft. The possibility is endless as well as dreadful.
The best way to mediocrity is to fold your hands and do nothing. This year 2016 should inspire you to take charge of your life and do something that will continue to resonate through the centuries yet unborn.
Indeed Benjamin Franklin rightly said "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
So comrades, are you gonna write that poem, invent that thing, make that discovery or let mediocrity get the better part of you. Yes, you'll fail, that I assure you. But you'll learn and become better with each try.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY