2026 Longlist/Shortlist

Longlist

The longlist contains a total of 30 poems which include:

1. “What the Wind Remembers About Tomorrow” by Christian Emecheta
2. “The Loss of God” by Ariyo Feranmi
3. “The House That Ate Its Children” by Adeoso Samuel Omotayo
4. “Endangered Specie” by Jewo Oghenetega
5. “Yeletawa” by Marvellous Mmesomachi Igwe
6. “Sisyphus” by Eliongema Udofia
7. “When My Man Returns Home from Sambissa” by Yohanna Daniel
8. “Garden of Wonder” by Alfred Olaiya
9. “Collocation” by Utibe Hanson
10. “The Day the Sky Refused to Be Blue” by Paul Olayimika 
11. “Republic of Rage and Roses” by Osieka Osinimu Alao
12. Untitled Entry by Simon Akpama
13. “Navigating Valentine’s Day with Humor” by Damilola Omotoyinbo
14. “Aubade with Faith” by Damilola Omotoyinbo
15. “Dirges of the Scorched Earth” by Anyigor Chris Monday
16. “Blood at the Gate: Elegy for Ezza Effium” by Anyigor Chris Monday
17. “Dawn” by Ferdinand Emmanuel Somtochukwu
18. “There’s a Blackhole Somewhere in My Body” by Akanni Festus Olaniyi
19. “Ode to Joe Ushie” by Vitalis Chinecherem Iloanwusi
20. “Tough Love: Memories” by Chijioke Michael Enechi
21. “We Marry the Thunder to Delay the Rain” by Agbeye Oburumu
22. “Transgressors” by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi
23. “Something About Flowers” by Gerald Onyebuchi Ewa
24. “D Is for Delta” by Ifesinachi Nwadike
25. “Lagos Never Sleeps” by Chimezie Umeoka
26. “Nothing More’ by Utibe Hanson
27. “Portrait of a Man on Fire” by Chimezie Umeoka
28. “We Buried the Rain with Our Names Still in Our Mouth” by Agbeye Oburumu
29. “Asphalt Prayers” by Anyigor Chris Monday
30. “July 7, 1967” by Damilola Omotoyinbo

Shortlist

The shortlist contains a total of 10 poems which include:

1. “Navigating Valentine’s Day with Humour” by Damilola Omotoyinbo
2. “The House That Ate Its Children” by Adeoso Samuel Omotayo
3. “We Buried the Rain with Our Names Still in Our Mouth” by Agbeye Oburumu
4. “Transgressors” by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi
5. “Sisyphus” by Eliongema Udofia
6. “What the Wind Remembers About Tomorrow” by Christian Emecheta
7. “The Loss of God” by Ariyo Feranmi
8. “Endangered Specie” by Jewo Oghenetega
9. “Blood at the Gate: Elegy for Ezza Effium” by Anyigor Chris Monday
10. “Tough Love: Memories” by Chijioke Michael Enechi

Congratulations to all the poets who made it to the longlist/shortlist. Well done!

Please, kindly visit the official website and social media handles of the prize for information on the longlist/shortlist.

Thank you.