Longlisted Poem: “Garden of Wonder”
ALFRED OLAIYA is a poet and spoken word artist. He is in love with colours, emotional spirituality and the realms beyond. He was the second runner up at 2022 Spring Poetry Contest, was shortlisted for the 2025 Bridgette James Poetry Contest, and was a finalist for the 2025 Custodian of African Literature (COAL) Poetry Contest. His works have appeared in Best New African Poets (BNAP) 2021 Anthology, Poetry Archive, The AprilCentaur, Decades of Nine Hills and Thrills anthology, Libretto Magazine, and Soil Unfurling from Stem Anthology.