CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2016 [JUNE]

Read Time:3 Minute, 18 Second

Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) is calling on Nigerian poets living in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world to submit their poems for the June edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) SEASON II [2016]. The theme of this edition is CHANGE.

In the year 2015, Nigeria experienced a series of events that led to serious changes, including the leadership of our darling nation. Over a year after, this change is still unraveling itself in many ways.

As was noted by Alan Watts:

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”

As George Bernard Shaw also wisely stated:

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

We at Words Rhymes & Rhythm therefore call on Nigerian poets to verse their feelings about the change they and those around them are experiencing under the new government that came in on the wings of the ‘change’ slogan. For the purpose of this contest, the theme ‘CHANGE’ is broadened to include change in politics, religion, social norms, environment, economy etc.

Entries will be received until Thursday, 30th of June, 2016.

Prize to be won:

The winning poem will be awarded a cash prize of N5000 and a copy of ‘WHAT CAN WORDS DO’ by Kukogho Iruesiri Samson and the BPPC 2015 anthology.
All top 10 poems will be published in the annual BPPC 2016 anthology
All top 10 poets will receive a free copy of the BPPC 2016 anthology
All finalists will be automatically entered for the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2016
Authors of the top ten poems will also be awarded a certificate each

Guidelines:

Contestants are invited to submit one poem on the theme ‘CHANGE‘ (broadened to include change in politics, religion, social norms, environment, and economy, etc).
Submissions should be sent to SUBMISSIONS@WRR.NG
All entries must be the original work of the poet submitting it
No ATTACHMENTS. Please submit poem and other details as body of mail
The CONTESTANT NAME, CONTEST MONTH, & POEM TITLE must be mentioned clearly, as the subject of the e-mail. For example: ‘Musa Uche Abiola, BPPC April, ‘CHANGE CAME TO US’
The maximum length of the poem should be one page, i.e. 30 lines (plus the title). Poems exceeding this length will be disqualified.
Authors must provide their full names and Facebook ID [for identification] and a 50-100 word biography in the body of the e-mail
Submission deadline is 11:59 PM THURSDAY June 30, 2016.

Note that:

Poems containing profanity, racism or vulgarity will be automatically disqualified
The poems will be judged based on their artistic quality and creativity
The judges’ decision is final and under no circumstances will they enter into any correspondence with entrants regarding their decisions
The copyright of each submission remains with its owner but we retain the right to publish ALL and ANY entry in the annual BPPC anthology
The contests will be held on a monthly basis from February – September 2016
Nigerians resident in any part of the world are eligible
No entry fee required
Past winners may enter for the competition, but a poet can only one once in a calendar year (Season). If a past winner makes the TOP 10, the poems will ONLY be awarded a certificate and be featured in the anthology.

A student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Otubelu Chinazom Chukwudi, won the May 2016 edition of the contest.

The overall winner of the Season II (from February to September), will be awarded the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2016 in October 2016 at the WRR Literary Festival. AJPP 2015 was won by Showunmi Olawale Michael.