CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2016 [SEPTEMBER] – ‘SUICIDE – BEHIND THE DARK CURTAIN’

Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) is receiving entries for the September edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) SEASON II [2016]. Nigerian poets, living in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world, are hereby invited to submit poems on the theme “SUICIDE – BEHIND THE DARK CURTAIN’.”

“Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Risk factors include mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, alcoholism, or substance misuse. Others are impulsive acts due to stress such as from financial difficulties, troubles with relationships, or from bullying.” – Wikipedia (Suicide)

“Over 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and there are many more who attempt suicide. Hence, many millions of people are affected or experience suicide bereavement every year. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally in 2012.” – World Health Organization (Suicide data)

Suicide is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world and Nigeria is 102nd on the World Health Organization 2012 list of countries by suicide rate with 6.5 suicides per 100,000 people per year.

While we may be happy, being so low on the suicide rate log, the truth is that many suicide attempts in Nigeria are unreported while incidents of successful suicide attempts are under-reported due to stigma – religious and social pressures. This means that we may not know the seriousness of this killer.

It is with the aim of raising awareness about this silent killer that we decided to choose ‘SUICIDE – BEHIND THE DARK CURTAIN’ as the theme of the BPPC SEPTEMBER. Many ‘normal’ people around us are facing several issues and contemplating suicide as the option. We believe that no normal person would want to take his or her own life for no reason. Some of them can be saved, pulled out from behind the metaphorical ‘dark curtain’ of gloom, before they execute their fatal plans. Note that this theme broadly includes failure, depression, sadness, hope, determination, and other related concepts, as sub-themes.

Entries will be received until 11:59 PM FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.

Prize to be won:

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

Guidelines:

1. Contestants are invited to submit one poem on the theme “SUICIDE – BEHIND THE DARK CURTAIN’.” (this theme broadly includes failure, depression, sadness, hope, determination, and other related concepts, as sub-themes.)
2. Submissions should be sent to SUBMISSIONS@WRR.NG
3. All entries must be the original work of the poet submitting it
4. No ATTACHMENTS. Please submit poem and other details as body of mail
5. The CONTESTANT NAME, CONTEST MONTH, & POEM TITLE must be mentioned clearly, as the subject of the e-mail. For example: ‘Abubakar Nnamdi Adekunle, BPPC September, ‘THE LAST OPTION, NOT’
6. The maximum length of the poem should be one page, i.e. 30 lines (plus the title). Poems exceeding this length will be disqualified.
7. Authors must provide their full names and Facebook ID [for identification] and a 50-100 word biography in the body of the e-mail
8. Submission deadline is 11:59 PM FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.

Note that:

1. Poems containing profanity, racism or vulgarity will be automatically disqualified
2. The poems will be judged based on their artistic quality and creativity
3. The judges’ decision is final and under no circumstances will they enter into any correspondence with entrants regarding their decisions
4. 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
5. The contests will be held on monthly from February – September 2016
6. Nigerians resident in any part of the world are eligible
7. No entry fee required
8. Past winners may enter for the competition, but a poet can only win 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.

The last edition of the BPPC (August 2016) was won by the poem ‘THE POETRY OF A WOMAN’ written by Adams Adeosun, an architecture student at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria. 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.

After the September edition, the contest will be paused to allow for activities towards the WRR Literary Festival (Feast of Words) 2016. It will resume in February 2017 as BPPC Season III.

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