Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) hereby calls on all Nigerian poets all over the world to enter for the May edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) SEASON II [2016]. This special edition, themed ‘HEALING WITH WORDS’, is dedicated to all those facing the threat of cancer and other diseases.
“I’m suggesting that healing words need to play a more important role in our lives. This is a vast territory worth exploring. As a society, we’ve become experts at words that definitely don’t heal: gossip, cynicism, skepticism, accusation, partisan wrangling, smear campaigns, and character assassination. As a result, we know all about the bad effects of such words. Why not consider the positive effect of saying words that work in the opposite way?”
― Deepak Chopra, Co-Author, ‘Super Genes’, and Founder of The Chopra Foundation
Much has been said about the power of the words we speak, that they are powerful forces of creation which can destroy or help to heal because they are incredibly powerful, creating instantaneous and often dramatic changes in the mind and body of those who hear (read) them.
We at Words Rhymes & Rhythm believe that poetry and poets have immense power to move, inspire, and heal people using carefully chosen words. That is why we dedicated this edition to poetry created to heal, comfort, and inspire.
The BPPC is a monthly writing contest aimed at rewarding the under-appreciated talent of young Nigerian poets. It was instituted by Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) CEO, Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, in February 2015 in honor of Brigitte Poirson, a French poet and lecturer, editor, who has over the years worked assiduously to promote and support of African poetry.
Submissions for the March edition are open until the 27th of May 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
- 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 be awarded a certificate each
Guidelines:
- Contestants are invited to submit one poem on the theme: “HEALING WITH WORDS” (and related themes sub-themes like human frailty, power of words, life and living, disease, care, hope, kindness, science, heaven, death, afterlife, etc)
- Submissions should be sent to SUBMISSIONS@WRR.NG
- All entries must be the original work of the poet submitting it
- No ATTACHMENTS, 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 2016 April, ‘THE SURVIVOR’S SONG’
- The maximum length of the poem should be one page, i.e. 30 lines (plus the title)
- 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 FRIDAY May 27, 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.
Mesioye Johnson, a student of Banking and Finance at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, won the BPPC 2016 (April).
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.
Announcer:
Kukogho Iruesiri Samson
CEO/Publisher WORDS RHYMES & RHYTHM LTD
080-60109295
kukogho.samson@gmail.com, kukogho.samson@wrr.ng
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