Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) is calling on Nigerian poets living in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world to enter for the August edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) SEASON II [2016]. The theme of this edition is “WOMANITY – THE GENDER AGENDA.”
“Gender equality is a fundamental development objective, and is essential to enabling women and men to participate equally in society and in the economy. Women’s voice and agency remain limited, with rates of gender-based violence reaching alarming levels. Poor access to legal rights, sexual and reproductive health services, freedom of movement, and political voice pose additional constraints for women. Attitudes and customs perpetuate many of these inequalities across generations.” — World Bank (Improving Gender Equality in Africa)
“The women of Africa make a sizeable contribution to the continent’s economy. They are more economically active as farmers and entrepreneurs than women in any other region of the world. It is the women who grow most of Africa’s food, and who own one-third of all businesses. However, African women are held back from fulfilling their potential by many constraints, whether as leaders in public life, in the boardroom, or in growing their businesses. This in turn holds back the potential of the continent’s economy. African women spend way too much time at unproductive pursuits, such as fetching water and wood. While African women work 50% longer hours than men, the pay gap between men and women is very wide.” — African Development Bank Group (Gender Equality Index)
Based on our unshakable conviction that society stands to gain a lot from appreciating women’s roles in society and ensuring equal opportunity to peoples of both gender, Words Rhymes & Rhythm hereby calls on Nigerian poets to submit poems on the theme ‘WOMANITY – THE GENDER AGENDA’. For the purpose of this contest, the theme is expanded to include the following sub-themes – womanhood, feminism, gender balance, female genital mutilation, rape, and violence against women, domestic violence, marriage, girl child education, motherhood, and other social realities of the female gender.
Entries will be received until MONDAY August 29, 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 ‘WOMANITY – THE GENDER AGENDA’ (expanded to include the following subthemes – womanhood, feminism, gender balance, female genital mutilation, rape, violence against women, domestic violence, marriage, girl child education, motherhood, and other social realities of the female gender)
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: ‘Abubakar Nnamdi Adekunle, BPPC August, ‘WOMANITY’
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 MONDAY August 29, 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 monthly 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.
VALENTINE MBAGU, a Business Administration and Management student of the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka, won the July 2016 contest with his poem ‘A UNITED AFRICA’, after coming second in June. 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.
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