Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers invites poets from Nigeria, Africa and all over the world to enter their poems for the May 2018 edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) themed: ‘THE COUNTRY OF MY DREAM’.
In this month’s edition, entrants are expected to write about the country of their dream.
“I dream of a prosperous country where every Nigerian will live in dignity. I dream of an end to high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment in Nigeria. I dream of a Nigeria where the rule of law will prevail and where there will be observance of human rights.”
— Omano Edigheji, Ph.D [Premium Times Online, August 19, 2013)
“I have a dream of a new Nigeria; I dream of a Nation where security of lives and properties is guaranteed and the rate of robbery is at its lowest ebb and one can walk safely during the day and in the night without fears. I have a dream that one day Nigeria would be a corrupt free society, where her people would be law abiding and exhibit high sense of discipline in every facet of their lives…
— Umar Farouq [Umar Farouq’s Weblog, July 23, 2009]
“I dream of a Nigeria where the value of citizens is not in the amount of money they have or number of cars and houses they posses, but their integrity and contribution to society.
— Chido Onumah [SaharaReporters.com, July 21, 2011]
Participants should note that Judges will be focused on ORIGINALITY, WORD ECONOMY, adherence to THEME, CREATIVITY in LANGUAGE and STYLE as well as the use of LITERARY DEVICES in the poems.
Prize to be won:
- The winning poem will be awarded a cash prize of N8000, a certificate of award and a copy of the BPPC 2018 anthology
- All top 10 poems will be automatically entered for the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2018
- All top 10 poems will be published in the annual BPPC 2018 anthology
- All top 10 poets will receive a free copy of the BPPC 2018 anthology
Guidelines:
- Contestants are invited to submit one poem on the theme
- 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 May 2018, ‘THE COUNTRY OF MY DREAM’
- The maximum length of the poem should be 28 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 Wednesday May 30, 2018.
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
- Poets 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.
The last edition of the BPPC (April 2018) was won by Olajuwon Joseph Olumide.
The BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC), a brainchild of Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR), is a monthly writing contest aimed at rewarding the under-appreciated talent of young Nigerian poets. It was instituted 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.
Now in its 4th season, and being one of the few credible contests in Nigeria, the BPPC has become one of country’s most popular, especially among the younger poets.
The overall winner of the BPPC 2018 (February to September 2018) will be awarded the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) 2018. Kanyinsola Olorunnisola won the prize in 2016 while Ogwiji Blessing emerged winner in 2017.
For inquiries, send an email to info@wrr.ng
