CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2018 [FEBRUARY] ‘FREEDOM’

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Words Rhymes & Rhythm (WRR) is now receiving entries for the February edition of the BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST (BPPC) SEASON IV 2018. Poets from Nigeria, Africa and all over the world are hereby invited to submit their poems on the theme: FREEDOM.

This month’s theme is derived from Maya Angelou‘s universally revered poem “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS”:

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

We are looking for poems that explore the concept of freedom – ‘the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants’ or ‘the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved’.

Participants should note that Judges will be focused on ORIGINALITY, adherence to THEME, CREATIVITY in LANGUAGE and STYLE as well as the use of LITERARY DEVICES in the poems.

Entries will be received until 11:59 PM Friday February 23, 2018.

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: FREEDOM
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 Feb 2018, ‘I AM FREE’
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 Friday February 23, 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 (September 2017) was won by Udokamma Ben Wilfred.

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.