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We are pleased to announce the longlist for the 2025 Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize (BPLP), following a rigorous review process by our judges.
This year’s submissions reflected a remarkable range, depth, and urgency, engaging with themes of identity, nationhood, memory, migration, and the human condition through craft and originality. We commend all entrants for the high quality of work received.
LONGLISTED POEMS
- The Hands That Painted the Sky — Olukitibi Elizabeth Atilola
- A Father’s Sacrifice — Ariyo Ahmad Akanni
- The Deep of Relativity — Oladimeji Adam Adedayo
- Innocence — Grace Ezinne Ajunwa
- Mother in the Mirror — Halimah Adisa
- How Do I Glorify My Country When It Runs the Faces of Razor Blades on My Skin? — Godwin Obaji
- Alone in the Time of Migration — Tamani Tatiana Sale
- The Bulbul & the Geometry of Dawn — Abubakar Ibrahim
- Age Is a River — Azeez Odunjo
- The Seed I Dare Not Eat — Jimoh Lateef Aderoju
- The Rainmaker’s Daughter — Oladoyin Ayodeji Victor
- Autopsy of a Deceased Country — Adebola Temitayo Ogunyemi
- Just a Poet — Genesis Onyekachi Obinna
- The Tailor’s Gospel — Akindutire, Elizabeth Abosede
- Something in This Weather Does Not Love Me — Wisdom Nemi Otikor
- I Want to Runaway from My Country — Michael Agunbiade
- Post-Apocalypse — Pacella Chukwuma-Eke
- A Day in My Life — Ima-abasi Udo
- The Song of Nature — Iyanuoluwa Oni
- Field Notes on Birth & Oblivion — Blessing Omeiza Ojo
- The River Swallows the Open Ground — Adamu Danjuma Abubakar
- Zhinyim (Stay for me) — Izaza Izeowayi
- This Is Not Just a Country — Segun Adesoro
- Meet Me at the Park — Joy Nwamaka Chime
- Beautiful, As You Forget Her Name — Chisom Eze
- What the Earth Told Me in Silence — Nathan Felix
- Soul On the Edge — Ruth Dipura
- The Thin Line Between a Heartbeat, & The Fragile Hands of Machines — Felix Eshiet
- All My Wants — Ayiyi Joel
LONGLISTED SHORT STORIES
- The Weight of Our Steps — Christian Emecheta
- A Dark Quinquennial — Ibrahim Oga
- CTRL Z — Ikechukwu Henry
- Woman — Abdulrahman M. Abu-Yaman
- An Ehi Speaks — Adesuwa Agbonile
- (In/Re)Surrection — Chimezie Okoro
- The Season of Migration to the North — Daniel Yohanna
- The Gods Are Wise — John Ebut
- Feed Us Your Heart — Jane Udochi
- Hostage Song — Daniel Echezona
The shortlist will be announced at the end of December 2025, and the winners of the $400 Cash Prize will be announced in January 2026.
We congratulate all longlisted writers and thank every entrant for trusting the Brigitte Poirson Literature Prize with their work.
- For more about the Prize’s history, mission, and past winners, visit https://authorpedia.net/csr/bppc/
- For inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact us at info@wrr.ng. Our team will be happy to provide any clarification or support you may need.
