Ibe Obasiota Ben, Oladimeji Adam Adedayo, and Ogedengbe Tolulope Impact are the winners of the February-March 2020 edition of the prestigious Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest (BPPC).
Ibe emerged overall best out of 250 entries with her poem ‘FOR WHAT ARE SELF- BORNE SCARS?’. In second place is Oladimeji’s WHEN SAGES PREACH while serial BPPC finalist Ogedengbe placed third for his poem ‘THE TRUE MEANING OF AMITY’. They will be awarded a total of ₦30,000: ₦15,000 (first), ₦10,000 (second) and ₦5,000 (third).
The other poets in the top 10 of this edition are Izuchukwu Saviour Otubelu, James Taiwo Abel Adesitimi, Debasish Mishra, Osadolor Williams Osayande, Akinrinade Funminiyi Isaac, Towoju Victor Olushola, and Akor Agada.
The TOP 20 poems are published in a chapbook titled ‘FRIENDSHIP and available for free download.
WINNER’S PROFILES
IBE OBASIOTA BEN is a Nigerian. She is a graduate in English and Literary Studies of the University of Calabar. She has won the African Writers’ Award 2018(Flash fiction category). She is also a gender critic and sometimes an editor.
OLADIMEDI ADAM ADEDAYO is a Nigerian writer from Okuku, Osun State. He was shortlisted for Ken Egbas Poetry Prize in 2018 and Albert Jungers Poetry Prize (AJPP) in 2019.
OGEDENGBE TOLULOPE IMPACT is a Nigerian poet and chemical engineer. Tolulope’s works have been published in Duane Poetree, Pangolin Review, Words Rhymes & Rhythms, Parousia Magazine, Subsaharan Magazine and elsewhere. His poem was shortlisted for the 7th Korea-Nigeria Poetry Feast, 2017. He is currently a postgraduate student of petroleum engineering.
DOWNLOAD THE “FRIENDSHIP“ CHAPBOOK TO READ THE TOP 20 POEMS:
The BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST is a writing contest aimed at rewarding the under-appreciated talent of young Nigerian poets. It was instituted in February 2015 in honour of Brigitte Poirson, a French poet and lecturer, editor, who has over the years worked assiduously to promote and support African poetry. Now in its third season as one of the few credible contests for poets, the BPPC has since grown to be one of country’s most popular, especially among the younger poets.
