"I got a pile of about 500
submissions and cutting it down to 46 was merely time consuming, relatively
easy. But I had headaches and hesitation every step of the way cutting those
down to my best 15, and when 15 each came in as well from Kgafela and Joanne
Arnott, it was almost as if some special gravitational field had stayed my
scroll-read-appraise-delete functions. Choosing the very best 5 poems called up
all the strength I had, for it takes strength to be brutal, to decide which is
the fine poem of a lot of fine poems, which possesses the slimmest space
between word and emotion, which should make it in because it better turns out
the fresher metaphor, the more intriguing image, the pure emotion--to pick five
of these from such a rich hoard . . . I wondered, at times, if God would
forgive me!"
~ Richard
Ali (Nigeria)
"Chopping down was hard. But
I had to stop the heart from bleeding for my darlings and chop."
~ Kgafela
oa Magogodi (South Africa)
Follow link to read short-listed poems:
THE CARPENTER by El Lazim Elbasha (Sudan)
L’ARUGE (PROMOTION) by Saka Aliyu (Nigeria)
insane living by Dorothie Ayebazibwe (Uganda)
Under the Guava Tree by Annetjie van Wynegaard (South Africa)
THERE WAS ONCE SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE by Tom Jalio (Kenya)
THE NIGHT SANGO CAME TO UJAGBE by Suleiman Agbonkhianmen Buhari (Nigeria)
THINGS THAT WERE LOST IN OUR VAGINAS by Nyachiro Lydia Kasese (Tanzania)
DIALOGUE OVER THE TWILIGHT ZONE (Ebony & Ivory) by Moses Muyanja Kyeyune (Uganda)
Blood and Water by Elizabeth Muchemwa (Zimbabwe)
Orukoro Dancer by Benstowe Fubaraibi Anari (Nigeria)
READ THE BNPA 2014 LONGLISTED POEMS HERE
1.
Blood and Water and Celebration (2 in 1) by Elizabeth Muchemwa Zimbabwe
2.
After The Rain by Moses Muyanja Kyeyune from Uganda
3.
The Crumpled Up paper and The Smooth Elegant One by Willie Ng'ang'a from Kenya.
4.
Insane Living by Dorothie Ayebazibwe from Uganda
5.
Reborn by Brenda Kanani from Kenya
6.
The Carpenter by Saba El Laziri from Sudan
7.
Sun Visit by Edzordzi Agbozo from Ghana
8.
Piano and Gongs by Kelvin Opeoluwa Kellman from Nigeria
9.
Our Oiled Rusty Shores by Attah John Ojonugwa from Nigeria
10.
Beware by Richard Quaz Roodt from South Africa
11.
Time Zones by Kyle Allan of South Africa
12.
Dear Asabi by Mof'oluwawo Mojolaoluwa from Nigeria
13.
Dialogue Over The Twilight Zone ( Ebony & Ivory) by Moses Kyeyune Muyanja,
Uganda
14.
The Things That were Lost In Our Vaginas by Nyachiro Lydia Kasese, Tanzania
15.
There Was Once Something Special Here by Tom Jalio, Kenya
16.
I am Still Here by Chiugo Veronica Akaolisa, Nigeria
17.
L'aruge/Promotion by Saka Aliyu, Nigeria
18.
She Could Hear God by Jennie Marima, Kenya
19.
Smarty Phone by Nassolo Marjorie, Uganda
20.
Biriwa was My Home by Kojo Turkson, Ghana
21.
A Place Called Home by Dela Nyamuame, Ghana
22.
If I Was by Achieng Odhiambo, Kenya
23.
I am The Beginning by Oladele Noah, Nigeria
24.
Greater Enemy by Emiru David Patrick, Uganda
25.
The Conversation (2) by Tumelo Thekisho, South Africa
26.
Why Must African men Not Cry
27.
Between God and Man 1 and 11 by Oladele Noah, Nigeria
28.
Half Filled Graves by Okwudili Nebeolisa, Nigeria
29.
Orukoro Dancer by Benstowe Fubaraibi Anari, Nigeria
30.
Moonlight or No Light by Nana Nyarko Boateng, Ghana
31.
Under The Guava Tree by Annetjie van Wynegaard, South Africa
32.
Two Sides of A Window by Damilola Michael Aderibigbe, Nigeria
33.
It Happened to me too by James Yeku, Nigeria
34.
A Weekend in Lagos by Isoje Chou, Nigeria
35.
Paranoia by Oluwaloni Olowookere, Nigeria
36.
Autshumato by Celeste Fritze, South Africa
37.
Children Also Grow by Rasaq Malik Gbolahan, Nigeria
38.
A Sudden Time by Solagbade Oyefara, Nigeria
39.
Different Forms of Slaughter by Asante Lucy Mtenje, Malawi
40.
The Night Sango Came to Ujagbe by Suleiman Agbonkhianmen Buhari, Nigeria
41.
What Poetry Means to Me by Rasaq Malik Gbolahan, Nigeria
42.
Mama Talks by Valerie Awo-Dede Okaiteh, Ghana
43.
Indeed Beauty Full by Oludami Yomi-Alliyu, Nigeria
44.
Celestial Sprouts (Twin-Tomato-Tree) by Moses Muyanja Kyeyune, Uganda
With thanks for the +1000 submissions, and congratulations to the poets whose poems arrived on the long list, and the short list. Final prize-winners (first, second, third) will be announced at the awards ceremony, in September.