FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGOS, Nigeria — February 28, 2026 — The Arole Agarawu Foundation is proud to announce the official opening of the inaugural Alhaji Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize. Starting today, poets of African descent worldwide are invited to submit original, unpublished work for consideration in this landmark literary award.
The prize seeks to recognize and celebrate poets who demonstrate a profound mastery of form, language, and rhythm. In an era of rapidly evolving literary landscapes, the award centers on the music of craft, rewarding poets who push the boundaries of the written word while honoring the deep-rooted traditions of African poetics.
The Alhaji Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize is established in memory of Alhaji Arole Agarawu (1930s–1995), a prolific West African songwriter and composer. Despite his immense contributions to Yoruba musical forms—including Sakara, Apala, and Waka—his lyrical genius remained largely uncredited during his lifetime. By establishing this prize, the Foundation turns a legacy of silence into a platform for recognition, ensuring that contemporary poets receive the formal acclaim their intellectual labour deserves.
"This prize is our commitment to memory," says the Foundation. "It is an invitation to poets to sound the gong of the Black lyric and to be recognized for the weight and resonance of their voices."
About the Arole Agarawu Foundation
The Arole Agarawu Foundation, founded by Adedayo Agarau, is dedicated to the preservation of African cultural heritage and the promotion of artistic excellence. Through literary prizes and engagement with the literary community, the Foundation seeks to safeguard the legacies of African poets and empower the voices of the future.
About The Prize
- Shortlist Selection: A shortlist of 10 poets will be selected.
- The Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize: A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to a poet selected by the guest judge; this is open to any eligible poet living anywhere in the world.
- The Arole Grayling Wraith Prize: A prize of $1,000 will be awarded to a poet living on the African continent. This includes a production-grade video of a selected poem produced by media partner Grayling and Wraith.
- Dual Eligibility: A single poet may be eligible for both prizes. If the top selection is a poet on the continent, the board may award the Grayling Wraith Prize to a second shortlisted poet.
- Finality: The judges' decisions are final, and they reserve the right not to award prizes if no submission meets the required standard.
Submission Guidelines
- Eligibility: Open to poets of African descent (18 years or older) regardless of nationality. Poets who have published more than two full-length collections are not eligible.
- The Work: Submit a packet of ten (10) original, unpublished poems written in English or accompanied by an English translation.
- Format: Submissions must be Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF files and must not exceed 15 pages. Manuscripts must be anonymous; no contact information should appear on the document.
- AI Policy: Only human-created works are accepted. AI-generated poems will be disqualified.
- Timeline: The submission window opens February 28, 2026, and closes May 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.
- How to Enter: Entries must be completed via the submission manager at www.aroleagarawufoundation.com/submissions. Please do not email submissions.
All inquiries can be sent to info@aroleagarawufoundation.com. More details here.
Press Contact:
Ijeoma Ntada
Communications Lead
comms@aroleagarawufoundation.com
+234 815 807 7256