The African Secretariat of the International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) has unveiled the longlist of 58 poets selected for its African Human Rights Poetry Competition. The competition concluded its first phase with a remarkable response, receiving 350 entries from poets and human rights advocates across 25 countries.
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According to the coordinator of the African Human Rights Poetry Competition, Wole Adedoyin, this wide-ranging participation demonstrates both the global relevance of human rights issues and poetry’s enduring power to address them.
Entries were submitted from a diverse array of countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Thailand, India, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Rwanda, Canada, Jamaica, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, USA, Egypt, Botswana, Malawi, Madagascar, and Tunisia. This impressive geographical spread reflects the universal concern for human rights and the collective desire to use poetry as a vehicle for change.
Competition’s Mission and Impact
The African Human Rights Poetry Competition was established specifically to amplify the voices of poets advocating for justice, equality, and human dignity. Through their creative works, participating poets explore pressing issues including political oppression, gender inequality, child rights, freedom of speech, and other human rights challenges affecting people globally.
The 58 selected poets represent what organisers describe as some of the most powerful, insightful, and thought-provoking entries received. Their works reflect a blend of personal experience, social commentary, and bold imagination, all aligned with the competition’s mission to spotlight human rights through the arts.
Recognition of Creative Advocacy
Expressing appreciation to all participants, Adedoyin noted the significant impact of their contributions: “These poets have given voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless through their words. They have demonstrated how poetry can challenge oppression and ignite conversations that lead to positive change.”
The competition has proven to be a significant platform for both emerging and established poets, providing them with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global conversations on justice, equality, and freedom.
Next Phase and Future Plans
The longlisted poems will now be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges who will select the final winners in the competition’s next phase. IHRAM is also planning an anthology of the longlisted works, ensuring that these powerful voices will be preserved and shared widely as a testament to the ongoing fight for human rights.
Diverse Themes and Voices
The longlist includes works with evocative titles that reflect the breadth of human rights themes being addressed. Notable entries include “Africa, Rise with Light,” “Silence Never Even Saved Us,” “When Freedom Wears Chains,” “Echoes of Liberty,” and “Voices Unheard,” among others.
The selected poems span a wide range of human rights concerns, from systemic oppression and social justice to individual dignity and collective freedom, demonstrating the versatility of poetry as a medium for human rights advocacy.
IHRAM’s Continued Commitment
IHRAM remains steadfast in its belief that the arts play a vital role in human rights advocacy. Through this competition, the organisation continues to build bridges between artists, activists, and audiences, using creative expression to foster awareness and inspire action against injustices.
Through initiatives like this competition, IHRAM reaffirms its dedication to harnessing the power of art for social impact, encouraging creative individuals to continue using their voices to advocate for a fairer, more humane world.
Complete Longlist of Selected Poets
The 58 longlisted works represent voices from across the globe, with titles ranging from direct calls to action like “Let Rights Rise” to metaphorical explorations such as “When the Elephant Sits on the Chicken” and deeply personal reflections like “I Am Human Too.”
Below are the names of the longlisted poets:
1. AFRICA, RISE WITH LIGHT: Awountsa Tsafac Umel
2. HUMAN RIGHTS POETRY: Adebara Abibat Itunuoluwa
3. TWO FACES OF JUSTICE: Luper Paul Iorkongoso
4. AFRICA AND AFFAIRS OF INJUSTICE: Noah Ebije
5. RIGHTS SHOULDN’T HAVE TO KNOCK: Paul Olayimika
6. I HAVE A DREAM: Alimikhena Oshiole Grace
7. SILENCE NEVER EVEN SAVED US: Natalie Alinda Kagaba
8. REQUIEM FOR MY COUNTRY: Daniel Echezona
9. WE ARE NOT SILENT: Joyce Elsie Amoshaire Dixon
10. RECLAMATION: Evans Divine
11. A SULLEN SUNLESS SKY: Nicole Chingosha
12. WE, THE UPLIFTED ASHES: Jean-Marc AZI
13. WHAT IF?: Tracy Jamgbad
14. ECHOES OF A CHAINED NATION: Faith Kamanga
15. THE LION SPEAKS: AN AFRICAN ASSERTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: Meme David
16. I AM JUST A YOUNG GIRL: Faith Nkuna
17. WHEN FREEDOM WEARS CHAINS: Fatokun Ibukun Paul
18. JUSTICE UNSEEN: Onyema Gift
19. OPPRESSION: Wangari Margaret Wanjiru
20. POEM: LET RIGHTS RISE: Yves Mugisha
21. CRIES OF THE NATION: Oguguom Chidiebere
22. THE SILENCE THAT SCREAMS: Moseka Ntiyia
23. BALLAD OF A BORROWED NATION: Adjekawen Jeremiah Agberia
24. VIOLATED FOR LIFE: Oladele Babajamu
25. CHANGING THE NARRATIVE: Favour Udofot John
26. VOICES OF OUR TOMORROW: Kobe D. Wleh
27. THE PIXEL VOODOO CIRCUIT BOARD: Sarah Lubala
28. DO YOU EVER REALLY THINK?: Amos Yaubeta Sunday
29. BEAT ME NO UNEQUAL STICKS: Segun Alexandra Adeniyi
30. WHEN THE ELEPHANT SITS ON THE CHICKEN: Ebhohon Majekodunmi Oseriemen
31. IMAGINE A SOCIETY OF LAWLESSNESS: Chioma Praise Udechineke
32. ECHOES OF LIBERTY: Inneh Ifueko
33. ECHOES OF HUMANITY: Iornumbe Charles
34. HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA: Oluwatamilore Oluwadarasimi Agunbiade
35. ON HUMAN RIGHTS: Comfort Nyarko
36. CLIPPED WINGS: Wahab Raimot Abike
37. IN EVERY HEART: Abdulrasheed Yakubu Ladan
38. SAY MY NAME: Ogwa Vivian Onyedibia
39. PATHWAYS TO PEACE: Moronike Bello-Olusanya
40. COLOUR BLINDNESS: Dennis Othuechere Ogu
41. STRIVING STRENGTH: Abdulmumeen Humulkhair Olamipo
42. UNSHACKLED VOICES EGBA: Samuel Patrick
43. THE GAP: Matthew Edeh
44. WHEN THE CHAINS BREAK, WILL WE RUN? Anselm Eme
45. AFRICAN WHISPERS: Daksha Sivaraj Sajjan
46. THE RIGHT TO BE: Oladejo Rachel
47. THE INNOCENT: Olanrewaju Sheriff
48. THE BLACKMAN’S SAGA: Chukwuajah Emmanuel
49. WAITING FOR THE ANGELS: Muhammad Hassan
50. BEFORE: Khairat Abdulrazaq
51. JUSTICE: Tanimu Abdulahi
52. BENEATH THE UNIVERSE: Doreen Mwenda
53. COME, I SWEAR WE’LL LAUGH SO HARD AGAIN AND RUN ALONG ALL RIVERS: Aishat Yahkub
54. I AM HUMAN TOO: Chioma Muogbo
55. MY DREAM, MY IDENTITY: Musa Abdulshakur Abdulkadiri
56. AFRICA’S CLARION CALL: Ogooluwa Divine Ayanfeoluwa
57. VOICES UNHEARD: Matshidiso Rachel Hlungwani
58. THE AFRICAN CRY: Zachariah Princess Gogote
There is no doubt that literature can document injustice, inspire resistance, and envision a more equitable society.
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