On December 26, 2024, at 6 PM CAT, talented African poets gathered for the 3rd edition of the Boxing Day Spoken Word Contest. The annual competition, organised and hosted by Writers Space Africa (WSA), is sponsored by Anthony ‘PenBoss’ Onugba, the organisation’s founder and president.
The judging panel remained unchanged, with Patrick Tom Nzabonimpa from Rwanda and Luckier Chikopa from Malawi reprising their roles. From the numerous entries submitted this year, the judges selected 10 finalists to perform:
- I Speak – Glen The Poet (Uganda)
- The Rape Poem – Hephzibah Ochoga (Nigeria)
- Untitled – Itoro Ekwere (Nigeria)
- I Am an Artist – Osayiwu Joshua Nosa (Nigeria)
- Loving Eve – The Zionist (Nigeria)
- Beautiful Sparrow – Elvis (Rwanda)
- Shattered Dreams – Atim Patricia Prosper (Uganda)
- Friends Before Benefits – Mugabi Isaac (Uganda)
- Year of Procrastination – Christine A. (Uganda)
- Flying Colour – Mbungai Marie Josette Leinyuy (Cameroon)
The judging criteria, announced by Patrick, consisted of Message/Content (40%), Delivery and Performance (30%), Originality (10%), Overall Impact (10%), and Audience Votes (10%). Unfortunately, only nine poets performed, as Christine was unable to participate due to ill health.
Read about the 2023 Boxing Day Spoken Word Contest
Following the contest and the finalisation of votes, Osayiwu Joshua Nosa from Nigeria claimed first place with his powerful performance of “I Am an Artist”, earning an impressive score of 81.69 points and the $25 prize.
In second place, Mbungai Marie Josette Leinyuy from Cameroon delivered a remarkable performance of “Flying Colour”, scoring 81.66 points and taking home the $15 prize.
Third place was awarded to Atim Patricia Prosper from Uganda for her moving performance of “Shattered Dreams”, which garnered 78.76 points and the $10 prize.
Read about the 2022 Spoken Word contest
Congratulations to the winners, and heartfelt thanks to all who participated, including those who voted. We eagerly anticipate the 2025 edition of the Boxing Day Spoken Word Contest.
Read how Zambia Emerged as the winner in Writers Space Africa’s Maiden African Educational Debate
About the Winners
Osayiwu Joshua Nosa, also known as Zerubbabel, discovered his passion for poetry after attending his first open mic event during his time at the University of Benin, Nigeria. This rising poet has since become a two-time top winner of the PoetReel monthly competition organized by i2X Media.
Renowned for his distinctive rhyming patterns and skillful use of literary devices, Joshua’s performances stand out as truly unique in the industry. A native of Benin and a devoted advocate of Jesus as the Christ, he seamlessly incorporates his cultural heritage and personal values into his art, creating works that resonate deeply with diverse audiences.
Mbungai Marie Josette Leinyuy, known by her stage name Jospoems, is a 19-year-old student from Cameroon. She is an aspiring spoken word artist and data scientist with a keen interest in teaching, personal tutoring, and business management. Her love for listening to music further fuels her creative spirit as she continues to hone her craft and pursue her ambitions.
Atim Patricia Prosper is a 19-year-old spoken word artist from Uganda with a deep passion for drama and poetry. Having recently completed high school, she currently lives in the northern part of the country with my mother and sisters. In the Uganda National Students Association Tournament, she was recognised as the third-best poet at the regional level and ranked eighth at the national level. She is determined to pursue her dreams of becoming one of Africa’s most celebrated spoken word artists and actresses.
