Uniting Africa’s Finest Poetic Minds in WSA’s 2nd Annual Flash Poetry Contest

On January 14th, 2024, Writers Space Africa proudly presented the highly anticipated second edition of its annual Flash Poetry Contest. This extraordinary event served as a captivating rendezvous for poetry enthusiasts from across the continent, who gathered to celebrate the power of words and creativity.

Sponsored by, Anthony ‘PenBoss’ Onugba, the contest showcased the brilliance of African poets and their ability to captivate hearts and minds. The judging panel comprised an illustrious line-up of literary luminaries: Funminiyi Akinrinade from Nigeria, Chief Editor of PoeticAfrica Trilingual Magazine; Nicole Gandaho from Benin Republic, Poetry Editor of WSA Literary Magazine; Benny Wanjohi from Kenya, former Chief Editor and Poetry Editor of PoeticAfrica and WSA Magazine, respectively; and Omadang Yowasi from Uganda, Poetry Editor of Poetic Africa.

Read – Echoes of Excellence at the 2023 Boxing Day Spoken Word Contest

Promptly commencing at 5 PM CAT, the contestants were tasked with crafting a poem within a mere 15 minutes, exploring the evocative theme of ‘noise.’ Their poetic expressions were meticulously evaluated based on four essential criteria: creativity, thematic cohesion, originality, and evocative power.

From an outstanding array of submissions, the esteemed judges meticulously selected the top ten poems that resonated deeply with the hearts of the judges in line with the judging criteria:

1. Symphony of Sound – Ayine Kieran
2. I Used to Hate – Precious Adekola
3. All I Can Hear – Abdulatif Khalid
4. Morning Dash – Sheila Ngei
5. Silence It – Rubix Blessing
6. Chaos Living in My Father’s Voice – Emmanuel Akintoye
7. This Sound – Felix Agyemang
8. Symphony of Kampala – Nanyanzi Leticia Hope
9. White Noise – Mayuba
10. A Song Inside Me – Eliseus

As the suspense reached its zenith, the electrified audience took centre stage, casting their votes to determine the ultimate winners. The triumphant poets who emerged from this enthralling voting session were:

1. First Place: “All I Can Hear” by Abdulatif Khalid
2. Second Place: “Symphony of Sound” by Ayine Kieran
3. Third Place: “A Song inside Me” by Eliseus

With the resounding success of this remarkable event, Writers Space Africa eagerly anticipates hosting future poetry contests that will continue to elevate and celebrate the incredible talent of African poets. Stay tuned for more captivating literary experiences that will enchant and inspire poetry lovers throughout the continent and beyond.

Read – A Night of Inspiring Poetry: Writers Space Africa 2023 Flash Poetry Contest

 

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Meet the Winners

1st place – Abdullatif Khalid

Abdullatif Khalid (Latif The Sacred Poet) an award-winning Ugandan poet. He is also an educator, writer, word crosser, scriptwriter, essayist, content creator, orator, a mentor, public speaker, creative writing coach and a word spoken artist. He offers creative writing services and performs at projects focused on brand/campaign awareness, luncheons, date nights, product launches, concerts, among others. His poems have been featured in several poetry publications, anthologies, journals and magazines including: Best New African Poets 2022 Anthology, Writing A Woman Anthology: poetry and visual art vol. 3 – an anthology by Asian and African writers and artists, Voice from My Roots” – a poetry collection by Dove Eye Poetry, Writers Space Africa (WSA), July 2023 edition, and Best New African Poets 2023 Anthology. He is currently pursuing a bachelor of arts with education in English and literature at Mountains of the Moon University

 

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2nd place – Ayine Callimus Kieran

Ayine Callimus Kieran from Uganda, is a renowned figure in the world of poetry and music. Born with a deep passion for artistic expression, Ayine has dedicated their life to crafting captivating verses that resonate with the human soul. With a unique blend of lyrical prowess and a keen understanding of the power of sound, Ayine’s poetry transcends traditional boundaries, creating a symphony of emotions and experiences. Their words have the ability to transport listeners to ethereal realms, evoking a range of feelings from joy to introspection.

Ayine’s journey as a poet began at an early age, where he found solace and inspiration in the written word. Through years of honing his craft, Ayine has developed a distinct style that combines vivid imagery, rhythmic cadence, and thought-provoking themes. He has garnered widespread recognition for their contributions to the literary and artistic community, and his works have been featured in prestigious publications and has captivated audiences in various poetry readings and performances.

Beyond his poetic endeavours, Ayine is also an advocate for the power of creativity in fostering personal growth and emotional well-being. He actively engages with aspiring artists, sharing their knowledge and experiences to inspire the next generation of poets and musicians. Till this day, Ayine continues to push the boundaries of poetic expression, constantly exploring new avenues to create a harmonious blend of words and melodies. His unwavering dedication to his craft and ability to touch the hearts of listeners makes him a true luminary in the world of poetry and music.

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3rd Place – Eliseus Bamporineza

Born of a Rwandan mother and Burundian father, Eliseus Bamporineza is a Tujenge Africa Foundation alumnus and African Leadership Academy-MasterCard Foundation scholar, poet, and one of the beneficiaries of the first East African Community Youth Fellowship.

Eliseus holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Comparative Philosophy from the United States International University – Africa, based in Nairobi Kenya. Eliseus took part in one-month training at the university of Rochester in 2019 and holds a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Design-Thinking he acquired after a six-month intense training at Aspire Leaders founded at Harvard cohort 2022 for first-generation university students.

Eliseus won the 2014 edition of the East African Students Essay Writing competition, and wrote a play titled “Amunguranka Ni yo Mazikesha” on democratic values, ranked first in the national competition in 2015. Concluding his high school studies, Eliseus emerged as one of the top students in the National Exam. He ranked third in the National Exam for entry in the medical field of studies at the university of Burundi in 2018 but decided to switch to his passion in International Affairs.

In August 2021, he attended the Tanzania International Model United Nations (TIMUN). This annual conference that gives simulation experiences on what happens during the United Nations General Assembly took place from 23 to 26 August 2021 under the topic: Youth Engagement towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals Decade of Action.

In February 2022, his AU-EU Essay (The AU-EU Partnership that Reaches the Underprivileged African) got selected as one of the top contributions ahead of the AU-EU Summit 2022. From June to August 2022, he served as an intern for education catalyst program at the African Leadership Academy. In July 2022, he participated in the International Youth Diplomacy Conference held in Accra, Ghana under the theme, “Promoting Youth Participation in Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change”.

From January to April 2023, Eliseus participated in a community service at the Missionaries of Charity – Home of Peace located in Kasarani, Nairobi Kenya. In July 2023 he took part in the Pan-African Youth Ambassadors for Internet Governance with a focus on Internet Governance in Africa.

In August 2023, his Abstract on mobilization of resources to empower African youth and achieve the equitable outcomes in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area emerged as the best and he also ranked second in the East African Community interuniversity debate held at Makerere university in Uganda. From September to October, he served as a research assistant at internship level at the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA-Nairobi) located in Nairobi – Kenya.

In October 2023, Eliseus got selected into the first East African Community Youth Fellowship organized by the YouLead Africa and the East African Community and was held in Arusha – Tanzania from October 2 to October 20, 2023 for the first phase and November 6^th to November 20^th for the second phase. From November 20^th to November 25^th, 2023, he participated in the YouLead Summit 2023 held in Nairobi – Kenya under the theme: “Empowering youth through capacity building.” From November 27^th to November 29^th, 2023, he took part in the workshop on zero hunger campaign by the Restless Development. He has now begun 2024 as the third place winner of the WSA flash poetry contest.