The 2017 Babishai Haiku Contest is open for submissions. Only African poets resident in Africa, who have not yet published a full-length collection of poetry by July 2017, are eligible.

The organisers will be considering only haiku poems that are Africa-themed. The submissions must contain clear images, settings and juxtaposition. They must also be concise, at three lines each.

The top three winners will receive $200 each as well as publication in the Mamba Haiku journal.

The prize is organised by the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation. The contest is supported by the Open Society Initiative of East Africa, the African Haiku Network, and the University of  South Africa.

In an email to Brittle Paper, the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation Director, Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva, stated that the third Babishai Poetry Festival would be held from 4-6 August 2017.

Here are the guidelines for the prize.

  • Submissions should be original, in English. Submit using Times New Roman, single-spaced and size 12.
  • Send three Haikus to [email protected] as a word attachment. Include the poem’s title on the poem but DO NOT include your name or contact details on the haiku  itself.
  • The subject line should read, BABISHAIKU 2017.
  • Include your name, email address, country or birth and country of permanent residence, telephone number and the titles of your poems in the body of the email.
  • The submissions will be accepted from April 13th 2017 to July 4th 2017.
  • The short-list will be announced in mid-July 2017.
  • More details on the face book page, Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation, on Twitter @BNPoetryAward and the Website www.babishainiwe.com.

The 2017 Judges

Adjei Agyei-Baah.

Adjei Agyei-Baah is the co-founder of Africa Haiku Network and the co-editor of the Mamba Journal, Africa’s international haiku voice. He promotes haiku in Africa and as well serves as a haiku teacher and consultant for several schools and institutions in Ghana. He is the author of “Afriku” published by Red Moon Press in 2016 and a winner of several international haiku awards.

Emmanuel Kalusian.

Emmanuel Kalusian is co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network and editor of the Mamba Journal.

Mercy Ituri.

Mercy Ituri is a multi-lingual Kenyan writer and landscape designer who is highly acclaimed in haiku. She emerged amongst the top three in both the 2016 World  Haiku Contest and International Haiku Contest.

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Please Note: Brittle Paper is not responsible for the organization or further promotion of this contest, neither do we have a stake in its popularity.