The 2017 Babishai Haiku Award has gone to Kenya’s Kariuki wa Nyamu for his three haikus: “last night’s rain,” “in the morning mud,” and “fresh toad prints.” The announcement was made at the Babishai 2017 poetry festival, an initiative of Babishai-Niwe Poetry Foundation, whose director is Beverly Nambuzo Nsengiyunva.

The second place prize went to Nigeria’s Anthony Itopa Obaro for his “downpour,” “waterfalls from rooftops,” and “pouring into buckets.” The third place prize went to Ghana’s Kuadegbeku Pamela for her “moon circle,” “palms into palms,” and “an armless child breaks the ring.”

The shortlist included 17 poets: Charlotte Akello (Uganda), Usman Karofi (Nigeria), Ahmad Holderness (Nigeria), Fred Kweku Forson (Ghana), Acen Miriam Carolyne (Uganda), Kwao Jonathan Tetteh (Ghana), Nnedi Ezenwa Ohaeto (Nigeria), Alawonde Theophilus Femi (Nigeria), Justice Joseph Prah (Ghana), Osemwengie Zion (Nigeria), Abubasam Fahad Mutumba (Uganda), Akor Emmanuel Oche (Nigeria), Dan’bala Umar (Ghana), Obaji-Nwali Shegun (Nigeria), in addition to the top three.

The judging panel comprised: Adjei Agyei-Baah, co-founder of the Africa Haiku Network; Mercy Ituri, a landscape designer and award-winning haikuist from Kenya; and Emmanuel Kalusian, editor of the Mamba journal.

The three winners will receive cash prizes and be published in Mamba journal, as well as participate in selected literary festivals around the continent.

Congratulations to the winners.

Read the judges’ comments HERE.