The Evaristo Prize for Poetry is now accepting submissions for its 2027 edition.
African poets can submit ten poems for the chance to win the annual USD $1,500 prize.
Submissions are now open for the 2027 Evaristo Prize for African Poetry, the annual award celebrating emerging African poets who have yet to publish a full-length poetry collection.
The winning poet will receive USD $1,500 for a manuscript of ten poems. Entrants must submit exactly ten poems, with each poem limited to 40 lines.
The prize is open to poets who were born in Africa, are nationals or residents of an African country, or have African parents. Entrants must not have published a full-length poetry book at the time of submission, although self-published collections, chapbooks and pamphlets do not affect eligibility.
Poems written in English are primarily considered, although translated work is also welcome. If a translated entry wins, a percentage of the prize money will be awarded to the translator.
Previously published poems and work that has already received other awards can be entered. Previous applicants are also welcome to submit again, although they are encouraged to enter new work.
How to enter
Entrants must submit one manuscript containing exactly ten poems between 1 October and 1 November via Submittable. Email submissions will not be accepted.
There are no strict formatting requirements, although entrants are encouraged to use Times New Roman or Arial in 12-point font, single-spaced, with one poem per page. Submissions should appear entirely in black.
Importantly, judging is anonymous, so names or any other identifying information must not appear within the manuscript or its file name.
Personal details including the entrant’s name, nationality, country of birth, address, country of permanent residence, email address and telephone number should instead be included in the Submittable cover letter, which will not be visible to screeners or judges.
Once submitted, poems cannot be altered.
From the Brunel Prize to the Evaristo Prize
The award was founded by British author Bernardine Evaristo in 2012 as the Brunel International African Poetry Prize. After Evaristo founded and managed the award for a decade, responsibility passed to the African Poetry Book Fund in 2022, when it was renamed the Evaristo Prize for African Poetry.
The prize continues its mission of providing a platform for emerging African poets and bringing their work to wider audiences.
Submissions close 1 November. SUBMIT HERE