Announcing the Shortlisted Participants for Our Stories Redefined Anthology for African Writing 2023 (Poetry Edition)

We are pleased to announce the shortlisted participants for our upcoming poetry anthology, Our Stories Redefined Anthology for African Writing 2023 (Poetry Edition), celebrating African poets’ rich and diverse voices. The response we received from poets across the continent was remarkable, reflecting the immense talent and passion within the African literary landscape. The depth of emotions, cultural richness, and powerful storytelling evident in each submission made the selection process challenging and inspiring.

This year we challenged applicants to explore the theme ‘Strange Water’ within the confines of Africanfuturism, which is a subgenre of speculative fiction. Young and old writers could submit poetry pieces of up to 45 lines expressed in the English language. The call-out was reflective of the AU agenda 2063 ‘The Africa We Want’. The submissions followed the guidelines closely, and we appreciate everyone who took the time to participate.

Our esteemed editors, themselves accomplished poets and literary figures, carefully evaluated each poem, recognising the unique perspectives, poetic craftsmanship, and profound connections to the African experience. After thoughtful deliberation, they have chosen the following poets as the shortlisted participants:

SER	NAME	POEM	NATIONALITY
1	Abiodun Abdul	Womanly Waves	Nigeria
2	Alshaad Kara	The Great Green Wall	Mauritius
3	Anthony Chukwu	Igbo Folk Story	Nigeria
4	Bonface Nyamweya	It is Well With My Soul	Kenya
5	Emelda Gwitimah	The Six Tears of the Homesick	Zimbabwe
6	Emmelline Bisiikwa	A Spark Ignited	Uganda
7	Felix Odhiambo	A Praying Mother	Kenya
8	Fubaraibi Benstowe	Footfalls and Coverall	Nigeria
9	George Kenga	Puddles of Dirt	Kenya
10	Gitau Master	Love Birds	Kenya
11	Grace Ndung’u	Myths and Beliefs of Africa	Kenya
12	Hemman Mwashi	Faded History
13	Joshua Kyama	Daughter, I Will Take the Blame	Kenya
14	Kabugho Immaculate	Rwenzururu	Uganda
15	Kimutai Allan	Migrating Back Home	Kenya
16	Kunle Ibikunle	The Place My Mother Will Never Call Africa
17	Maria Aridi Kegode	Strange Water	Kenya
18	Melvin D’Lima	Hydroponics and Drip Irrigation to the Fore	Kenya
19	Omadang Yowasi	Strange Smoke	Uganda
20	Sheila Ngei	Invasion of Privacy	Kenya
21	Wanjira Muthoni	And Rain Falls	Kenya
22	Yitzak Gate	A Gale of Pink Hail

Congratulations to these exceptional poets who have made it to the shortlist! Their poetic prowess, cultural nuances, and ability to touch the depths of the human soul have distinguished them from a pool of remarkable submissions.

To all the poets who submitted their works but didn’t make the shortlist, we extend our sincere appreciation for sharing your poetic visions with us. The calibre of poetry we received was outstanding, making the selection process difficult. We encourage you to continue honing your craft and sharing your unique voices with the world.

In the coming weeks, we will work closely with the shortlisted poets, representing various African countries, to bring their poems together in the anthology. Together, we will showcase the power and beauty of African poetry to a global audience, fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.