Submissions Open for the 2016 Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is awarded annually to an African poet who has not yet published a collection of poetry. The winner receives USD $1000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press. The judges are the African Poetry Book Fund Editorial Board, including Kwame Dawes, Chris Abani, Matthew Shenoda, John Keene, Gabeba Baderoon, and Bernardine Evaristo.

The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets only accepts “first book” submissions from African writers who have not published a book-length poetry collection. This includes self-published books if they were sold online, in stores, or at readings. Writers who have edited and published an anthology or a similar collection of other writers’ work remain eligible.

An “African writer” is taken to mean someone who was born in Africa, who is a national or resident of an African country, or whose parents are African. Only poetry submissions in English can be considered. Work translated from another language to English is accepted, but a percentage of the prize will be awarded to the translator. There is no entry fee and poetry manscripts should be at least 50 pages long.

The 2016 submission period for the Sillerman First Book Prize is open from September 15 through December 1, 2016. For more details on the Sillerman First Book Prize for African poets, visit their website.