Slam
One million naira (N1m) is up for the taking as the Lagos International Poetry Festival launches its annual slam competition at #LIPFest2021. Poets between the ages of 18 and 35 stand a chance to claim the slam prize and perform at the festival’s command performance event on the 23rd of October at Terra Kulture.
How to enter? Easy:
1. Submit a one-minute video of a poem on the theme Ancestral Imaginings to lipfestslam@gmail.com. Videos must be less than 100mb.
2. Poems must be original to the poet and previously unpublished.
3. Videos must be clear and recorded without props or background music.
4. Poems can be in English or any other Nigerian/African language.
5. Poems may not contain excessive violence, explicit language and/or degrading language in reference to any group of people and persons.
6. Submitting poets must be between 18 and 35 years of age.
7. Stand a chance to qualify as one of two wild card entries by uploading your poem on any social media of your choice – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok –
with the hashtags #LIPFest2021Slam and #AncestralImagnings, tagging @lagospoetryfestival.
8. Two entries with the highest number of likes/engagement will qualify as wild cards.
9. Only one submission allowed. Poets who make more than one entry will be automatically disqualified.
10. Poems will be judged by a carefully selected team of judges.
11. Entries should contain the poet’s full name, age and social media handles in the body of the submission.
12. Entries close on the 10th of October 2021.
13. Ten shortlisted by poets will be announced on the 19th of October 2021.
14. Shortlisted poets will compete live for N1M on the 22nd of October 2021 at #LIPFest2021. LIPFest 2021’s inaugural slam competition emphasizes the role of young people in dreaming and building a future that answers the anxieties of today.
The deadline is 12midnight WAT on Sunday, October 10th, 2021.
Yes. Your entry must be based off or inspired by the theme for the 2021 festival, Ancestral Imaginings.
The slam is open to poets between the ages of 18 and 35, who are able to compete live at the festival, bearing their own travel costs.
Yes, we only accept your own original work read/performed in your own voice.
Entries can be submitted in English or any Nigerian/African language. We only ask that you include an accompanying English translation in the body of the submission.
Yes, within 5 days. We aim to respond quickly but for the Covid-19 situation and staff working from home. Kindly refrain from emailing us to enquire about your submission. We will respond within the stipulated 5 days.
You can only submit one entry to one platform. Multiple entries to more than one platform leads to automatic disqualification.
Yes. Entries are primarily received at lipfestslam@gmail.com.
Shortlisted poets will be announced on the 19th of October and the winner will emerge and be announced at the live event on the 22nd of October 2021.
One million Naira only.
Just one. It’s a winner takes all exhibition.