The Evaristo Prize for African Poetry

The African Poetry Book Fund, in partnership with Brown University, promotes and advances the development and publication of the poetic arts through its book series, contests, workshops, and seminars and through its collaborations with publishers, festivals, booking agents, colleges,  universities, conferences and all other entities that share an interest in the poetic arts of Africa.

Established first as the Brunel International African Poetry Prize (BIAPP) in 2012 by British writer Bernardine Evaristo, who founded and managed the prize for ten years, the Evaristo Prize was renamed and passed on to be managed by the African Poetry Book Fund in 2022. A close partner of APBF, the BIAPP sought to “encourage a new generation of poets who might one day become an international presence.”

The Prize awards USD$1,500 to a poet every year for 10 poems. The prize is open to African poets who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published at the time of submission. Submissions to the prize are free to make.

The deadline for submissions is 1 November 2025.

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Enquiries about submissions should be directed to The African Poetry Book Fund. Please always refer to their website for complete details and information. 

Please note, this call is run by The African Poetry Book Fund, not the Commonwealth Foundation.