Anthology Manuscript Queries

About Contributors

Osahon Oka was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He lives in Nigeria. His is a Pushcart nominee whose  poems have appeared in journals and magazines like Sontag Magazine, Kinpaurak, Poetry Sango-Ota, Feral Poetry, and elsewhere. His poems have won awards which includes The Kukogho Iruesiri Samson Poetry Prize (2nd Place), and the Visual Verse Autumn Writing Prize, 2022.

Kayode Adesimi (Robbin-Coker) is an English Language and Literature graduate of the Universities of Sierra Leone, Oxford and Cambridge. He is the author of “Dancing on My Way: Poems in a Foreign Language” (Sierra Leonean Writers Series, 2019).

Bridgette O James is a British Sierra Leonean writer. Her poems and stories have been featured in UK outlets. She was shortlisted for the 2024 Bridport prize, the 2024 Renard poetry prize and won the 2024 Fiction Factory Summer poem competition. A 2023 collection of poems from Sierra Leone she edited, What the Seashell Said to Me, is held in the National Poetry Library, London.  Her poem ‘Death Calls’ was first published online by Lake Poetry.

Clement Abayomi won the inaugural Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2024 with his poem, These Feet are Not Too Feeble to Fly. His entry was again shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is presently studying English Language at the University of Lagos.

Tarinabo Diete is a writer and voice over artist from Nigeria and lives in the city of Port Harcourt. She has a law degree, and her work has been featured in The Lagos Review, Orirre, Applied Worldwide, Poetry Journal amongst others. 

Chukwuebuka Alu is a Nigerian poet.

Opeyemi Mapayi is a creative force - a spoken word poet and writer who uses language to ignite emotions, tell untold stories, and leave lasting impact through the art of expression.

Ajayi Oluwasegun Samson is a bilingual poet and teacher from Osun State, Nigeria. He has been published multiple times in Ila and other magazines, anthologies and has won prizes for poetry-writing.

Ocheni Kazeem Oneshojo is a Nigerian poet and a Pushcart Prize nominee. He won the Literature Padi 2025 Literary Contest.  His works have appeared in Opuiluiche, Outside the Box Poetry Magazine, Where in the World Magazine, ANSA Magazine, Everscribe Magazine, and others.

Chidi Nwakpa is a Nigerian novelist and poet. His poems have recently been featured in ANA Abuja anthology. Currently, he is a graduate researcher in the Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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Olajuwon Joseph Olumide is an award-winning poet from West Africa, Ogun State, Nigeria. He teaches English language & Literary Studies to secondary school students. He's an Afro pop/soul singer with two albums to his belt: Magnum Opus (2025) Masterpiece 22 (2022). He's the recipient of the Albert Jungers Poetry Prize in 2022.

Esther Bucknor writes poetry and loves reading and listening to music. She studies Accounting at the University of Benin, Nigeria.

Sadiq Muktar is a Nigerian poet.

Ngozi Chioma Deborah is a Nigerian poet and social work student passionate about using words to inspire change. Her writing reflects her commitment to community, resilience, and hope. This anthology marks an important step in her journey as a storyteller and advocate.

Ikechukwu O Iwuagwu was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025.

Obaji-Nwali Segun is a Nigerian poet.

Franklin Alex Matthew is a Nigerian poet.

David Meme was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian spoken word poet and storyteller whose works blend humour, depth, and vivid imagery. He has graced major platforms like NCPS and A Night with the President, using his art to inspire transformation, amplify voices, and champion values through poetry.

Dare Michael Oluwaseyi is a Nigerian poet.

Tonny Kyule is a Nigerian poet.

Patience Agada is a Nigerian poet.

Henry Ajayi is a Nigerian poet.

Ozichi Anyinam-Uzo is a Nigerian poet.

Justice Kingsley Owhondah was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian poet and storyteller from Rivers State whose work confronts injustice, grief, and resilience.

Jésùjọba Isaac is a spoken word poet based in Ibadan,  Nigeria.

Ozichi Anyinam-Uzo is a Nigerian poet.

Merit Eneotu Isaiah is fifteen years old and is from Nigeria.

George Phiri is a Zambian poet.

Oladipo Mardiyah is a medical student and a passionate mental and public health advocate who has written and published a number of poems. Oladipo.

Praise Sage Ndipoh is twenty years old.  He is a Malawian writer and a fourth-year student at the University of Livingstonia. This is his first published work.

Josiane Kouagheu was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition. He is a journalist and writer from Cameroon.

Jive Lubbungu from Zambia holds a PhD Lit., MA Lit., MBA -Project Management, Cert. -Monitoring & Evaluation, Cert. Project Consultancy, Cert.- Climate Change AI Lecturer, Author, and Researcher, Assistant Dean Postgraduate - School of Humanities and Social Sciences He currently lectures at  the Kwame Nkrumah University, Kabwe, Zambia.

Abu Bakarr Meek Sesay is an English Language and Literature student from Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone. He is published in What the Seashell Said to Me, held in the National Poetry Library, London.

Samuel Chinonso Obika is an undergraduate of the university of Nsukka in Nigeria, studying science Laboratory technology. This is his first published work.

Káyọ̀dé Abayomi is a Nigerian poet. His works have been published or forthcoming in icefloepress, Olongo, Àtẹ́lẹw, PoetrySango Ọta, isele, Ake review, South Florida, and       elsewhere. He was shortlisted for the Ake climate change poetry prize (2022).

Wilfred Toochukwu Obiotika was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian writer.  His works can be found in Flora Fiction, Yellow Seed, De colonial Passage, Dawn Project and Ojuju.

Mature Tanko Okoduwa is a Nigerian poet, playwright, artist, art historian, actor, activist and theoretical scientist. He is a former General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Authors, and a product of the ‘Nsukka School of Art,’ (Umu-Uli), University of Nigeria. He writes about identity, parting, oppression, friendship, relationship, sexuality, equality and loss.

David Jacinth was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry competition, 2025.

Egharevba Terry was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian banker who writes as if exhaling ache, his poems bruise softly, drawn from waiting rooms, broken clocks, and borrowed faith.

Arigbe Sacristan Oghenefega is an aspiring Nigerian poet, writer, and storyteller. This will be his first published work. He is currently in Edo State, Nigeria studying engineering at the University of Benin.

Onyishi Chukwuebuka Freedom was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a poet, essayist and Publicity Secretary. He is currently the Winner of the 2025 COAL NG (The Coalition of African Literature), in partnership with the University of Leicester’s Avoidable Deaths Network and the SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative.

Oumar Farouk who wrote the foreword, is a poet  playwright and novelist. He is the current President of PEN, Sierra Leone, chapter.

Isu Evangel Ewa is a twenty-one-year-old Nigerian Medical Laboratory scientist in practice at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He is a two-time finalist at the 2023 RoNovella writing contest and BlaqInk writing contest respectively. That same year, he received his first Award of influence & recognition by List Africa.

Prince Jamal Chukwuka Duru is a young poet.

Ezeocha Nzubechukwu is a Nigerian poet.

Wilfred Obiotika Toochukwu has been featured in Flora Fiction, Yellow Seed, Dawn Project, De colonial Passage, and Ojuju magazine.

Derek Ehiorobo was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition. He is a writer, poet, and spoken word artist. His work has been published in Praxis, Con-scio, Poetry column-NND, Liquid Imaginations, the How to fall in love anthology published by Inkspired Nigeria, and the How to fall in love again, anthology also published by Inkspired Nigeria. He is also the 2024, co-winner of the Evaristo prize for poetry.

Benedict Chinagorom is a nineteen-year-old Nigerian student. This is his first published work.

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Rachel Omage is a Nigerian poet.

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Bakare Temitope is a Nigerian poet.

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Abolade Oluwakemi is a passionate and dedicated individual committed to excellence. With a strong interest in personal growth and positive impact, she strives to contribute meaningfully to every endeavor. Oluwakemi values integrity, innovation, and continuous learning in her pursuit of success and community development.

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Solomon Idah Hamza was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He won the Ngiga Prize for Humour Writing 2025 and Afristories Prize for Horror Flash 2022. He was shortlisted for the Enugu Literary Society 2024 and was longlisted for the Kikwetu Flash Fiction 2023. He has been published in Brittle Paper, Salamander Ink Magazine, Isele Magazine, Olney magazine, RoadRunner Review, Shallow Tales Review, Illino Media, Agbowo, Kalahari Review, Afritondo and elsewhere.

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Chidera Okebe is a Nigerian graduate of Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria. She is passionate about poetry writing and changing the world through poetry.

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Olobo Ochala is a Nigerian poet.

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Uloma Ofole is a Nigerian poet.

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Stephen Ivwighreghweta is a 19-year-old Nigerian writer and penultimate-year Pharmacy student at Delta State University, Abraka. In 2024, he won the local CreativeKloudHub poetry competition.

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Ugochi Eze is an eighteen-years-old Nigerian poet. Her work was featured in Writers Space Africa and forthcoming at Kalahari Review. She is studying to become a health officer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Beyond writing, Ugochi enjoys crochet and volleyball.

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Samuela Ntobe is a Nigerian poet.

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Ferdinand  Emmanuel Somtochukwu was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition. He is a young emerging Nigerian poet and essayist. He is currently studying English Language at Lagos State University. He has works published or forthcoming in Arts Longue, D’ LitReview, Poetry Column, Poetry Sango-Ota, Isele and elsewhere.

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Joel Oyeleke was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Competition, 2025.

Tukur Loba Ridwan was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian poet and Political Science graduate who explores existentialism through dualism, solitude/silence, memories, lust, and loss. His works appear in Pensive Journal, Gyroscope Review, Cordite Poetry Review, The African Writers Magazine, Kalahari Review, Rising Phoenix, and elsewhere. He won the Brigitte Pierson Monthly Poetry Contest (March 2018), authored A Boy's Tears on Earth's Tongue (Authorpedia, 2019), and was shortlisted for the Eriata Oribhabor Poetry Prize 2020.

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Funminiyi Akinrinade is a Nigerian poet and researcher whose works have appeared in Writers Space Africa Magazine, Praxis Magazine, Word Rhymes and Rhythm (WRR) Anthology, Scion Magazine, and elsewhere.

Sosy Imafidon was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He is a Nigerian poet and spoken word artist. His poetry has been featured in various publications, including Ikike Arts, Brittle Paper, African Writer Mag & elsewhere.

Ayomide Olaiya was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025.  He is a young poet, Spoken word artist and an aspiring novelist. His works have appeared in Best New African Poets (BNAP) Anthology, English Writers Association (EWA), Poetry Achive, Decades of Nine and Thrills anthology and The AprilCentaur. He was a finalist at the 2025 Custodian of African Literature (COAL) Poetry Contest and also the second runner up at 2022 Spring Poetry Contest.

Owolola Ajulekun is a Nigerian poet.

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Timileyin Adepoju writes from Ibadan, Nigeria. He was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025. He has been featured in several magazines. 

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Raphael Ibekwe Ejike is a Nigerian poet and English Language and Literary Studies student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. His latest published work is ‘My African Girl,’ (Nigerian Journal of Poems and Short Stories, 2023).

Esther Nnaji Oluchukwu is a Nigerian poet.

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Olaore Durodola-Oloto is a third year undergraduate of the department of English and Literary studies at the University of Lagos.  His work has previously appeared in Brittle Paper, Kalahari Review, Outside the Box Magazine, Anthropocene Poetry, The Crossroads Review, Blue Flame Review and elsewhere .

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Osborn Israel is a Nigerian poet.

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Aishat Yahkub is a Nigerian poet.

Nwaobilor Vincent Chukwuebuka is a Nigerian poet. 

Fortune Eleojo Simeon was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition, 2025.  He is a poet whose works have been featured on poetry column, Rough cut press, Eunoia and elsewhere.

Justin Ugochukwu Nnamene is a Nigerian poet.

Ezechukwu Mmesoma Favour is a dedicated spoken word artist who's word ignites passion. She is a twenty-year-old undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria.

Henshaw Freedom Daniel is a Nigerian poet.

Ajiboye Senami is a young Nigerian poet and law student at Bingham University. Her poetry, often centered on love, beauty, and nature, conveys emotion with vivid eloquence. Featured in Minerva Press and Writers Space Africa, she writes to inspire thought and feeling, striving for impact beyond mere entertainment.

Odebiyi Oluwaseun Deborah is a Nigerian poet.

Wisdom Adediji is a Nigerian poet.

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Richard Phiri had his collection featured in Ubwali Literary Magazine Issue 3, while his short story ‘But Only If He's Maverick,’ appeared in Writers Space Africa 101st May Edition. He is a self-taught writer based in Lusaka.

Ridwan Fasasi is a Nigerian poet of Yoruba descent. He is the winner of the 2024 Labari Prize for Poetry. A Pushcart Prize Nominee whose works have  appeared on ANMLY Lit, Chestnut Review, Euonia Review, Akpata, Lucent Dreaming, Strange Horizon, Hindsight Creative and elsewhere.

Graciano Enwerem is a Nigerian poet.

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Moyosore Agbaje is a Nigerian poet.

Aliyu Umar is a Nigerian poet.

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Abioye Mahsudat is a Nigerian poet.

Micheal Bello's Story: Love's Transient won The Bridgette James Winter Flash Fiction Competition in 2024. Micheal is currently studying computer science and software engineering at JPTS/Joint Professional Training and Support, in Nigeria.

Gideon Idudje was born in Midwest Ughelli-north and bred in Lagos, Gideon Idudje is a poet, dramatist and novelist. He is a graduate of Delta state university.

Nnaji Oluchukwu Esther is a Nigerian poet.

Mercy Obasola is a Nigerian poet.

Romanus Nnamani Otitochukwu is a Nigerian poet.

Igbudu Ternenge is a writer from Benue State, Nigeria.

Gloria Eyan is a Nigerian poet.

Chinua Emeana is a twenty-nine-year-old who  always loved reading but decided to try writing for a change. This is his first published work.

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Adesiyan Oluwapelumi was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Competition, 2025. He has been featured in 20.35 Africa, Poet Lore and elsewhere. He is the Poetry Editor of Fiery Scribe Review from Nigeria.

Innocent Tarojacho Ojo was shortlisted in The Annual Bridgette James Poetry Competition , 2025. He is a young Nigerian Page poet, Spoken word artist and Social entrepreneur. His works seek to promote the need for maximal personal development as a means to overall societal development.