Kenya, Nigeria edge out women in Ugandan poetry award

Perhaps Kenyans and Nigerians should lift their foot off the literary gas pedal for a while, just for a while. That is what one panelist seemed to suggest in one of the discussions at Maria’s Place in Ntinda, Kampala, during the annual Babishai Niwe Poetry Award (BNPA.)

The BNPA is now in its third year after opening up to poets from all over the continent. Initially it focused on Ugandan women writers, efforts that led to discovery of Ugandan budding poets. In 2014, the founder opened it up to the continent and male poets. Kenya’s Tom Jalio won it that year and then Nigeria’s Adeeko Ibukun in 2015. A reason for Nakasinze Segawa’s worry.