International African Writers' Association - IAWA

25/07/2026

The 4th edition of the IAWA-GLOBAL magazine coming out soon....

25/07/2026

A Heartfelt Appreciation to Our Judges

The success and credibility of the IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition rest on the dedication of our distinguished panel of judges. Your time, professionalism, and commitment to fairness ensured that every poem received the careful attention it deserved.

Thank you for your invaluable service and for helping us celebrate literary excellence. Your contribution continues to inspire writers and strengthen the future of African literature.

With sincere gratitude, thank you for being part of the IAWA family.

Signed
Munyal Manunyi Salami
IAWA-Global President

25/07/2026

Congratulations to Florence Lucy Msukwa (Malawi) Third Runner-Up of the IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition!

Her Winning poem:

I AM AFRICA- MY HERITAGE, MY FLAME
I am the breath between the mountains of Kilimanjaro

The hush before dawn when Lake Malawi listens

I am the soil’s first rain as the sigh of nsima rises from a clay pot

My name is carried in proverbs, folded into Kalulu the hare stories

As my prayers are stitched in the corners of Zitenje

Where wisdom rests quiet and bold
In me, traditional dances smile

As masked spirits spin through my veins

Each step a verse, each style a declaration, each line a voice

We are here, we have always been

I am a child of fire, made of clay and iron
Colonial tongues tried to rename me, but my spirit wore its name in secret

I am black and beautiful

I am African, not a name, but a breath of my people.

25/07/2026

IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition: Alfred Olaiya (Nigeria) Emerges as Second Runner-Up

Alfred Olaiya is a young poet and spoken word artist. He's in love with colours, emotional spirituality and the realms beyond.

He was the first-runner up in the 2026 Gbemisola Adeoti Poetry Competition, he was the second runner up at 2022 Spring Poetry Contest. He was also shortlisted in the 2025 Bridgette James Poetry Contest, shortlisted for the 2025 Joe Ushie Poetry Prize, and a finalist at the 2025 Custodian of African Literature (COAL) Poetry Contest.

His works have appeared in Best New African Poets (BNAP) 2021 Anthology, The AprilCentaur, Decades of Nine Hills and Thrills anthology, Libretto Magazine, Bluebird's Scribe Review, Soil Unfurling from Stem Anthology and elsewhere.

Read his winning poem below:

Ayọ̀mídẹ́

My little brother was a Christmas gift come early in July,
A new born baby is truly a portrait of God's smile.
Mother fondled her inner child - & the child from her insides -
& whispered Ayọ̀ mí ti dẹ.́

The eighth day brought Victoria Park into our home.

The house boomed with songs of flowers' bloom,
children ran around with laughters like young peacocks
yet to discover the paradise of colors in their bodies.

Aunty Làbákẹ made noses twitch with her magic in the kitchen.

I hope I'm not an anti-climax for saying this, I was twelve year
when my brother arrived, as though to say it's some metaphor
for the age Jesus was when his disappearance troubled his parents -

only it was my hogging which seemed to trouble mine.

Ayọ̀ brought the taste of his name with him, father became
Jorgen Klopp after corner taken quickly. Mother was
adorned with a cloth of beams. With my brother's babbles
she composed a new song, on his face she caressed light.

24/07/2026

Meet Dzungwe Johnmark Tertsegha (Nigeria), Winner of IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition -001

Tertsegha is an emerging Nigerian poet and short story writer with a degree in Sociology. Passionate about the transformative power of literature, he explores themes of social justice, identity, hope, and the everyday experiences that shape individuals and communities. While an undergraduate at Benue State University, he served as President of the Writers' League, where he actively promoted literary creativity and engagement among students. His work seeks to amplify overlooked voices, inspire thoughtful reflection, and encourage positive social change. His writing has received recognition in literary competitions, including the International African Writers Association (IAWA) Monthly Poetry Competition. Committed to continually refining his craft, Johnmark hopes to make a meaningful contribution to contemporary African literature through writing that fosters empathy, stimulates dialogue, and promotes justice, dignity, and a more compassionate society.

The Winning Poem Titeled: WILL I REACH THE SHORE?

By Dzungwe Johnmark

Will I reach the shores, O ancestors?

The moon rules the day
In a century that knows no eclipse.
I wail beneath her light,

Where we once sat and dined.
Her glow now consumes me,

Her ray burns beneath the sea.
Will I reach those shores, ancestors?

Voices have become our only eyes,
My standard as a man bears no shackles,

But my blood boils, crawling to the shore
Under the shining smile of the moon.

Will my ink reach that country?
Where minds behold what eyes cannot,

Will it find that country?
Where tribes and tongues are no emblem?

"It has fallen apart," the Father foretold,

Yet can I still make the crossing,
Crawling toward the shore
While the smiths still forge my chains?

18/07/2026

MONTHLY POETRY COMPETITION: 2nd, 3rd, runners up to be presented with certificates

17/07/2026

IAWA Announces Dzungwe Johnmark Tertsegha as Winner of the Monthly Poetry Competition

The International African Writers Association (IAWA) is pleased to announce Dzungwe Johnmark as the winner of the IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition.

After a rigorous evaluation process, the panel of judges unanimously recognized his poem for its originality, creativity, literary craftsmanship, emotional depth, and overall excellence.

The competition attracted an overwhelming number of entries from talented poets across Africa and beyond, making this edition one of the most competitive. The judges commended the remarkable quality of the submissions, noting that selecting a single winner was an exceptionally difficult task.

To every poet who submitted an entry, thank you for sharing your creativity and trusting IAWA with your work. We were inspired by the diversity of voices, themes, and perspectives expressed through your poems.

Due to the high volume of submissions received, we regret that we were unable to acknowledge every entry individually. Only the winning poet was contacted to provide the information required for publication, the interview, and the processing of the cash prize.

While many, if not all of the poems demonstrated exceptional literary merit, every competition ultimately requires the selection of one winner. This decision was reached after careful deliberation by our distinguished panel of judges from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Malawi, and Nigeria, who assessed each entry based on a transparent and merit-based scoring system.

As the winner, Dzungwe Johnmark will receive:

- US$30 Cash Prize
- A feature in the IAWA E-Magazine
- An exclusive interview in You and Literature Today on the Mount Kenya Times column.

IAWA congratulates Dzungwe Johnmark on this well-deserved achievement and applauds every participant for contributing to the growth of African literature.

This is only the beginning. We encourage all writers and poets to continue refining their craft and participating in future editions of the IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition. Your next submission could be the winning one.

Together, we will continue rewriting the narratives through the power of African literature.

Congratulations once again, Dzungwe Johnmark!

Signed:
Lingiwe Patience Sifelani,
Head of Judges,
IAWA Monthly Poetry Competition
Zimbabwe

For more, visit https://iawahq.org/

11/07/2026

For those who are still interested in getting published on our E-Magazine, the floor is still open. We've extended the deadline to 20th July 2026

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS – IAWA E-MAGAZINE VOL. 4

The International African Writers Association (IAWA) invites writers, poets, essayists, storytellers, reviewers, photographers, and artists from Africa and the diaspora to submit their original works for Volume 4 of the IAWA E-Magazine.

This is your opportunity to have your work published on a global platform dedicated to amplifying African voices and rewriting our narratives.

- Submission Deadline: 10th July 2026
- Send your entries to: [email protected]

Let your words inspire. Let your creativity be seen.

Rewrite the Narratives with IAWA!

11/07/2026

Winner of the IAWA-GLOBAL monthly poetry competition coming soon.
Watch out!