thesilkroadtoday
The Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA) has unveiled the first phase of the longlisted entries for the PAWA Poetry Competition 2026, marking a significant milestone in one of the continent’s most dynamic literary initiatives. This year’s competition attracted 293 poets from 20 countries, reflecting the remarkable diversity and vitality of contemporary African poetry. Through its Young African Writers Committee, PAWA will publish the longlisted works in two anthologies, creating a lasting platform for emerging and established poetic voices from across Africa.
The first anthology features thirty poems representing twenty African nations and written in multiple languages and literary traditions. The selected works include Analgesic Situations by Lucas Gomes of Angola, Hosana but Damn by Phodiso Modirwa of Botswana, Our Mystery by Wofar Nadine (Nkeina) of Cameroon, and A Silent African Psalm by Goska Matala of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Egypt is represented by Ibrahim Yassin’s Bamboo Poet, while Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe all contribute compelling voices to the anthology.
The longlisted poems explore a broad spectrum of themes, including identity, memory, social justice, survival, history, love, and the enduring complexities of contemporary African life. Titles such as Your Coffee Smells Like Blood, Who Will Punish the Law, Ancestral Stars, and Sunshine Yellow Burning Red suggest a body of work deeply engaged with both personal experiences and collective realities.
By publishing these longlisted works, PAWA reaffirms its commitment to nurturing literary talent, promoting intercultural dialogue, and celebrating the richness of African creativity. The PAWA Poetry Competition 2026 not only recognizes poetic excellence but also serves as a continental meeting point where diverse voices converge to tell Africa’s stories in all their complexity, resilience, and imagination. Further announcements, including the second anthology and subsequent stages of the competition, are expected in the coming months.
