Abu Student Emerges as Winner Of The 2023 Sillerman First Book Prize

By Mathew Daniel, U17mm1160

African Poetry Book Fund (APBF) names Abu Bakr Sadiq—a 400 level student of the Department of Fishery and Aquaculture in Ahmadu Bello University—as the 2023 Sillerman prize winner in a release dated 28th July. The Minna-born poet becomes the eleventh winner and the third Nigerian to do so, forming a triad of fine Nigerian Sillerman prize winners alongside Gbenga Adeoba (2019) and Tares Oburumu (2022).

Abu Bakr Sadiq

The APBF release read in part: "The winner of the 2023 Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets is Abu Bakr Sadiq for his collection “Leaked Footages.” Sadiq will receive a $1000 cash award and publication of his manuscript as part of the African Poetry Book Series by the University of Nebraska Press".

Another Abusite, Martins Deep—author of the highly acclaimed chapbook "A Sheaf of Whispering Leaves"—has also been named a semifinalist for this year's edition of the poetry book prize.

Abu Bakr had previously been named by the APBF as a finalist in this year's Bernadine Evaristo Prize for poetry won by Feranmi Ariyo (Nigeria) and Gracia “Cianga” Mwamba (Congo/USA) before scooping the Sillerman for himself. He is also the winner of the 2022 IGNYTE award for best speculative poetry for his poem "Post Massacre Psyche Evaluation", and a semi finalist for the Boston Review annual poetry contest  amongst other nominations and awards in his bag.

Following his announcement on Twitter, the young Nigerian poet has received several congratulatory messages from well wishers and notable poets alike, including the 2022 NLNG prize for literature finalist and 2022 Julie Suk award winner—Saddiq Dzukogi (also a graduate of ABU), and Veteran writer B.M. Dzukogi amongst others.

https://twitter.com/SaddiqDzukogi/status/1685054169621704705?t=2ReD1bCiNFlz5JnLsvKaFQ&s=19

The Sillerman prize is a first book prize open to African poets who are yet to publish a book-length poetry collection and is regarded as one of Africa's most prestigious poetry prizes edited by the highly revered Kwame Dawes.

Abu Bakr becomes the winner from a strong list of finalists featuring other notable African poets.

Below is the list of other finalists in this year's edition of the Sillerman Poetry Book Prize:

 

Jamila Osman (Somalia) for the collection "Tresspass"

 

Adedayo Agarau (Nigeria) for the collection "Year of Blood"

 

Gracia Mwamba (Congo) for the collection "Our Weary Talons".


 

 


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