Nigerian Poet Wins prestigious award in America

A Nigerian Poet identified as Chibụìhè Obi Achịmbá, has won the 2021 S.B.C.F Emerging Artist Award in the United States.

The young poet who is based in Massachusetts said his work has been celebrated by the poetry community in loud and meaningful ways.

Chibụìhè who took to Facebook to celebrate his newly accomplished feat wrote: “The letter has been sitting on my nightstand for a while now, and each time I stare at it, shockwaves of joy ripple through my body.

There is the money that comes with this award, and then there’s the visibility and validation. I feel seen. this manuscript that I’ve been wrestling with is going somewhere after all.”

Achịmbá noted that the award is one of New England’s most prestigious artists’ grants.

According to the young man, the city of Cambridge, Boston and Somerville have shown him extraordinary kindness and support.

In his words: The city of Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville have shown me extraordinary kindness and support. the poetry community especially has welcomed and celebrated my work in loud and meaningful ways — I couldn’t have asked for a better community.

“I owe a world of gratitude to the kind folks who have been relentlessly pushing me to limelight. many thanks to Saint Botolph Club Foundation, Boston, for this priceless investment.”

In similar news, A young Nigerian man, identified as Othuke Umukoro, has won the 2021 African Poetry prize.

The 31-year-old Nigerian who is based in Port-Harcourt bagged prize money of £3,000 (N1,607,617.11).

He stated that he hopes his success will bring attention to other African poets who are also worth their salts.

Karen McCarthy Woolf, the chairman of the prize for this year, described the Nigerian winner as a person with the skill befitting the issues he handled.

On the Nigerian’s diction and narrative style, Karen said: “The language is lush, mesmeric and deftly handles the balance between lyric and narrative. These are unafraid, thoughtful pieces – playful, yet serious, making us look at love, life, mortality afresh.”