African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest 4.0
Call for Entries: African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest 4.0 (Prizes Up to $100)
The African Secretariat of the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) is organizing the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest 4.0, and they invite passionate poets and spoken word artists to submit their work. The contest provides a platform for artists to use the power of spoken word to address pressing human rights issues across Africa.
The competition welcomes original and creative spoken word pieces exploring themes such as freedom of expression, police brutality, corruption, climate change, gender inequality, child rights, human trafficking, violence against women, and other human rights concerns affecting the continent. Writers interested in how African voices have historically engaged with social realities may also enjoy reading this literary treatise on contemporary African writers and their choices of themes
Prizes and Recognition
Selected winners will receive:
- First Prize: $100
- Second Prize: $75
- Third Prize: $50
- Five honorable mentions
They will showcase winning entries at the International Human Rights Art Festival in New York City. All entrants will receive Certificates of Participation, while shortlisted participants will receive Certificates of Excellence.
Submission Guidelines for the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest
Participants must submit a one-minute landscape video of themselves performing an original spoken word poem. Record your video in a quiet environment without background music, graphics, captions, or other individuals appearing on screen.
The poem must be unpublished, not previously awarded, and entirely the entrant’s original work. Any use of AI-generated content or plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification. For writers seeking inspiration from the experiences of established poets navigating creativity, rejection, and the literary journey, explore ten brilliant poets discussing their writing philosophies, recommending poems, and parting the green river of rejections.
Eligibility and How to Apply to the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest
Entries are open worldwide, but submissions must focus on human rights issues in Africa. Only one video entry is allowed per participant.
Entrants should include the following information in their submission email:
- Name
- Age
- Gender
- Country
- Address
- Phone number
- Where they heard about the contest
- A short biography
- Name of school or university (if applicable)
Send your entry to wole@humanrightsartmovement.
Deadline
The deadline for submissions is 15 September 2026. Winners will be announced by 1 November 2026.
