The prize winner will receive $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion in Senegal as part of the African Poetry Book Series.
By Abioye Damilare Samson
The Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poetry is currently open for submissions for the 2025 edition, with a submission timeline between September 15 and December 1, 2025.
The prestigious poetry prize, funded and administered by philanthropists Laura and Robert F.X. Sillerman, is awarded annually to an African poet who has yet to publish a full-length collection of poetry. The prize winner will receive $1,000 and book publication through the University of Nebraska Press and Amalion in Senegal as part of the African Poetry Book Series.
Launched under the African Poetry Book Fund, the award has become one of the most important opportunities for emerging African poets, offering them global visibility and a pathway into the world of publishing. Previous winners have gone on to establish themselves as influential voices in contemporary poetry, reinforcing the prize’s reputation as a launchpad for literary excellence.
Eligibility is open to African writers by birth, nationality, residence, or parentage, provided they have not previously published a book-length poetry collection. Self-published works that were commercially distributed make applicants ineligible, though editing an anthology does not. Manuscripts must be in English, but translations from African languages are also accepted, with the prize money shared between the poet and the translator.
Submissions must be at least 50 pages, submitted anonymously, and sent electronically through the Submittable link. Writers may submit more than one manuscript, and no entry fee is required. The winner of the 2025 edition will be announced in June 2026.
Eligible writers can submit their entries here. Further details on eligibility and entry guidelines are available here.