African Human Rights Essay Competition: IHRAF Unveils Judges

 

AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY COMPETITION: IHRAF UNVEILS JUDGES

 

The International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF), organizer of the African Human Rights Essay Competition has announced the selection of two judges for the ongoing Essay writing competition aimed at addressing human rights issues and promoting human rights culture and ethics in Africa.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Coordinator of IHRAF in Africa, Wole Adedoyin disclosed that they have received outstanding entries from five different countries within Africa. The countries are: Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana.

To evaluate and select outstanding entries for the top prizes in the competition, the organizer of the African Human Rights Essay Competition has unveiled two distinguished individuals with diverse experiences and expertise in Essay Writing.

The two selected judges are Izunna Okafor and Tom Block.

Izunna Okafor is an award-winning Nigerian Novelist, Poet, Journalist, Essayist, Editor, Translator, Publicist, Igbo Language Activist and an Administrator who hails from Ebenator in Nnewi South L.G.A of Anambra State Nigeria.

He is graduate from Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, where he studied Public Administration. He also holds O.N.D in Public Administration from the same school.

A published and best-selling author, Izunna has written globally applauded books. He is the author of: 'Ikem's Adventure' (his first book) published in Nigeria in 2012, during his secondary school; 'The Curse of A Widow' (his second book), published in 2013; 'The Faithful Children' (his third book), published in 2014, and received outstanding recognition in the Ezenwa Ohaeto Prize for Young Nigerian Novelists 2015; 'Ajo Enyi,' his debut Igbo novel and fourth book, published in 2015. 

With 'Ajo Enyi', he won the 2015/2016 Nigerian Writers Award/Indigenous Writer of the Year; the 2015 Society of Young Nigerian Writers Award/Pita Nwanna Award for Igbo Literature; and also got shortlisted for the 2015 Young Nigerian Writer of The Year, and the 2017 Nigerian Writers Award.

His other books include "African Blood" (A Short Story), "Nzúzù M Egbuo M," (Igbo novel), "Educated Illiterate," and "Teach Me Grammar."

He has been published in many magazines, anthologies, journals, etc, both nationally and internationally; has thousands of articles/essays as well as poems and short stories published online to his credit.

A diglot writer, Izunna writes perfectly in Igbo and English languages and has published widely in both languages.

He has won and been nominated for many awards which include: The Nigerian Writers Award/Indigenous Writer of the Year 2015/2016; Pita Nwana Prize for Igbo Literature 2015; Society of Young Nigerian Writers Award Nigeria; Heritage Icon Award/Young Writer of the Year Federal Republic of Nigeria 2016; Merit Award from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (2016); Award of Recognition from Students Union Government, Unizik (2017); Nigerian Writers Award/Young Writer of the Year 2015/2016; N.Y.S.C. Essay Competition 2012; SLAM Hero Youth International Award/Innovative Youth of the Year 2016; Anambra Exclusive Youth Choice Award/Youth Writer of the Year 2016; Award of Academic Excellence from The National Association of Public Administration Students (2016); Inspire Award /Outstanding Youth in Academics 2017; NAPAS Academic Icon of the Year 2017; Anambra Campus Award 2017/Campus Writer of the Year 2017; Award of Excellence from the Society of Young Nigerian Writers 2016; Anambra Exclusive Youth Choice Award/Outstanding Youth of the Year 2017; Youth Writer of the Year 2016 NAPAS Essay Competition 2017; Starlett Entertainment Award/Creative Writer of the Year 2016; Young Author Award, 2018;Creative Crew Africa/Young Talent of the Year 2018, among others; Campus Best Writer 2018/Campus Best Journalist of the Year 2018; Best Secretary General of NAPAS (2018);Young Achievers Award/Best Young Writer of the Year 2019; National Light Staff of the Year 2019; Anambra Media Excellence Award/News Reporter of the Year 2019; Recognition Award, Anambra Through A Lens, 2020; He also has numerous Certificates of Merit, Award, Recognition, the most recent of which include:; Certificate of Recognition from the ImpactField Global Initiative (2018); Certificate of Award from the Applex Art and Creative Crew Africa (2018); Certificate of Completion for the SprinNG Advancement Fellowship, 2020; Certificate of Participation, Naija Haiku Poetry Workshop, 2020, among others.

At the age of 21, Izunna was nominated for The Future Award Africa 2016/African Prize For Education, which is one of the biggest and most prestigious African youths awards.

He has been published in many literary magazines, anthologies, websites, and newspapers, and many other platforms.

Aside being a creative writer, Izunna is also an Igbo Language Activist who has played and continued to play great roles in sustaining and promoting Igbo Language and culture. He preaches and takes the 'gospel' of Igbo language and the need for its sustenance to every nook and cranny, ranging from schools to churches, radio/television stations, and to other public places, being part if his own contribution and strategic measures to ensure that the Igbo Language does not go extinct as predicted by the UNESCO in 2012.

He has also been featured in many radio and television stations across the country on this mission.

In addition to these, Izunna is also a renowned journalist and columnist currently working with Anambra Newspaper and Printing Corporation, the publishers of National Light Newspaper, Ka Ọ Dị Taa (which is the only Igbo Language Newspaper in Nigeria) and Sportslight Xtra.

He also writes for Igbo Radio which is an online Igbo Language news hub with its headquarter in Canada, and also freelance for other media/publishing houses, both the online and print media.

Izunna is the Coordinator of Society of Young Nigerian Writers, Anambra State Chapter, which is a literary body that hosts Chinua Achebe Literary Festival, which is an annual literary event held in memory and honour of Late Prof. Chinua Achebe, since 2016.

He is the Editor-in-Chief of Chinua Achebe Poetry/Essay Anthology which is an international anthology annually published in honour of Achebe.

In April, 2020, Izunna was appointed the Project Coordinator, Writers Against COVID-19 Movement. He is the editor of the COVID-19 Poetry/Essay Anthology, titled 'Ripostes of Locked Down Voices', which is the first international anthology of poems and essays on COVID-19.

He is also an alumnus and 2020 Fellow of the SprinNG Advancement Fellowship, being championed by the SprinNG Literary Movement.

He edits and publishes an annual Special Valentine Poetry Collection, which are all available online for free download. During his undergraduate days, he was part of the editorial team of the FAMASSA Magazine.

He is Ambassador of TFA Africa in Nigeria; the ambassador of Read Across Nigeria in Anambra State.

An alumnus of Unizik, he is also a former Secretary General of the National Association of Public Administration Students (NAPAS), as well as the current National Secretary General of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers.

In 2019, Izunna met and discussed literature with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, at a literary evening that climaxed the 2019 Purple Hibiscus Creative Writing Workshop, organized by the international literary figure, Adichie.

Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others. He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has exhibited his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. www.tomblock.com

The longlist of 15 outstanding entries are expected to be announced on the 10th of April, 2021.

 

A Writing Career Is Marathon, Not A Sprint - Alexander Nderitu - Deputy SECRETARY-General of PEN Kenya Centre

 

A WRITING CAREER IS MARATHON, NOT A SPRINT - ALEXANDER NDERITU - DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF PEN KENYA CENTRE

 

Alexander Nderitu is a Kenyan writer, poet, playwright and critic. He is the Deputy Secretary-General of PEN Kenya Centre and a Regional Managing Editor for the global news portal TheTheatreTimes.com. He has authored four e-books: When the Whirlwind Passes (novel), The Moon is Made of Green Cheese (poetry); Kiss, Commander, Promise (short stories); and Africa on my Mind (YA novel). In 2017, Business Daily newspaper named him one of Kenya’s ‘Top 40 Under 40 Men’.  In 2020, he was a finalist for the Collins Elesiro Literary Prize. In this chat with Wole Adedoyin, Alexander Nderitu talks about his life, writing and latest book.

WA: TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR WRITING BACKGROUND- WHAT YOU’VE WRITTEN, WHAT YOU’RE CURRENTLY WRITING.

AN: My writing journey truly began when I was a teenager. My high school essays were often read out to the rest of the class. I was always destined to be a writer. I was literally born on UNESCO’s World Book and Copyright Day/Shakespeare’s birthday; April 23^rd. At the age of 22, I released my first novel, When the Whirlwind Passes. It was Africa’s first e-novel. I have since authored three more books: Kiss Commander Promise, Africa on my Mind and The Moon is Made of Green Cheese. I have also penned numerous poems and articles over the past two decades. They have been published and translated all over the world. One poem, Someone in African Loves You, has been broadcast by the BBC and translated into several languages. I also write stage plays, the most recent being a biography of Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. It’s titled The Talking of Trees. Wangari Maathai and I hail from the same region of Central Kenya and she’s a major inspiration to me.

 WA: WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT A PIECE OF WRITING?

AN: Style, mostly. But also unique ideas and high concepts. I want to be taken on a mental journey and, hopefully, learn a thing or two.

WA: WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE WRITERS AND WHY?

AN: This is actually a more difficult question than one might assume. I have been an avid reader since childhood. My preferences in genre and authors have changed over time. I also write in different genres, and I have ‘heroes’ in each one. But when I first resolved to be a novelist, my inspirations included Ian Fleming, Frederick Forsyth, Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clarke and Robert Ludlum. As you can see, those were bestselling authors in the crime/espionage genres. I love espionage books and films. There are two spy tales in Kiss Commander Promise, which is a collection of short stories.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEW WRITER STARTING OUT?

AN: Read widely. Research thoroughly. Dare to be different.

WA: WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

AN: Emotive issues. Inspirational people. Big ideas. Injustices around the world. Beauty. It’s a whole range of things. Writing is my favourite method of communication. I’d rather write down a message than express it verbally.

WA: DO YOU HAVE A WRITING ROUTINE? A PLACE THAT’S SPECIAL?

AN: When you write for a living, it’s hard to be choosy. Apart from my own writings, I am also a professional editor and ghostwriter. I write at home, in the office, and sometimes on my phone when I’m travelling. I mostly write at night, when the world is quiet and the temperatures are cool. Copious amounts of coffee are consumed when I’m writing at home!

WA: HOW, WHEN AND WHY DID YOU FIRST START WRITING?

AN: When I was around 14, I created my own comic strips inspired by such graphic characters as Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Modesty Blaise, and Batman. I created the characters, drew the cartoons with a pencil or biro, and wrote the text.  They were quite popular amongst my classmates. When I was in secondary school, I started writing poetry, mainly inspired by the books such as Adventures in Poetry for African Schools, Song of Lawino, and Poems From East Africa. I was about 15 years old.

WA: WHAT WAS THE FIRST PIECE YOU EVER HAD PUBLISHED?

AN: I believe it was a poem titled The World is Upside Down which was published in the East African Standard in the early 2000’s.

WA: DO YOU ADDRESS PARTICULAR THEMES OR ISSUES IN YOUR WRITING?

AN: I do my research and look for creative ways to bring the message home. I rarely write just for the sake of writing; there’s usually something I’m trying to say or an issue I’m trying to highlight. It’s not merely entertainment. I keep wondering if I’m getting the message across. A recent short story of mine, title A Body Made For Sin, was published online by IHRAF Publishes. It was inspired by a true-life murder mystery of a Nairobi campus girl. In the real-life legal drama, the culprit(s) got away scot free. In my version, just was served. Alice Walker once said, ‘Activism is my rent for living on the planet.’ Ditto that. I pay a lot of rent by addressing real-life injustices through my writings. Live From Garissa, another short story, was published in the UK by One Million Project. Harvest of Blood, one of my favourite tales, was about the Rwanda Genocide and was published in Israel by IFLAC. I am currently working in two more collections of short stories, 10 tales per book. I hope this doesn’t come off as arrogant but my current mission is to say in a short story what other writers say in an entire book.

WA: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SENDING YOUR WRITING OUT INTO THE WORLD?

AN: Excited and a bit nervous! Luckily, my first review – for my first novel – was a great one. A few years later, I discovered a global writers’ hub called Authorsden.com. This was way before social media sites like MySpace and Facebook came into existence. On Authorsden, one would post their poems, short stories or book excerpts and receive comments from peers all over the world. The vast majority of comments were positive and very exciting to read!

WA: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS FROM?

AN: A very wide range of places – nature, people, incidents, news items, other books, music, film, television series and so on. Some probably come from what Carl Gustav Jung called ‘the collective unconscious’; a mental repository that all humans share the same way we share our ancestral DNA. Maybe some people are better at tapping into this vast ethereal sea than others. Don’t get spooked. I am a very grounded guy. I don’t believe in crap like money rituals and miraculous healing. But I don’t close my mind to whatever knowledge might be out there. I like to explore ideas.

WA:  HOW DID YOU GET YOUR PUBLISHER?

AN: I started with self-publishing. As I grew in the industry, I started submitting various writings to publishers calling for entries in various genres. Now I have an agent who resides in New York so in future I will submit manuscripts through him.

WA: TELL US WHAT KIND OF RESPONSES YOU GET FROM AUDIENCES\ READERS.

AN: I receive generally positive feedback from critics and generally enthusiastic praise from fans. In fact, just this morning, a reader posted a copy of herself holding a copy of When the Whirlwind Passes and describing me as ‘the greatest author of all times.’ Some years ago, an aspiring writer posted on Facebook that he read my non-fiction document, ‘Changing Kenya’s Literary Landscape’ ‘pole pole (slowly slowly) like The Bible’ because he ‘didn’t want it to end’. It was the best compliment I had ever received.

WA: HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU?

AN: I am on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Wattpad and Twitter. A large number of my writings are available on smartphones globally via the Worldreader app which is freely available on Google Play.

WA: TIPS, TRICKS, THINGS TO PASS ON TO DEDICATED WRITE?

AN: Start writing as early as possible. A writing career is marathon, not a sprint. Utilize the Internet and especially social media in order to find writing opportunities. Seek an agent through whom you can submit your manuscripts to publishers.

WA: ANY TYPICAL/COMMON MISTAKES THAT NEW WRITERS TEND TO MAKE?

AN: Self-published writers tend to cut out editors and cover designers in order to reduce costs. Published work should always pass through an editor.

WA: WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?

AN: When the Whirlwind Passes was the easiest to write. Everything just clicked. The moon is Made of Green Cheese contains some poems that I am very proud of. My favourite play is Hannah and the Angel. It has a lot of humour and elements of Hip-Hop culture, which I like.

WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK? WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE?

AN: In 1998, I read a Daily Nation newspaper article about an Italian fashion baron who was murdered in cold blood. The trial of his murder suspects exposed the soap-opera-type lifestyles of the rich and famous and the constant machinations that take place behind closed doors. I felt it was a great story and it inspired me to write a similar family saga based in Africa. It’s titled When the Whirlwind Passes.  I published it online first, having heard about emerging e-book trends in the West. It became Africa’s first purely digital novel. It is now available as a paperback and has gone through 3 editions, complete with cover changes. The Daily Nation’s Saturday magazine described it as ‘brilliantly written.’

WA: What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

AN: I would rather readers figured that out for themselves.

WA: Where can we find you online?

AN: www.AlexanderNderitu.com

ABOUT HIS LATEST BOOK:

In 2001, When the Whirlwind Passes became Africa's first purely 'digital novel'. Over the next decade or so, it remained the continent's most-downloaded e-novel. Inspired by a true story, the novel follows the life of a ghetto princess who marries a wealthy fashion baron, and the circumstances that turn their whirlwind romance into the murder case of the decade.

 

Over $200 up for grabs at African Human Rights Essay Competition for Young Essayists

 

OVER $200 UP FOR GRABS AT AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY COMPETITION FOR YOUNG ESSAYISTS

 

The African Chapter of the International Human Rights Art Festival (IHRAF) has urged African essayists and writers to participate in the ongoing African Human Rights Essay Competition with the theme, Human Rights Abuse and Violations in Africa.

In a press statement issued and signed by Wole Adedoyin, President of the International Human Rights Art Festival- African Chapter (IHRAF Africa) called on essayists to lend their voices on human rights abuse and violation in their respective countries in Africa.

Entries are only expected in essays from budding and established essayists and writers within and outside Africa from African Essayists and Writers. Intending entries should focus exclusively on the theme, ‘Human Rights Abuse and Violations in Africa’ and only works relating to the theme will be accepted for the competition.

According to the Press Statement, “In Africa, the idea of human rights is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Contributing to the establishment of human rights system in Africa are the United Nations, international law and the African Union which have positively influenced the betterment of the human rights situation in the continent. However, extensive human rights abuses and violations still occur in many sections of the continent. Most of the violations can be attributed to political instability (as a consequence of civil war), racial discrimination, corruption, post-colonialism, economic scarcity, ignorance, illness, religious bigotry, debt and bad financial management,  monopoly of power, lack/absence of judicial and press autonomy, border conflicts, unauthorized intrusion of privacy, establishment of laws barring specific of free expression, criminal defamation laws that are usually indistinct, restrictions on freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and association, corruption of government officials, lack or absence of independence and neutrality in the judiciary, gross domestic violence against women, prohibition of same sex activities, sexual abuse on LGBTI persons, and human trafficking.

The scope of the submission must directly relate to this year’s topic: Human Rights Abuse and Violations in Africa.

This year’s prizes will also be awarded in the names of the following African human rights defenders:

Nelson Mandela Prize: $100 - Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. Mandela spent 27 years in jail, much of it on Robben Island, fighting against Apartheid.

Thomas Sankara Prize: $75 - Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara was a Burkinabé military officer and socialist revolutionary who served as the President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. A Marxist–Leninist and pan-Africanist, he was viewed by supporters as a charismatic and iconic figure of revolution and is sometimes referred to as "Africa's Che Guevara". Sankara launched programs for social, ecological and economic change. His foreign policies were centred on anti-imperialism, while he rejected aid from organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, Sankara welcomed foreign aid from other sources but tried to reduce reliance on aid by boosting domestic revenues and diversifying the sources of assistance. His domestic policies were focused on preventing famine with agrarian self-sufficiency and land reform, prioritising education with a nationwide literacy campaign and promoting public health. Sankara built scores of schools, health centers, water reservoirs, and nearly 100 km of rail, with little or no external assistance. Total cereal production rose by 75% between 1983 and 1986.

Omoyele Sowore Prize: $50 - Omoyele "Yele" Sowore is a Nigerian human rights activist, pro-democracy campaigner, former presidential candidate, and founder of an online news agency Sahara Reporters. On 3 August, 2019 Sowore was arrested by the Nigerian State Security Service for alleged treason after calling for a protest tagged RevolutionNow. His 2019 detention of 144 days without charge attracted the protest of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). Omoyele appeared at the first International Human Rights Art Festival, in NYC on March 3, 2017.

To participate, read the below guidelines

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Language Medium – English

Genre – Essay

Theme – Human Rights Abuse and Violations in Africa

Essays should be between the minimum of 1000 and the maximum of 1500 words.

Entries will be judged based on originality of thought, depth of analysis, clarity of expression, spelling and grammar and conformity to contest rules. Participants also have the flexibility to choose any subject related to this topic, however, the scope of the submission must directly relate to this year’s topic or it will be disqualified.

Entrants are advised to send the following information alongside their entries

i. Name

ii. Age

iii. Gender

iv. Country

v. Address

 vi. Phone Number

vii. Where you heard about the Call for entries

viii. Short Profile about yourself.

ix. Permission to publish your poem/essay (in one or two paragraphs)

x. Name of school or university if any

Entrants can be from any African country

Permission to publish your work among the shortlisted entries.

Title of your mail should be addressed as “AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS ESSAY COMPETITION”

All entries must be submitted to: ihrafnigeria@gmail.com and also copy societyofyoungnigerianwriters@gmail.com.

Deadline for Submission is 31st of March, 2021.

Any signs of plagiarism will disqualify the entrant.

Organizers’ decision is final

OTHER BENEFITS

Award of Certificates of Participation to all Entrants.

Award of Certificates of Excellence to only the shortlisted entrants.

Only shortlisted work(s) will be published in e-book format

Automatic membership into African Chapter of the International Human Rights Art Festival

For more enquiries contact: Wole Adedoyin +2348072673852 (woleadedoyin@gmail.com) or Tom Block (tom@ihraf.org)