IHRAM Opens Call for Entries for Third African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest

 

IHRAM OPENS CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR THIRD AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORD CONTEST

 

By Wole Adedoyin

The African Secretariat of the International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM) is delighted to announce the launch of the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest (Third Edition). This transformative platform harnesses the power of spoken word artistry to address pressing human rights concerns, bringing together poets, artists, and activists from across the African continent to creatively express their perspectives on issues such as social justice, climate change, women’s empowerment, immigration, human trafficking, police brutality, and violence against women.

In a time where dialogue and advocacy are critical to positive change, the contest aims to amplify the voices of those often marginalized and unheard. Through the medium of spoken word, participants will shine a spotlight on the urgent need for social justice, a sustainable environment, and equal rights for all, encouraging public discourse and sparking action toward a more equitable future.

The contest welcomes poets, spoken word artists, and individuals passionate about human rights to submit a one-minute video featuring an original poem written and performed by the entrant. Submissions should creatively demonstrate how spoken language can serve as a powerful catalyst for the advancement and defense of human rights in Africa. The work must encapsulate the essence of human rights and be both original and impactful.

Prizes will be awarded as follows: First Prize – $100, Second Prize – $75, Third Prize – $50, and Five Honourable Mentions. In addition, all entrants will receive a Certificate of Participation, while shortlisted entrants will be honoured with Certificates of Excellence. The winning works will be showcased at the prestigious International Human Rights Art Festival, scheduled to take place from December 8th to 14th, 2025.

The contest is open to participants worldwide, provided that their entries focus on human rights issues affecting Africa. Accepted themes include but are not limited to: freedom of expression, government violations, police brutality, corruption, forced eviction, terrorism, gender inequality, LGBT rights, child labour, child marriage, domestic violence, female genital mutilation, ethnic or religious discrimination, and child trafficking.

To maintain the contest’s high standard of quality and fairness, participants must ensure that videos are recorded in a quiet setting, filmed in landscape mode, and free of background noise, graphics, captions, or additional persons. Creativity, originality, and clarity of message will be key factors in the judging process. Plagiarized work or fabricated information will result in disqualification, and the organizers’ decision will be final.

Entries must be submitted by email to wole@humanrightsartmovement.org with a copy to ihrafafrica@humanrightsartmovement.org, using the subject line: AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORD CONTEST 3.0. Alongside the video submission, entrants are required to provide their name, age, gender, country, address, phone number, how they heard about the contest, a short profile, and the name of their school or university (if applicable).

The deadline for submission is 31st October, 2025, with winners to be announced on 25th November, 2025. All entrants will be notified of the outcome of their applications once the judging process concludes. IHRAF reserves the right to publish selected videos on its media and streaming platforms, ensuring that the voices of participants reach a broad and engaged audience.

The African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest is an initiative of the International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM), USA, dedicated to promoting and supporting the realization of human rights in Africa through art. By creating a space for bold, diverse, and untraditional voices, IHRAF aims to inspire meaningful action, raise awareness, and celebrate the role of creative expression in advancing human dignity.

For further enquiries, please contact: Wole Adedoyin at +234 807 267 3852 or via email at woleadedoyin@gmail.com.

My Poems Reflect The Struggles, Hopes, And Lived Realities Of My Country – Awountsa Tsafac Umel

 

MY POEMS REFLECT THE STRUGGLES, HOPES, AND LIVED REALITIES OF MY COUNTRY – AWOUNTSA TSAFAC UMEL

 

Awountsa Tsafac Umel, the third prize winner of the African Human Rights Poetry Competition, is an agricultural engineer and recent graduate of the University of Dschang, Cameroon. He is deeply passionate about social impact, rural development, and the promotion of human rights. With a background that combines technical agricultural expertise and community engagement, Umel channels his creativity into poetry, using it as a tool to give voice to the marginalized, challenge injustice, and inspire collective action. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he speaks about his work, his inspiration, and his passion for writing poetry.

WA: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A POET?

AWOUNTSA: I am AWOUNTSA TSAFAC Umel, an agricultural engineer by training and a Master’s student in Social and Solidarity Economy. I am passionate about social impact, rural development, and human rights. Although my academic path is rooted in agricultural sciences, I have always used writing as a space for expression and advocacy. Poetry, for me, is the bridge between my professional commitments and my artistic sensitivity.

WA: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS POETRY COMPETITION?

AWOUNTSA: I learned about it through an announcement by a group of young African leaders and human rights advocates. The announcement immediately caught my attention.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPETITION?

AWOUNTSA: I saw it as an opportunity to turn my reflections on injustices in Africa into a creative and mobilizing message. I wanted my words to awaken awareness.

WA: WHAT SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE DID YOUR POEM FOCUS ON?

AWOUNTSA: It addresses political violence, violations of freedom of expression, ethnic discrimination, and the urgent need for justice, peace, and reconciliation.

WA: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR HUMAN RIGHTS THEME FOR YOUR POEM?

AWOUNTSA: Because it deeply resonates with what many African communities, including my own, are experiencing—conflicts, repression, ethnic divisions, but also a youth longing for something better.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE THE INSPIRATION OR STORY BEHIND YOUR SUBMITTED POEM?

AWOUNTSA: It was born from the pain of witnessing and experiencing violence and injustice during the anglophone crisis that began in 2016 in Cameroon. But it also came from my conviction that beyond the scars, Africa can rise again through forgiveness, solidarity, and justice.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POETIC STYLE OR APPROACH TO WRITING ON SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES?

AWOUNTSA: I use a narrative and imagery-rich style that alternates between denouncing injustice and calling for hope and collective action.

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHILE WRITING YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS COMPETITION?

AWOUNTSA: The hardest part was finding the balance between expressing the pain and inspiring hope—without falling into despair or naïve idealism.

WA: HOW DO YOU THINK POETRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA?

AWOUNTSA: Poetry gives a voice to the voiceless, touches emotions where technical reports fall short, and can mobilize communities across linguistic and cultural barriers.

WA: IN WHAT WAYS HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION CHANGED OR BROADENED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

AWOUNTSA: It reminded me that human rights are not only legal concepts but lived realities, and that the arts can be powerful tools for change.

WA: WERE THERE ANY OTHER POEMS OR POETS IN THE COMPETITION THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED OR INSPIRED YOU?

AWOUNTSA: Yes, some pieces struck me with their raw sincerity and their ability to capture collective pain using simple yet powerful words.

WA: WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR POEM?

AWOUNTSA: That Africa has the strength to rise not through violence, but through justice, forgiveness, and unity.

WA: HOW HAS THIS COMPETITION HELPED SHAPE YOUR GROWTH AS A POET AND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE?

AWOUNTSA: It encouraged me to use writing more systematically as an advocacy tool and connected me with a pan-African community of changemakers.

WA: DO YOU BELIEVE POETRY HAS A UNIQUE ROLE IN CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES? WHY?

AWOUNTSA: Yes—because it reaches the heart before the mind, and that is often where deep change begins.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING WITH POETS FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES?

AWOUNTSA: Enriching and inspiring. It showed me that despite our differences, we share many stories and aspirations.

WA: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THE THEMES YOU EXPLORE IN YOUR POETRY?

AWOUNTSA: My poems are often fueled by what I have seen, lived, or heard: rural work, inequality, youth searching for opportunities, and the wounds and hopes of my country.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR POETRY WILL HAVE ON BOTH AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND THE GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT?

AWOUNTSA: I hope it inspires people to reject fatalism, embrace peaceful solutions, and see human dignity as non-negotiable.

WA: HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE USING POETRY AS A TOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY?

AWOUNTSA: By publishing more works, participating in workshops, and integrating poetry into community awareness activities.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE ENTRANTS OF THIS COMPETITION?

AWOUNTSA: Write with authenticity, draw from your own experiences, and let your heart speak first.

WA: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY UPCOMING POETRY PROJECTS OR PUBLICATIONS YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

AWOUNTSA: I am working on a collection of poems centered on peace, social justice, and sustainable development, and I plan to organize writing workshops in rural areas.

 

Poetry has the power to inspire action and give people the courage to speak out against injustice. – Khairat Abdulrazzaq

 

"POETRY HAS THE POWER TO INSPIRE ACTION AND GIVE PEOPLE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE." – KHAIRAT ABDULRAZZAQ

 

Khairat Abdulrazzaq is a Nigerian poet and Architecture student, and the second prize winner of the African Human Rights Poetry Competition. Her work explores diverse themes, with a strong focus on social issues. When she is not writing, she can be found hunched over her laptop drafting floor plans or unwinding with a movie. She lives in Abuja with her family.

WA: CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AS A POET?

KHAIRAT: My name is Khairat Abdulrazzaq. I am a student and poet. I began writing poetry a few years ago as a personal journal to document my life. Over time, I transitioned to free verse poetry, focusing mainly on life and social issues.

WA: HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS POETRY COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: I learned about it through an online poetry blog.

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: The prompt encouraged us to reflect on a human rights issue, and that deeply resonated with me. I believe poetry can be a powerful force for advocacy and change.

WA: WHAT SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE DID YOUR POEM FOCUS ON?

KHAIRAT: My poem Before focuses on the young girls kidnapped by Boko Haram fighters.

WA: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR HUMAN RIGHTS THEME FOR YOUR POEM?

KHAIRAT: I grew up in Nigeria during the height of Boko Haram’s insurgency and vividly remember the Chibok girls’ kidnapping. More than a decade later, many are still missing. In Boko Haram-controlled areas, abductions of girls continue—it did not end with Chibok. I wanted to refocus attention on this ongoing crisis.

WA: CAN YOU SHARE THE INSPIRATION OR STORY BEHIND YOUR SUBMITTED POEM?

KHAIRAT: Once I settled on the topic, I researched extensively. Knowing about an issue is different from experiencing it. I read Amnesty International’s reports to better understand the victims’ perspectives.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POETIC STYLE OR APPROACH TO WRITING ON SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES?

KHAIRAT: I approach these topics with empathy. Social and human rights issues are, at their core, human issues. I often tell stories from a single perspective to humanize the subject.

WA: WHAT CHALLENGES DID YOU FACE WHILE WRITING YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: My biggest challenge was capturing the emotions authentically. Writing about something I haven’t personally experienced can be tricky, and I wanted to avoid sensationalizing the subject.

WA: HOW DO YOU THINK POETRY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA?

KHAIRAT: Poetry can be a powerful tool for advocacy and raising awareness of human rights issues.

WA: IN WHAT WAYS HAS PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION CHANGED OR BROADENED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN RIGHTS?

KHAIRAT: It has shown me how much change poets can inspire in their societies through art.

WA: WERE THERE ANY OTHER POEMS OR POETS IN THE COMPETITION THAT PARTICULARLY MOVED OR INSPIRED YOU?

KHAIRAT: I was inspired by Aishat Yahkub, whose work I recently discovered. I admire the way she tells stories and addresses important issues.

WA: WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR POEM?

KHAIRAT: That people are never just numbers—every issue has a human cost, even if we are not the ones paying it.

WA: HOW HAS THIS COMPETITION HELPED SHAPE YOUR GROWTH AS A POET AND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE?

KHAIRAT: While deciding on my theme, I considered many human rights issues. It reminded me how urgent and numerous these challenges are across the continent.

WA: DO YOU BELIEVE POETRY HAS A UNIQUE ROLE IN CREATING AWARENESS ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES? WHY?

KHAIRAT: Yes. Poetry can move emotions in a way that compels people to take action and speak out against injustice.

WA: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE COMPETING WITH POETS FROM OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES?

KHAIRAT: It was enlightening. Knowing that poets from 25 African countries participated was mind-blowing. It reminded me that many are committed to making change through their art.

WA: WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THE THEMES YOU EXPLORE IN YOUR POETRY?

KHAIRAT: I write about issues that feel close to home, even if they are not my direct experiences. Whether Nigerian, African, or women’s issues, they are often just one degree of separation away from me.

WA: WHAT IMPACT DO YOU HOPE YOUR POETRY WILL HAVE ON BOTH AFRICAN SOCIETIES AND THE GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT?

KHAIRAT: I hope my work inspires change and raises awareness both within Africa and on global human rights platforms.

WA: HOW DO YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE USING POETRY AS A TOOL FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY?

KHAIRAT: I will continue using poetry to amplify marginalized voices and drive meaningful change in my community.

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE ENTRANTS OF THIS COMPETITION?

KHAIRAT: Write honestly. Write about what you believe in. Just write.

WA: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT ANY UPCOMING POETRY PROJECTS OR PUBLICATIONS YOU’RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON?

KHAIRAT: I am currently working on a collection of poems addressing various social issues.