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.