It’s words like magic as poets and spoken word artists from across the country slug it out for N1m at the winner-takes-all LIPFest2022 poetry slam. Join us for an exciting evening at the Terra Kulture. The event opens at 4pm with Sip and Paint, Live portrait painting, food, free drinks and speak your mind open mic event. The slam kicks with slam master Dike Chukwumerije.

Venue: Terra Kulture, Plot 1376 Tiamiyu Savage St, Victoria Island 106104, Lagos

One million naira (N1m) is up for the taking at the Lagos International Poetry Festival 2023 poetry slam. Poets between the ages of 18 and 35 stand a chance to claim the Slam Prize and coveted title of LIPFest2023 Slam Champion.

Venue: Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, 9 Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

How to enter? Easy:

1. Submit a one-minute video of a poem on the theme Sanctuary to lipfestslam@gmail.com. Videos must be less than 100mb.

2. Poems must be original to the poet and previously unpublished.

3. Videos must be clear and recorded without props or background music.

4. Poems can be in English or any other Nigerian/African language.

5. Poems may not contain excessive violence, explicit language and/or degrading language in reference to any group of people and persons.

6. Submitting poets must be between 18 and 35 years of age.

7. Stand a chance to qualify as one of two wild card entries by uploading your poem on any social media of your choice – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – with the hashtags #LIPFest2023Slam and #Sanctuary, tagging @lagospoetryfest.

8. Two entries with the highest number of likes/engagement will qualify as wild cards.

9. Only one submission allowed. Poets who make more than one entry will be automatically disqualified.

10. Poems will be judged by a carefully selected team of judges.

11. Entries should contain the poet’s full name, age and social media handles in the body of the submission.

12. Entries close on the 21st of October 2023.

13. Ten shortlisted poets will be announced on the 25th of October 2023

14. Shortlisted poets will compete live for N1M on the 29th of October 2023 at #LIPFest2023.

FAQS

The deadline is 12midnight WAT on October 21st, 2023.

Yes. Your entry must be based off or inspired by the theme for the 2023 festival, Sanctuary.

The slam is open to poets between the ages of 18 and 35, who are able to compete live at the festival, bearing their own travel costs.

Yes, we only accept your own original work read/performed in your own voice.

Entries can be submitted in English or any Nigerian/African language. We only ask that you include an accompanying English translation in the body of the submission.

Yes, within 5 days. Kindly refrain from emailing us to enquire about your submission. We will respond within the stipulated 5 days.

You can only submit one entry to one platform. Multiple entries to more than one platform leads to automatic disqualification.

Yes. Entries are primarily received at lipfestslam@gmail.com.

After posting to a social media of your choice, click here to capture your data. Only after the final phase can your entry be accepted and will you receive an acknowledgment from us.

Shortlisted poets will be announced on the 24th of October and the winner will emerge and be announced at the live event on the 29th of October 2023.

One million Naira only.

Just one. It’s a winner takes all exhibition.