Great Poetry. Powerful Voices. A Conversation Worth Joining.

The NPL-RBC BookFest 2026 brings together the three shortlisted poets for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature for an engaging conversation about their books, their creative journeys and the ideas that shape their work.

This year’s Nigeria Prize for Literature is dedicated to Poetry, continuing the Prize’s annual rotation across four literary genres. The 2026 competition attracted 223 entries, with three poetry collections emerging as the final shortlist.

Join us as we meet the writers behind the shortlisted works:

Tares Oburumu — Flora’s Love Colony
James Ngwu Eze — Unbind Me Now
Ogaga Ifowodo — Why Does God Need a Gun?

The three collections bring distinct perspectives, voices and approaches to contemporary Nigerian poetry. The judging process considered qualities including language, form, originality, craftsmanship and lasting literary value.

This BookFest is an opportunity to hear directly from the shortlisted writers — about their books, their inspirations, the creative process behind their poetry, and the ideas and experiences that inform their work.

Whether you are a reader, writer, student, educator, poetry enthusiast or simply passionate about Nigerian literature, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.