Winners of the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest will receive cash prizes and recognition. The first-place winner will be awarded USD $100, the second-place winner USD $75, and the third-place winner USD $50. In addition, five honourable mentions will be recognized for their outstanding creativity and advocacy.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation, while shortlisted entrants will earn a Certificate of Excellence. The winning entries will be featured on IHRAM’s digital platforms and showcased at the International Human Rights Art Festival, giving winners international visibility and networking opportunities in the global art and activism community.

The African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest is open to individuals from any country in the world, provided that their work focuses on human rights issues in Africa. Participants must submit an original poem — it must not have been published, awarded, or previously performed in any contest. Submissions are accepted from poets, activists, and spoken-word artists of all experience levels. Videos should be recorded in landscape mode, with clear sound and minimal background noise. The poem must be in English or any widely understood African language, as long as it includes English subtitles.

Applicants must include their name, age, gender, country, address, phone number, how they heard about the contest, and a short personal profile. The submission should reflect a strong understanding of human rights, addressing issues such as freedom of expression, gender equality, child labour, police brutality, female genital mutilation, displacement, or other African human rights concerns.

Open to all countries

Click the official link to apply for this opportunity