A Nigerian poet, Ibrahim Nureni, has become the first Nigerian and African to win an award at the well-known Maya International Haiku Contest.
Nureni took second place in the English-language category of the 2025 competition, which had 643 entries from poets in 40 countries.
His winning poem, titled Silent Battlefield, impressed the judges with its deep meaning and strong imagery. It reads: Silent battlefield, The gecko’s quick tongue, Catches a fly.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Oluwadamilola Amuda, President of the Creative Writers’ Club.
Haiku is a form of short Japanese poetry known for being simple and focused on nature. The Maya Lyubenova International Haiku Contest is one of the most respected haiku competitions in the world. It has two main sections — one for English entries and one for Bulgarian.
Out of 464 English entries, Nureni’s work stood out. Speaking about the achievement, he said, “I’ve been writing poetry for over five years, and haiku has always been my calling. The simplicity of haiku, yet its profound depth, is something I’ve always found fascinating. To see my work resonate with a global audience in this way is beyond anything I imagined.”
He added that the award was not just for him, but for Africa as a whole.
“This isn’t just about me. It’s about Africa and its poets. I hope my achievement will inspire others from Nigeria and across the continent to pursue poetry. Our voices matter, and the world is listening,” Nureni said.
His victory has drawn praise from writers across Nigeria and beyond, with many calling it a major step forward for African literature on the world stage.
