The Annual Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award is an initiative sure to change how poetry is written and performed in Uganda, and beyond. This will not happen overnight. So those who think that the Award ceremony to be held at Nyungu Yamawe Forest Park on March 28th will change everything. Think again.
This Award is not designed to baby or carry any poet. It is not a handout. Dr. Edwards hopes that this Award will open the world up to the power of Ugandan poetry. Then, wait for the world to reciprocate (and it will) with its own poetry. This will generate a conversation, what the philosopher Hegel described as a thesis and antithesis being responsible for a synthesis.
Out of this conversation, we envision a shared meaning being experienced by poets everywhere on what needs to be done to make poetry more beneficial to artform and practitioners thereof.
That is why the Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award will set its sights on a poetry contest where the unique voice of each poet is expressed and thereby immortalized.
The Judges of the contest will thus consider the contestant’s poetry in terms of emotional impact and word craft, featuring vivid imagery, precise language, and a clear point or purpose that expands the viewer or reader’s understanding of the theme: Unity.
The Winning Poem
- Unique Voice & Emotion: A poem that feels authentic and has a strong emotional core or “kick”.
- Clear Purpose/Point: It must convey a discernible idea, feeling, or story, even if subtly, expanding the viewer or reader’s perspective.
- Vivid & Specific Imagery: Using precise nouns (e.g., “oak” instead of “tree”) to create strong mental pictures.
- Musicality & Rhythm: Careful attention to sound, syllables, and rhythm, even in free verse.
- Strong Opening & Title: A compelling first line or title that creates immediate interest and perhaps a slight puzzle. The title is not part of the word count of 500 words for the written poems.
- Cohesion: A defining line or idea that runs through the poem, making it feel complete.
Technical & Formal Aspects
- Form Fits Content: Whether free verse or strict form (sonnet, etc.), the structure must serve the poem’s subject matter.
- Mastery of Form: If using a strict form, it must be executed flawlessly.
What Judges Dislike
- Grammar/Spelling Errors: Unprofessional mistakes can turn judges off.
- Prose Chops: Not just prose broken into lines; it needs poetic structure and rhythm.
- Overused Tropes/Clichés: Judges look for fresh ideas and authentic details, not predictable sub-themes divorced friom the overall theme of Unity.
Strategy for Winning
- Check Guidelines: Adhere to length, theme, and submission format meticulously (PDF format).
- Authenticity: Make sure your submission has not been published elsewhere and it is your original work.
- Be Visionary: Write for the ages. Make your words count to the extent that they influence future generations on what its means to be united as a people and as people.
