Deadline: October 31, 2025
Applications are open for the African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest 2025. The African Secretariat of the International Human Rights Art Movement is proud to announce the upcoming “African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest,” a transformative platform that harnesses the power of spoken word artistry to address pressing human rights issues.
The contest aims to bring together poets, artists, and activists from across the African continent to creatively express their thoughts and perspectives on critical matters such as social justice, climate change, women’s empowerment, immigration, human trafficking, police brutality, and violence against women.
Prizes
- First Prize – $100
- Second Prize – $75
- Third Prize – $50
- Five honorable mentions
The works that emerge victorious will take center stage at the International Human Rights Art Festival, set to unfold between December 8th and 14th, 2025, in New York City.
Other benefits include:
- Award of Certificates of Participation to all Entrants.
- Award of Certificates of Excellence to only the shortlisted entrants.
Eligibility
- Entries are welcomed from anywhere in the world, but must address human rights issues in Africa.
- Stories must have Human Rights at heart.
- Only one Video per entrant
Application
Upload a 1-minute video of yourself reciting your original poem of not less than 20MB. Your video can explore any of the following human rights themes: Freedom of Expression, Government Violations, Police Brutality, corruption, forced Eviction, terrorism, Gender Inequality, LGBT Rights, Child Labour, Child Marriage, Domestic Violence, violence and discrimination against women; child abuse; female genital mutilation, ethnic, regional, and religious discrimination, child trafficking etc.
All entries must be submitted to: [email protected] and copy [email protected]. Title of your mail should be addressed as “AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS SPOKEN WORD CONTEST”.
For more information, visit African Human Rights Spoken Word Contest.
