A Nigerian creative writer and poet, Ibrahim Nureni, has emerged as the first Nigerian and African to be honoured at the prestigious African Literature, Maya International Haiku Contest.

Nureni earned second place in the recently concluded English-language category of the 2025 edition of the competition, which attracted 643 entries from poets across 40 countries.

This was disclosed in a statement made available to our PUNCH Online by Nureni on Wednesday.

A Haiku contest is a literary competition where participants submit haiku poems, a traditional Japanese form of poetry. Haiku are known for their simplicity, nature themes, and specific structure.

The Maya Lyubenova International Haiku contest is one of the world’s most respected Haiku competitions, divided into English-language and Bulgarian-language sections.

According to the statement, the contest drew 464 submissions in English alone, from which Nureni’s poem ‘a Gecko’s Silent, Sudden Strike on a Fly’, stood out for its vivid imagery and depth.

Commenting on the achievement, Nureni described the moment as “surreal,” reflecting on the years of dedication to the craft.

“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 said.

He added that the achievement was a symbol of broader potential which would inspire others across the continent to pursue poetry as the recognition had shone a spotlight on African literature’s growing global presence, and underscored the richness of poetic traditions emerging from the continent.

“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,” he added. (The PUNCH)

•Ibrahim Nureni, a Nigerian poet and creative writer, made history as the first Nigerian and African to receive recognition at the renowned African Literature Maya International Haiku Contest. Photo credit: Ibrahim Nureni.