Denoo Edinam Yawo has been selected for the inaugural Craft & Development Lab organised by the Lagos International Poetry Festival (LIPFest), joining ten other emerging poets and writers chosen from more than 300 applicants across Africa and the diaspora.
The announcement was made on July 18, 2026, as LIPFest unveiled the first cohort of its virtual, quarterly workshop series dedicated to supporting the artistic and professional development of African poets.
Denoo was selected alongside writers from Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Botswana, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica/Canada.
Over the next four months, participants will work with an international faculty of established writers through intensive workshops, one-on-one mentorship sessions, peer critiques, and professional development activities. The programme is designed to help participants develop poetry collections, chapbooks, performance pieces, documentary poetry, and other hybrid literary projects.
Founded in 2015 by Nigerian poet Efe Paul Azino, the Lagos International Poetry Festival is one of Africa's leading literary festivals, bringing together poets, writers, and creatives for readings, performances, discussions, and workshops. Although the festival postponed its 2025 edition due to global funding challenges, it has continued to invest in literary development through initiatives such as the Craft & Development Lab.