The Professor Moussa Traoré Poetry Prize Announces 2026 Longlist

The Department of English at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), in partnership with its Creative Writers' Club, has unveiled the longlist for the inaugural Professor Moussa Traoré Poetry Prize.

Created to honour Professor Moussa Traoré, Head of the Department of English at UCC, the prize celebrates emerging poets whose work explores themes including Black history, identity, migration, memory, slavery, power, belonging, and the African diaspora.

The 2026 longlist features eleven poets from universities and colleges across Ghana.

1. New People by Worlanyo Normanyo, University of Education, Winneba.
2. Inherited Fragment by Horsu Godwin, University of Cape Coast.
3. Memories by Rauf Tahiru, University of Business and Integrated Development Studies
4. Massa by Osae-Koranteng Derrick, University of Cape Coast.
5. Maybe Kumbaya as a dirge by Karen Sedinam Dzorgbo, University of Ghana.
6. I had a name by Daniel Asaomaning, University of Cape Coast.
7. My God is Black by Duah Francis, Offinso College of Education.
8. A Bitter Bite by Peter Kofi Nyamekye, University of Cape Coast
9. My Sister by Eunice Owusu, University of Ghana.
10. Rust, No Chains by Davib Bobobee, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training Entrepreneurial Development.
11. An Ode to Olaudah Equiano by Jonathan Tetteh Kwao, University of Cape Coast, CoDE.

Congratulations to all the longlisted poets.

Source: JAYLit