Out Of Africa: Nigerian Poet Adedayo Agarau Wins 2026 Nossrat Yassini Poetry Prize
Agarau’s debut marks a powerful arrival on the international poetry stage. Nigerian poet Adedayo Agarau has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Nossrat Yassini Poetry Prize for his debut poetry collection The Years of Blood. The award comes with a $10,000 prize. Agarau is the author of the chapbooks Origin of Names (African […]
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Agarau’s debut marks a powerful arrival on the international poetry stage.
Nigerian poet Adedayo Agarau has been announced as the winner of the 2026 Nossrat Yassini Poetry Prize for his debut poetry collection The Years of Blood. The award comes with a $10,000 prize.
Agarau is the author of the chapbooks Origin of Names (African Poetry Book Fund, 2020), The Arrival of Rain (Vegetarian Alcoholic Press, 2020), and the self-published For Boys Who Went (Authorpedia, 2016). His work has been shortlisted for the 2024 Wales International Poetry Prize, the 2022 Brunel Poetry Prize, and the 2023 Sillerman First Book Prize.
The Years of Blood is Agarau’s account of childhood abductions in his home city of Ibadan. Blending reportage with storytelling, the poems move between the perspectives of observer and survivor. Since its release, the book has been well received by critics and was recently selected by the New York Public Library as one of the 25 best poetry books of 2026.
He is the editor-in-chief of Agbowó magazine and a poetry reviews editor for The Rumpus. His poems and essays have appeared in publications including Poetry Foundation, The Iowa Review, Transition, and World Literature Today, among others.
The Nossrat Yassini Poetry Prize, housed and managed by the University of New Hampshire’s English Department, honours a first book published by a poet of genuine promise in the previous calendar year, as well as the press that brought the book into the world.
Many poets labour for years to place their first book in readers’ hands, often accumulating submission fees and rejection slips rather than recognition. Even after publication, uncertainty about audience and direction can persist. This award aims to provide both encouragement and financial support, giving poets with exceptional potential the space to continue developing their work.
In addition to the $10,000 prize, the winner receives a headline reading at the Nossrat Yassini Poetry Festival, taking place from 17 to 18 April 2026, as well as national recognition for their work.
