The International Human Rights Art Movement (IHRAM), organiser of the GEN Z Kenyan National Poetry Competition, has revealed the selection of two esteemed judges for the competition.
This project aimed to capture the diverse experiences and reflections of Kenyans and international observers on the recent protests, which have led to significant loss of life and widespread incarcerations.
Through this competition, IHRAM provides a powerful platform for participants to express their views on these critical issues through the art of poetry.
In a statement shared with journalists in Ibadan, Wole Adedoyin, Director of IHRAF in Africa, announced that over 30 remarkable entries were received from countries such as Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Brazil.
To assess and select the top entries for the competition’s prestigious prizes, IHRAM has appointed two distinguished judges with broad expertise in human rights, including poetry writing.
The competition offers the following prizes: the first-place winner will receive $100, the second-place winner will be awarded $75, and the third-place winner will earn $50.
The selected judges for this year’s GEN Z Kenyan National Poetry Competition are Oludare Akinola and Tom Block.
R. B. Pembroke, born Oludare Akinola on December 8, 1982, is a Nigerian poet, essayist, painter, playwright, and calligrapher. He holds a BSc in Psychology from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MSc in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan. His work has been widely published in literary journals both within Nigeria and internationally.
A pioneering member and Secretary of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), which was founded by Wole Adedoyin in 2011, Pembroke has played an integral role in promoting literary culture among Nigerian youth. SYNW has been instrumental in the establishment of various literary guilds in Nigeria, including the Milton Society of Africa, Ulli Beier Society, and Ibadan Book Club.
Pembroke’s artistic style is characterized by simplicity and a keen economy of words. His works often offer thought-provoking commentaries on pressing social issues in Nigeria. A notable example is his painting titled ICU (Intensive Care Unit), created in 2020 during the EndSARS protests. This essayistic artwork reflected the intensity of the youth-led revolt that nearly erupted into a nationwide crisis.
His play Men Who Live By Bread offers a biting satire on the industrial exploitation and harsh working conditions faced by Nigerian workers, particularly in capitalist settings. The play was shortlisted for the prestigious African Human Rights Playwriting Prize in 2022.
Pembroke’s poetry, such as the poignant lines from Stampede — “… under the hooves of their herd / And well-soaked overnight in hunger / They yielded freely into pastes” — captures the anguish of victims of the 2024 Yuletide stampedes in Ibadan, Anambra, and Abuja. In addition to his literary pursuits, Oludare Akinola enjoys chess, reading, and writing. He currently resides in Ibadan with his beautiful wife, two children, and a noisy cat.
Tom Block is a playwright, author of five books and 20+ year visual artist. His plays have been developed and produced at such venues as the Ensemble Studio Theater, HERE, Dixon Place, Theater for the New City, IRT Theater, Theater at the 14th Street Y, Theater Row, A.R.T.-NY and many others. He was the founding producer of the International Human Rights Art Festival (2017), the Amnesty International Human Rights Art Festival (2010) and a Research Fellow at DePaul University (2010). He has exhibited his artwork and spoken about his ideas throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. www.tomblock.com
