22-year-old poet wins ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ N1m prize for Yoruba literature

Oluwabukola Abdulrafiu, a 22-year-old emerging poet from Ilorin, has been announced as the winner of the 2025 ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Prize for Yorùbá Literature, receiving a N1,000,000 cash prize for his poetry manuscript titled Oríloníṣe.

The announcement was made at a special award ceremony in Ibadan, commemorating the 5th anniversary edition of the ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Prize, a literary award instituted by the ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Cultural Initiative to celebrate and support excellence in Yorùbá language literature.

Abdulrafiu’s winning entry was selected from 21 manuscript submissions across Nigeria and the diaspora, covering genres such as poetry, prose, drama, and translation.

In a break from tradition, this year’s anniversary edition featured only one overall winner, in contrast to the previous editions, where other category winners accompanied a grand winner.

“This is a special edition to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the prize,” Ibrahim Oredola, co-founder of ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Cultural Initiative, said.

“We decided to have just one overall winner, and interestingly, the winning work came from the poetry category just like our first ever winner, Mustapha Sheriff, whose Akòdán won in 2021.”

Tunde Lawuyi-Ogunniran, the lead judge for the 2025 prize, praised the quality and cultural significance of the winning manuscript.

“The word usage in Oríloníṣe is deeply impressive. The language is not overly complex, yet it is very beautiful and rich in meaning. Each poem stands on its own, with its distinct message and well-delivered theme. Oluwabukola represents a new generation of Yorùbá poets and writers we can all be proud of,” Lawuyi-Ogunniran said. 

“I also commend the ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ team for their constant and passionate efforts to promote Yorùbá literature,” he added.

Rasaq Malik Gbolahan, the other co-founder of ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́, also expressed gratitude to the judges and prize supporters.

“We thank all the judges, past and present, for their commitment and expertise. I especially appreciate Mr. Oladele Onile-Ere, Prof. Adeleke Adeeko, Mr. Oye Olatoye, Mr. Ayo Adams, and Chief Tunde Odunlade for continuously supporting ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́’s work,” Gbolahan said. 

Abdulrafiu, the winner from Kwara State, began his educational journey at Shuban Primary School, proceeded to Barakat Junior Secondary School, and completed his secondary education at Government High School, Adeta, Ilorin.

He earned his qualifications in Yoruba and English languages from the Kwara State College of Education, where he also served as president of the Yoruba Language Students’ Association in 2024.

The title Oríloníṣe loosely translates to “the head is the one with a purpose.” It is a collection of reflective and spiritually resonant poems that explore destiny, identity, moral clarity, and divine purpose through Yorùbá cosmology.

The poems are written in accessible yet richly expressive language, blending proverbs, oral tradition, and contemporary poetic form. According to ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́, each piece is crafted to inspire, advise, entertain, and uplift, making the collection relatable across generations.

ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Cultural Initiative was founded in June 2017 as a response to the many challenges and threats facing the preservation and survival of the Yorùbá language and culture.