[Makurdi, Benue state] – From the food basket of the nation, we are excited to announce Baaji Aondoakura as the BBAAF slam champion for the Benue Book And Arts Festival (Edition V) held on the 22nd of February, 2025 at Metro Prime Hotel, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. He won N150,000 and has become the first Benue indigene to win the coveted prize, beating Keesh Rowland and Sa’ada Isa Yahaya to the second and third prizes in a highly competitive competition that left the audiences captivated.

Faithful to the diverse creativity the festival promises, the slam, one of the most looked forward to events at festivals, brought together a group of talented young poets from Benue state and across the country. The competition consisted of three competitive rounds moderated by the slam master, Sanusi Anselm Sanusi featuring seven participants – Keesh Rowland, Sa’ada Isa Yahaya, Inalegwu Victor, Victor Iduh Attah, Daniel Aondona, Baaji Joseph Aondoakura and Nedu who participated in all the rounds. The judges, Namse Udosen, Nana Sule and Sandra Hitarh and the audience were dazzled by Baaji Joseph Aondoakura’s style and presentation of everyday life in captivating words which eventually led to him emerging the BBAAF slam champion.

The first runner-up, Keesh Rowland, entertained the judges with his poem, Ekpeyong in the final round, while Sa’ ada Isa Yahaya, a teenager and the only female contestant followed very closely with very emotional and thought-driven poetry to emerge as the second runner up with her poem, ‘Confession.’ Both first and second runner-ups went home with  Eighty Thousand and Fifty Thousand Naira respectively. It is important to note that they were paid immediately and all other competitors went home with complimentary prizes.

“We were blown away by the talent and passion of our competitors,” S. Su’eddie Vershima Agema, multiple award-winning poet and BBAAF Director noted. “The poetry slam is something we always look forward to and the contestants this year took everything a notch higher. This is brilliant and gosh, words are not enough to celebrate all the contestants!”

The poetry slam competition was part of the Benue Book and Arts Festival (Edition V) in collaboration with SEVHAGE Publishers, SEVHAGE Development Initiative, Eunice Spring of Life Foundation, Goethe-Institut, the Journal of African Literature (JAY-LIT), Konya Shamsrumi, Noirledge, Association of  Nigeria Authors, Benue chapter and other well-meaning organizations. efforts to promote literacy, self-expression, and community engagement and sustainable development through the arts.

Guests at the event included former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Denja Abdullahi; Salamatu Sule; award-winning poet and cultural entrepreneur, Servio Gbadamosi; Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Creative Non-Fiction winner 2024, Blessing Omeiza Ojo; E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism 2024, Bizuum Yadok, among others.

The Benue Book and Arts Festival thanks its sponsors, judges, and volunteers for their support in making the festival a success. For more details about our festival and future editions, visit http://bbaaf.com or follow us on @bbaaf24 across social media for the latest updates.