2022
Winner: Zibusiso Mpofu (Zimbabwe)
Conor Cogill (South Africa)
Asmaa Jama (Somalia)
Edil Hassan (Somalia)
Fahad Al-Amoudi (Ethiopia)
Adedayo Agaru (Nigeria)
Chisom Okofor (Nigeria)
Judges
Gabeba Baderoon (Chair)
Tjawangwa Demi
Tsitsi Jai
2021
Winner: Othuke Umukoro (Nigeria)
Kweku Abimbola (Gambia)
Arao Ameny (Uganda)
Isabelle Baafi (South Africa)
Asmaa Jama (Somalia)
Tumello Motabola (Lesotho)
Oluwadare Popoola (Nigeria)
Yomi Sode (Nigeria)
Judges
Karen McCarthy Woolf (Chair)
Rustum Kozain (South Africa)
Makhosazana Xaba (South Africa)
2020
Winner: Rabha Ashry (Egypt)
Akosua Afiriyie-Hwedie (Zambia)
Inua Ellams (Nigeria)
Amanda Holiday (Sierra Leone)
Nour Kamel (Egypt)
Saradha Soobrayen (Mauritius)
Judges
Karen McCarthy Woolf (Chair)
Kayo Chingonyi
Billy Kahora
Momtaza Mehri
KolekMakhosazana Xabaa Putuma
2019
Winners: Nadra Mabrouk & Jamila Osman
Afua Ansong – Ghana
Mary-Alice Daniel – Nigeria
Inua Ellams – Nigeria
K. Eltinae – Nubian Sudan
Omotara James – Nigeria
Nadra Mabrouk – Egypt
Selina Nwulu – Nigeria
Emmanuel Oppong – Ghana
Jamila Osman – Somalia
Sherry Shenoda – Egypt
Judges
Matthew Shenoda (Chair)
Leila Chatti
Phillippaa Yaa de Villers
2018
Winners: Hiwot Adilow, Theresa Lola & Momtaza Mehri
Gbenga Adeoba – Nigeria
Hiwot Adilow – Ethiopia
Michelle Angwenyi – Kenya
Dalia Elhassan – Sudan
Nour Kamel – Egypt
Theresa Lola – Nigeria
Momtaza Mehri – Somalia
Cheswayo Mphanza – Zambia
Saradha Soobrayen – Mauritius
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Malika Booker
Kwame Dawes
Diana Evans
Mahtem Shiferraw
2017
Winner: Romeo Oriogun
Leila Chatti – Tunisia
Kayo Chingonyi – Zambia
Saddiq Dzukogi – Nigeria
Yalie Kamara – Sierra Leone
Nick Makoha – Uganda
Rasaq Maliq -Nigeria
Kechi Nomu – Nigeria
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Kwame Dawes
Tsitsi Jaji
John Keene
Helen Yitah
2016
Winners: Gbenga Adesina & Chekwube O. Danladi
Gbenga Adesina – Nigeria
Victoria-Anne Bulley – Ghana
Mary-Alice Daniel – Nigeria
Amy Lukau – Angola
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo – Kenya
Chekwubi O. Danladi – Nigeria
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Chris Abani
Kwame Dawes
Safia Elhillo
Patricia Jabbeh Welsley
2015
Winners: Safia Elhillo & Nick Makoha
Safia Elhillo – Sudan
Inua Ellams – Nigeria
Nick Makoha – Uganda
Ngwatilo Mayiwoo – Kenya
Bernard Matmabo – Zambia
Hope Wabuke – Uganda
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Gabeba Baderoon
Malika Booker
Kwame Dawes
Warsan Shire
2014
Winner: Liyou Libsekal
Viola Allo – Cameroon
Inua Ellams – Nigeria
Liyou Libsekal – Ethiopia
Amy Lukau – Angola
Nick Makoha – Uganda
Vuyelwa Maluleke – South Africa
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Kwame Dawes
Kadija George
Daljit Nagra
Mpalive Msiska
2013
Winner: Warsan Shire
Peter Akinlabi – Nigeria
Viola Allo – Cameroon
Lena Bezawurk Gronland – Ethiopia
Kayo Chingonyi – Zambia
Chielezona Eze – Nigeria
Warsan Shire – Somalia
Judges
Bernardine Evaristo (Chair)
Sharmilla Beezmohun
Kwame Dawes
Karen McCarthy Woolf
Mpalive Msiska