The Uganda Poetry Society has announced the initiation of a new literary honor — The Dr. Ivan Edwards Poetry Award. Named after Dr. Ivan Edwards, a notable Ugandan-born American citizen, the award invites Ugandan poets to submit either a two-minute spoken-word video or a 500-word poem under the theme of Unity, according to the Society’s official announcement.
The award carries a prize of $1,000, positioning it among the more significant literary awards in the East African region and underscoring the Society’s commitment to nurturing poetic talent.
Dr. Edwards is a physician, USAF Lieutenant Colonel, minister, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and award-winning poet whose anthology Resonance of the Soul – Flowers and Harmonics received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award for its “craft of elegant prose, showcasing a talent for transforming simple words into compelling, beautifully constructed text.” His creative works extend across multiple platforms, including YouTube’s Convergence Point with Dr. Ivan Edwards, where his poetry and reflections on resilience, transformation, and healing have resonated with thousands worldwide.
The Uganda Poetry Society award seeks to elevate Ugandan poets under the theme of unity.