The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) announced on Monday the launch of its annual poetry contest, “Cities of Poems,” aimed at celebrating and honoring the cultural capitals of the Islamic world.
This year, the contest will spotlight three cities with rich cultural heritages: Marrakesh in Morocco, Benghazi in Libya, and Shusha in Azerbaijan.
As part of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture in the Islamic World program, the “Cities of Poems” contest seeks to revive the deep connection between poetry and place—a relationship that has long inspired poets across the ages, the organization said in a statement.
By honoring the symbols and civilizations that have shaped these cultural capitals, ICESCO hopes to contribute to the broader literary and poetic movement.
The contest is open to poets of all ages, with submissions evaluated by a panel of ICESCO members and renowned poets. Three winners will be selected from each featured city, with the first-place winner receiving $2,000, the second-place winner $1,500, and the third-place winner $1,000.
In addition to cash prizes, winners will receive certificates of appreciation, and their works will be published in a special collection by ICESCO.
To qualify, poems must be written in classical Arabic or Azerbaijani and adhere to specific stylistic requirements. Poems in Arabic should follow traditional poetic meters, while those in Azerbaijani must conform to their respective rhythmic and prosodic patterns.
Each poem should be inspired by the values, aesthetics, history, and geography of the city it represents, with a limit of 30 lines or verses.
ICESCO invites interested poets to submit their applications through its website by December 31, 2024.