By Our Reporter,
A Nigerian medical student, Chinaza Joy Ugota,of Ebonyi State origin has earned an Honourable Mention at the 2026 Sejong International Sijo Competition, which attracted a record 917 entries from 80 countries across six continents.
The competition, organised by the Sejong Cultural Society, Chicago, United States, invites poets worldwide to explore sijo, a traditional Korean poetic form, through compositions written in English.
According to a press release issued by the Society, entries for the sixth edition of the competition increased by 49 per cent from 615 in 2025, up from approximately 350 entries in 2024, highlighting the growing international appeal of the centuries-old literary tradition.
Ugota was among six poets awarded Honourable Mentions. The other recipients were McLord Selasi Azalekor of Ghana and four Americans: Lynda La Rocca, Linda Hendelman, Carissa Coane and Emily Rose Raboy.
The Nigerian poet, a medical student, entered the competition following encouragement from her school's literary and debating club instructor. Her poem drew inspiration from the circumstances of her birth and her mother's personal story.
Speaking about the experience, Ugota said writing the poem helped her express her emotions and share personal experiences through poetry. She added that the recognition had deepened her love for poetry and strengthened her determination to use words to make a positive impact on others.
Kamila Arystanbekova of Kazakhstan won the competition's Grand Prize, while Christina Sinor and Pit Pinegar, both from the United States, emerged joint runners-up.
The competition recorded broad international participation, with 60 per cent of submissions coming from outside the United States. The US accounted for 40 per cent of entries, followed by India with 13 per cent and the Philippines with nine per cent. Nigeria and Türkiye also recorded strong participation.
Participants ranged in age from eight to 93, with approximately 67 per cent in their teens or twenties. Notably, Pinegar, the oldest entrant at 93, secured a joint runner-up position, underscoring the competition's appeal across generations.
The organisers said a panel of four judges evaluated the submissions anonymously, without access to the poets' names or identifying information. A total of 48 finalists from 20 countries were selected.
The Executive Director of the Sejong Cultural Society, Lucy Park, expressed satisfaction with the growing global acceptance of sijo, particularly among younger generations.
She said the increasing participation offered hope for the future of the traditional Korean poetic form and its continued development as an international medium for expressing thoughts, emotions and personal experiences.
Founded in Chicago in 2004, the Sejong Cultural Society promotes Korean poetry, literature and music through cultural and educational programmes.
As part of efforts to expand access to sijo, the Society recently launched an online course featuring instructional videos and reference materials to help learners and teachers understand the form's structure and cultural background.
The organisation said its long-term objective was to expand opportunities for writing and learning sijo worldwide, including its eventual integration into literary education in schools across different countries.
The recognition of Ugota places Nigerian literary talent among the international voices contributing to the growing popularity of the Korean poetic tradition.
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