The Prix de Poésie Edouard Maunick is back for its 2018-2019 and second edition. This year’s theme is ‘Cyclone’.

At a press conference on Thursday 7 June, Rama Poonoosamy, director of Immedia which is organising this poetry competition, revealed that “it’s during a lunch with Edouard Maunick in France that we chose this theme. The word ‘cyclone’ is vast and can be linked to meteorology, as well as social and political situations”. Marie Maunick, sister of Edouard Maunick, remarked that her brother “has always been a ‘cyclonic’ poet; he’s never been afraid of voicing his opinions”.

The competition is open to Mauritians of all ages living in Mauritius or abroad. Participants are welcome to enter as many poems – in English, French or Mauritian Creole – as they wish, provided they are all original. Poems should be signed using a pseudonym; the author’s actual name, contact details and pseudonym ought to be included in a separate envelope accompanying each entry. Entries should reach Immedia at Poonoosamy Building, St. Georges Street, Port Louis in sealed envelopes with the mention “Prix de Poésie Edouard Maunick” by 14 December 2018.

The jury will consist of Shenaz Patel and Kavinien Karupudayyan, with writer Ananda Devi acting as chair. The laureate will be announced at a ceremony in mid-2019. The best poet will be awarded a Rs60,000 cash prize.

For its 2016-2017 edition, the Prix de Poésie Edouard Maunick jointly rewarded Gillian Geneviève, for his Port Louis, ce qui demeure, and Helena Lutchman, for her Englishlanguage Louise Baby. Threehundred-and-twenty-nine poems were submitted for the first edition. Plans are in the pipeline to publish, after the third edition, a poem book featuring awarded poems and those having received a distinction of the jury.