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Dr. Susan Kiguli, a senior lecturer in literature at Makerere University, became the first African to receive a Lifetime Award in Poetry at the 2023 International Civil Poetry Festival in Venice, Italy. She received praise from peers and officials, including Makerere University’s vice-chancellor. Kiguli is known for her significant contributions to poetry and literature, having received previous awards and recognition. She holds a PhD in English, with research interests in performance theory, popular song, and oral poetry.

The first African to win a Lifetime Award in Poetry at the 2023 International Civil Poetry Festival in Venice, Italy, was Dr. Susan Kiguli, a senior lecturer in literature at Makerere University. Peers and authorities praised her, among them the vice-chancellor of Makerere University. Kiguli, who has already won honors and acclaim, is well-known for her important contributions to poetry and literature. With a doctorate in English, she studies popular music, oral poetry, and performance theory.

Kiguli, who is the first African to receive the award in poetry, follows in the footsteps of previously awarded prestigious names in the literary fraternity including Jesper Svenbro, Adam Zagajewski, Tony Harrison, Adonis, Evgenij Evtushenko.

Makerere University College of Humanities says Kiguli, 54, was awarded on October 25, 2023, in the Vercelli Seminar

The 2023 International Civil Poetry Festival honored the university’s senior lecturer in literature as its guest of honor.

Following the award, Kiguli was showered with praise on social media from a wide range of individuals, including Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the vice-chancellor of Makerere University, and Drs. Isaac Tibasiima and Jimmy Spire Ssentongo, two of his fellow lecturers.

“Congratulations to @Makerere Don, Dr. Susan Kiguli on being the first African to receive the Lifetime Award in Poetry at a ceremony held in Venice, Italy,” Nawangwe wrote on X, the former Twitter platform.

Tibasiima said: “When your doctoral advisor reminds you that part of your work is to go places like she has. At @MakLiterature we are proud of you, Prof. Susan Kiguli. Keep shining with this Lifetime Achievement Award at the Civil Poetry Festival. You keep @MakerereCHUSS on the move”.

Vision Group editor Barbara Kaija posted on X saying: Wow Dr Susan Kiguli, you are an amazing poet and literary scholar. We celebrate you.

Kiguli received an MA from Makerere University School of Languages, Literature, and Communication and a PhD in English from The University of Leeds, according to the school. Her primary areas of interest in research are performance theory, popular song, and oral poetry.

Her 2011 African Studies Association Presidential Fellowship gave her the chance to recite her poetry in November 2011 at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

The African Saga, a collection of poems by Kiguli, was the 1999 National Book Trust of Uganda Poetry Award winner. In addition, the associate professor is a prolific poet.

She has served as FEMRITE (Uganda Women Writers’ Association) chairperson and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the African Writers Trust (AWT).

The don was also the chief convener for Celebrating Ugandan Writing: Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino at 50 held at Makerere University in March 2016.