Liyou Libsekal

Liyou Libsekal
Born	1990 (age 34–35) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Occupation	Poet, writer
Alma mater	George Washington University
Notable works	Bearing Heavy Things
Notable awards	Winner of 2014 Brunei University African Poetry Prize

Liyou Mesfin Libsekal (born 1990) is an Ethiopian poet and writer. Her poems were featured in the 2015 African Poetry Book Fund's New Generation African Poets series. She is winner of the 2014 Brunel University African Poetry Prize and she is the author of an e-chapbook titled "Things We Inherited: Voices From Africa Curated by Liyou Libsekal". ^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Liyou Mesfin Libsekal spent her childhood traveling and living in various areas in East Africa with her family before returning to Ethiopia in 2005. ^{[3] [4]} She later moved to the United States to attend George Washington University in Washington, D.C. where she obtained a BA in Anthropology in 2012. ^[5] She returned to Africa, after living a short time in Vietnam. ^[6]

Liyou's poetry explores themes of identity, origins, home and displacement. ^{[2] [7]} Her work has been included in Badilisha Poetry, Expound Magazine's The Woman Issue, Elsewhere Lit's African Poetry anthology and other publications. ^{[8] [9] [4]}

Libsekal is winner of the 2014 Brunel University African Poetry Prize, which is now called the Brunel International African Poetry Prize. ^{[10] [3] [11]} Her winning poem is titled "Riding Chinese Machines". During her participation in the competition, Libsekal had an interview conducted by The African Book Review, during which she names Kwesi Brew as one of her favorite poets. ^[12] Liyou's chapbook, Bearing Heavy Things, is included in the 2015 African Poetry Book Fund's New Generation African Poets series. ^[13]

In 2016, she curated an African Poetry e-chapbook for Cordite Poetry Review titled "Things We Inherited: Voices From Africa Curated by Liyou Libsekal". ^[4] The book features two of Libsekal's own pieces: "Revival" and "Composer" ^[14] . In 2020, she wrote "Sistine Chapels" for A Long House. ^[15]

Libsekal lives in the city of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. ^[5] She writes about Ethiopian culture and the environment there for the Ethiopian Business Review. ^{[16] [12]}

References

1. "Liyou Libsekal wins 2014 Brunel African Poetry Prize | Brunel University London". www.brunel.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
2. "Liyou Libsekal". www.poetryinternational.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-11-18.
3. "Previous Winners African Poetry Prize". African Poetry Prize.org. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
4. africaindialogue (2017-02-07). "The Poetry of the Observable World: A Dialogue With Liyou Libsekal". Africa in Dialogue. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
5. "New Generation Africa Poets". African Poetry Book Fund. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
6. "Ethiopian Poet Liyou Libsekal wins 2014 Brunel African Poetry Prize". BuzzEthiopia. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
7. "Salt and Metal". PEN/Opp. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
8. Libsekal, Liyou. "Liyou Libsekal". Cordite Poetry Review. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
9. "» Liyou Mesfin Libsekal" . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
10. "Liyou Libsekal: "Revival"". Cordite Poetry Review. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
11. "» Liyou Mesfin Libsekal" . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
12. Review, The African Book (2014-04-07). "Liyou Mesfin Libsekal: An Interview With An Ethiopian Poet". The African Book Review. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
13. "Liyou Libsekal". Badilishpoetry.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
14. "Things We Inherited: Voices from Africa Curated by Liyou Libsekal". Cordite Poetry Review. 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
15. "Sistine Chapels" . Retrieved 2025-11-18.
16. "Contemporary Ethiopian Poets:Liyou Libsekal". Missing Slate. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.