Forward prize names poets Vidyan Ravinthiran and Karen Solie its first joint winners | Forward prize for poetry

Vidyan Ravinthiran and Karen Solie are this year’s joint winners of the Forward best collection award, one of the UK’s most prestigious poetry awards, the first to share the honor in the award’s history.

Ravinthiran, who was born in Leeds to Sri Lankan Tamil parents and now lives in the USA, became known for Avidyā. It is stated that the collection emerged from “journeys of great personal significance and immigrant sensibilities connected to three different countries.” Canadian poet Solie shared the prize with Wellwater, “a self-examining conversation about a culture in crisis and the natural world on the brink.”

Each poet received £5,000. The winners were announced at a ceremony at London’s Southbank Center on Sunday evening.

Judge Lisa Kelly said the winners “addressed the pressing issues of our time with personal insight and philosophical depth” such as the climate crisis, war and immigration.

The award also recognized three other winners. London-based Jamaican and South African poet Isabelle Baafi won the Jerwood award for best debut collection for Chaotic Kindness, described as a “formal feat of brilliance” that explores strength and transformation through the story of escaping a toxic marriage.

Cardiff-based Iraqi poet Abeer Ameer won the Forward award for best single poem in writing for his work The Least. Responding to the violence of air strikes on an apartment block, the poem was praised for its “devastating” meditation on loss and for exposing the “hypocritical language” used in media coverage of Gaza to sanitize the tragedy.

Manchester poet Griot Gabriel took the Forward award for best single poem in the performance category for Where I’m From, a “love letter to Manchester” that celebrates and mourns the communities of Longsight and Ardwick.

This year’s judges – Sarah Hall, Lisa Kelly, Hannah Lavery, Sean O’Brien and Rommi Smith – praised the ambition of the shortlisted works. Lavery said the best collection joint winners reflected “how many ways poetry can speak to us right now”, describing Avidyā as “dazzling and searching” and Wellwater as “rooted and essential”.

“It was exciting to read poetry from every corner of the world and find common ground in its diversity – light, song, sincerity, humour, wisdom and courage,” said jury chair author Sarah Hall. “Culturally, being a university student is more vital than ever.”

Mónica Parle, joint director of the Forward awards, said the decision to name the two best collection winners reflected the strength of contemporary poetry. “Our shortlisted poets have tackled some of the biggest issues of our day – migration, language, empire, environment, gender dynamics and sexuality – and brilliantly captured lived experiences in a unique and transformative way,” he said. “After all, in our complex world, it may be impossible to find a single, definitive answer.”

The Forward awards were established in 1992 and have recognized some of the biggest names in poetry, including Simon Armitage, Ted Hughes and Carol Ann Duffy. Last year’s best collection award went to Victoria Chang for With My Back to the World. Marjorie Lotfi’s book was named best first collection; Cindy Juyoung Ok won the award for best single poem (written); and Leyla Josephine were awarded the best single poem (performed).