# Candice Iloh

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Nigerian-American poet

**Candice Iloh** (stylized in [lowercase](/source/Lowercase) as **candice iloh**) is a queer, first-generation Nigerian-American[1] writer, poet, educator and dancer. Their debut novel, *[Every Body Looking](/source/Every_Body_Looking)*, was a finalist for the [National Book Award for Young People's Literature](/source/National_Book_Award_for_Young_People's_Literature)[2][3] and [Michael L. Printz Award](/source/Michael_L._Printz_Award) honor book.[4]

## Personal life

Iloh graduated from [Howard University](/source/Howard_University),[5] where they studied public relations.[6][7] In 2017, they received a [Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) from [Lesley University](/source/Lesley_University),[1][5] where they studied Writing for Young People and Poetry.[8][9] They completed residencies at VONA, The Home School via [Lambda Literary](/source/Lambda_Literary_Foundation), and the Rhode Island Writer's Colony.[10]

Iloh's mother, Debrah, struggled with addiction throughout Iloh's life.[11] She died of stomach cancer in 2018.[11]

Iloh uses *they/them* pronouns.[12] They presently live in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia).[13]

## Career

At a poet, Iloh has performed nationally, including the [Nuyorican Poets Café](/source/Nuyorican_Poets_Caf%C3%A9) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), the [Reginald F. Lewis Museum](/source/Reginald_F._Lewis_Museum) in [Baltimore](/source/Baltimore), and the [National Museum of African Art](/source/National_Museum_of_African_Art) in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.) They have also advanced to the final rounds in the following competitions: Graffiti DC Slam, Beltway Poetry Slam, and 11th Hour Poetry Slam.

Iloh's poetry has been published by *Blackberry Magazine*, *[Blavity](/source/Blavity)*, *Fjords Review*, *For Harriet,* *[TheGrio](/source/TheGrio),* *Insight Magazine*, and the [Lambda Literary Foundation](/source/Lambda_Literary_Foundation).

Iloh created a one-person show, *Ada: On Stage,* which debuted in 2018 at Hi-ARTS.[14]

Iloh served as the Managing Editor of *Quiet Lunch Magazine.*[15]

They have also worked as an educator and coach with Voices UnBroken, [Split This Rock](/source/Split_This_Rock), and the [American Poetry Museum](/source/American_Poetry_Museum). Through their work, Iloh has mentored young people in public school classrooms, athletic programs, detention centers, and youth shelters.[13]

## Awards and honors

In 2013, Iloh received a fellowship from [Voices of Our Nation Arts Foundation](/source/Voices_of_Our_Nation_Arts_Foundation) to work with [Ruth Forman](/source/Ruth_Forman).[1][8]

In 2016, they received the [Lambda Literary](/source/Lambda_Literary_Foundation) Home School Fellowship,[8] during which they studied under [Cathy Park Hong](/source/Cathy_Park_Hong). They were also attended the Rhode Island Writers Colony under the Artistic Direction of [Jason Reynolds](/source/Jason_Reynolds).[16]

Later, they were a Writer-in-Residence at the Bronx Academy of Letters.[13]

Awards for Iloh's writing Year Title Award Result Ref. 2020 Every Body Looking National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist [17][3][18] 2021 Every Body Looking Michael L. Printz Award Honor [4] 2021 Every Body Looking Rise: A Feminist Book Project Top 10 [19][20]

## Publications

Iloh's poetry has been published by *Blackberry Magazine*, *[Blavity](/source/Blavity)*, *Fjords Review*, *For Harriet,* *[TheGrio](/source/TheGrio),* *Insight Magazine*, and the [Lambda Literary Foundation](/source/Lambda_Literary_Foundation).

### Books

- *Break Fast From Her Skin* (2014)

- In *The Breakbeats Poets, Volume 2: Black Girl Magic Anthology* (2018) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781608468577](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781608468577)

- *[Every Body Looking](/source/Every_Body_Looking)* (2020) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780525556206](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780525556206)

- *Break This House* (2022) [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780525556237](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780525556237)

- *Salt the Water* (2023)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) ["Candice Iloh"](https://www.nationalbook.org/people/candice-iloh/). *National Book Foundation*. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Grady, Constance (2020-10-06). ["Here are the finalists for the 2020 National Book Awards"](https://www.vox.com/culture/21499270/national-book-award-finalists-2020-nba). *Vox*. Retrieved 2021-10-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:22_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:22_3-1) Westmoore, Jean (23 October 2020). ["Books in Brief: Every Body Looking; When Stars Are Scattered; If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here"](https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/books/books-in-brief-every-body-looking-when-stars-are-scattered-if-winter-comes-tell-it/article_18a9c386-1254-11eb-89f1-478b9d5b177e.html). *The Buffalo News*. Retrieved 2021-10-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Printz_Award_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Printz_Award_4-1) ["Printz Award"](https://www.ala.org/yalsa/printz-award). *Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)*. 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2021-10-28.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_5-1) ["Candice Iloh | Penguin Random House"](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2196156/candice-iloh). *PenguinRandomhouse.com*. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Willaims-Murray, Mercia (2007-01-29). ["Campus Elevators Prove Vertically Challenged"](https://dh.howard.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1380&context=hilltop_0010). *The Hilltop*. p. 1. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Tolson, Jr., Ronald (2009-11-17). ["New Motorola Droid Predicted to Rival Apple iPhone"](https://dh.howard.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1675&context=hilltop_0010). *The Hilltop*. p. 4. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:3_8-2) ["Writer Candice Iloh is the Recipient of Lambda Literary Home School Fellowship"](https://lambdaliterary.org/2015/10/writer-candice-iloh-is-the-recipient-of-lambda-literary-home-school-fellowship/). *Lambda Literary*. 2015-10-23. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Mining art from discomfort"](https://lesley.edu/news/mining-art-from-discomfort). *[Lesley University](/source/Lesley_University)*. 2021-04-08. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Baptiste, Tracey (2 February 2021). ["Day 2: Candice Iloh"](https://thebrownbookshelf.com/28days/day-2-candice-iloh/). *The Brown Bookshelf*. Retrieved 2022-09-24.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_11-1) Iloh, Candice (2022-05-06). ["The Complex Grief of Losing a Mother You Already Mourned"](https://lithub.com/the-complex-grief-of-losing-a-mother-you-already-mourned/). *Literary Hub*. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Dumpleton, Elise (2022-05-22). ["Q&A: Candice Iloh, Author of 'Break This House'"](https://thenerddaily.com/candice-iloh-author-interview/). *The Nerd Daily*. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:5_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:5_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:5_13-2) ["About"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160313161044/http://www.becomher.com/about-1). *CANDICE ILOH*. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Candice Iloh (they/she)"](https://theauthorvillage.com/presenters/candice-iloh/). *The Author Village*. Retrieved 2022-09-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [""beliefs." by Candice Iloh"](https://lambdaliterary.org/2015/05/beliefs-by-candice-iloh/). *Lambda Literary*. 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["WRITERS-IN-RESIDENCE"](http://rhodeislandwriterscolony.com/contact). *Rhode Island Writers Colony*. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Grady, Constance (2020-10-06). ["Here are the finalists for the 2020 National Book Awards"](https://www.vox.com/culture/21499270/national-book-award-finalists-2020-nba). *Vox*. Retrieved 2021-10-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["Awards: National Book Award Finalists"](https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3840). *[Shelf Awareness](/source/Shelf_Awareness)*. 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2022-09-17.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Chapman, Monica (2021-04-20). ["2021 Rise Book Project presents Top Ten feminist books for young readers"](https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/04/2021-rise-book-project-presents-top-ten-feminist-books-young-readers). *American Library Association*. Retrieved 2021-10-28.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [*Rise: A Feminist Book Project: 2021*](https://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=9745858). 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2022-09-16 – via [Booklist](/source/Booklist).

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.becomher.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Candice Iloh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candice_Iloh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candice_Iloh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.