An Associate Editor with The Nation, Olukorede Yishau, and 10 other writers have been longlisted for this year’s $100,000 worth Nigeria Prize for Literature.
In a statement, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, Nigeria NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, said the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature announced that Yishau’s debut novel, In The Name of Our Father, is on the list of 11 drawn from 202 books in the running for the 2021 edition of the prize.
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The 11 books on the list are Obianuju V. Chukwuorji (Delusion of Patriots), Samuel Monye (Give Us Each Day), Anaele Ihuoma (Imminent River), Tony Nwaka (Mountain of Yesterday), Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma (Neglected) and Obinna Udenwa (The Colours of Hatred).
Others are Abi Dare (The Girl with The Louding Voice), Chukwudi Eze (The Return of Half-Something), Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (The Son of The House), and Law Ikay Ezeh (Your Church My Shrine).
The list was presented by the Chairman, Panel of Judges for this year’s prize, Professor Toyin Jegede, who is a professor of Literature in English at the University of Ibadan.
The other judges are Prof. Tanimu Abubakar and Dr Solomon Azumurana. Professor Abubakar is a Professor of Literature in the Faculty of Art, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Dr Azumurana is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Lagos.
The judges described the shortlist as fresh approaches to looking at issues, using new and exciting narrative strategies, techniques and well-written organic plots to present topical discussions in realistic ways.
The judges stated that there has been a visible improvement in writing skills and commended NLNG for giving writers the platform to blossom and experiment.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature is Africa’s biggest reward for creative excellence.
According to the Chairperson of the prize’s Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, the Board unanimously agreed that the shortlist of 11 was an excellent list.
She expressed her appreciation to the judges for a thorough job in selecting the shortlist. She stated that excellence was the watchword of the prize, adding that the onus was on the Advisory Board to continue in the tradition that was handed to them by the past Board.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, poetry) for The Dreamer, His Vision; Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, for his volume of poetry, Chants of a Minstrel (co-winner, 2005, poetry) Ahmed Yerima (2005, drama) for his classic, Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; and Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary with her book, Yellow Yellow (2008, prose).
Others are Esiaba Irobi (2010, drama) who clinched the prize posthumously with his book Cemetery Road; Adeleke Adeyemi (2011, children’s literature) with his book The Missing Clock; Chika Unigwe (2012, prose), with her novel, On Black Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013, poetry) with his collection of poems, The Sahara Testaments; Professor Sam Ukala (2014, drama) with his play, Iredi War; Abubakar Adam Ibrahim with his novel Season of Crimson Blossoms (2016, prose); Ikeogu Oke with his collection of poetry, The Heresiad; (2017, poetry); Soji Cole with his play, Embers (2018, drama); and Jude Idada with his book, Boom, Boom (2019, Children Literature).
The prize runs concurrently with the Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism (also sponsored by NLNG), for which four entries were received in 2020. The literary criticism prize carries a monetary value of N1 million.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary categories – prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.
A shortlist of three is expected in September. A winner is expected to be announced by the Advisory Board in October.
