11 Nigerian Authors Fight For Literature Prize

11 authors will compete for the 2017 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, the sponsors have revealed.

Kudo Eresia-Eke, general manager, external relations, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (NLNG), made this known in a statement on Monday.

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The authors and their works, according to the statement include Obari Gomba (For Every Homeland), Jumoke Verissimo (The Birth of Illusion), Ogaga Ifowodo (A Good Mourning), Ebi Yeibo (Of Waters and the Wild), Peter Akinlabi (Iconography), Humphrey Ogu (Echoes of Neglect) and Tanure Ojaide (Songs of Myself: Quartet).

Others are Seun Lari-Williams (Garri for Breakfast), Ikeogu Oke (The Heresiad), Peter Akinlabi (Iconography), Hyginus Ekwuazi (One Day I’ll Dare to Raise My Middle Finger at the Stork and the Reaper), Abubakar Othman (Blood Streams in the Desert) and Jumoke Verissimo (The Birth of Illusion).

Ernest Emenyonu, a professor at the University of Michigan, US, will chair the panel of judges. Other members of the panel are Razinat Mohammed, associate professor of literature at the University of Maiduguri, and Tade Ipadeola, poet, lawyer and winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, 2013.

A final shortlist of three authors will be announced in September.

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Twelve writers have won the Nigeria Prize for Literature since its inception in 2004.

The Prize rotates among four genres – Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Children’s literature.

It describes itself as “bringing Nigerian scientists and authors to public attention and celebrating excellence in scientific breakthroughs and literary craftsmanship in the nation.”

The Prize was initially $20,000 each in Literature and Science.This was increased to $30,000 in 2006, and again to $50,000 in 2008.

In 2011 the Prize was increased to $100,000, making it the largest African literary Prize and one of the richest literary Prizes in the world.

 

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