NLNG receives entries for literature prize, releases longlist

The Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature on Friday released the longlist of 11 entries from 287 books of poetry submitted for the 2022 edition of the coveted prize.

In an online announcement of the longlist, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Lagos and Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, said the 11 books in alphabetical order by their titles were Augusta’s Poodle by Ogaga Ifowodo, Coming Undone As Stitches Tighten by Iquo DianaAbasi, Dispossessed by James Eze, Ife Testament by Olusegun Adekoya and Memory and the Call of Waters by S. Su’eddie Agema.

Others include Nomad by Romeo Oriogun, The Lilt of The Rebel by Obari Gomba, The Love Canticles by Chijioke Amu Nnadi,  Wanderer Cantos by Remi Raji, Yawns and Belches by Joe Ushie and Your Crib, My Qibla by Saddiq Dzukogi.

During the announcement, Adimora-Ezeigbo, who won the prize in 2007 in the Children’s Literature category alongside a playwright, Mabel Segun, was flanked by the advisory board members; lecturer and theatre administrator, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, also a 2006 winner of the prize in the drama category and a playwright and teacher, Prof. Olu Obafemi.

Adimora-Ezeigbo noted that the process would continue as “a shortlist of three is expected in September and hopefully, a winner in October.’’

The annual literature is endowed by the Nigeria LNG Limited to honour the author of the best book by a Nigerian within the last four years. The prize rotates among four literary genres; prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. This year’s competition is for poetry and the prize money is $100,000.

Author and professor of Law at the Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia, won the 2021 prize with her novel, Son of the House.

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