Jude Idada and Obari Gomba have yet again been listed in the Nigeria LNG’s annual literature prize longlist of 11 announced in a statement on Thursday by Andy Odeh, Manager, Corporate Communication and Public Affairs of the gas company. Idada, who got on the list for Sankara published by Parressia Publishing, was among the last three when Sam Ukala won in drama in 2014, while Gomba longlisted for Guerrilla Post published by Narrative Landscape Press made the longlist in 2013 when Tade Ipadeola won the prize and last year both for poetry collections.
The others on the longlist this this year are:August Inmates by Chidubem Iweka; published by Kraft Books; Death and The King’s Grey Hair by Denja Abdullahi; published by Kraft Books; Embers by Soji Cole; published by Emotion Press;Majestic Revolt by Peter E. Omoko; published by Malthouse Press; Melancholia by Dul Johnson; published by Sevhage Publishers and No More the Taming Hawks by Diran Ademiju-Bepo; published by Dynasty Tales.
Then there is Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan by Kraft Books;The Rally by Akanji Nasiru; published by Kraft Books and Unstable by Dickson Ekhaguere; published by Tryspect Solutions.
In making the announcement, the company, which sponsors the literary prize, Africa’s most prestigious. said that “the struggle for political control and power play dominate the longlist for the $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature, announced today by the Advisory Board for the Prize.
The 2018 longlist of 11 plays chosen from 89 entries was selected by a panel of three judges led by Matthew Umukoro, professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan. Other members of the panel include Mohammed Inuwa Umar – Buratai, professor of Theatre and Performing Arts and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria; and Ngozi Udengwu, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The Umukoro-led panel was appointed in February 2018 by the Prof. Ayo Banjo-led Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature which has been administering the prize on behalf of Nigeria LNG Limited since 2010. Entries for the 2018 Prize were received by the judges in April 2018.
Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Professor Banjo, two-time Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan, are Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education, former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, and Professor Emeritus, Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and president of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).
The Nigeria Prize for Literature has, since 2004, rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2004, poetry), Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto (co-winner, 2004, poetry) for The Dreamer, His Vision; Ahmed Yerima (2005, drama) for his play, Hard Ground; Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary (2008, prose) for her book Yellow Yellow; 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 Sisters Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013, poetry) with his collection of poems, The Sahara Testaments, Professor Sam Ukala (2014, drama) with his play, Iredi War; Seasons of Crimson Blossom, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016, prose) and The Heresiad, Ikeogu Oke (2017, poetry).
The Nigeria Prize for Literature with a cash award of $100, 000 is awarded yearly to the best excellent work, alternating amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature will this year be awarded to the best excellent work submitted in the Drama genre.
Nigeria LNG Limited remains committed to responsible corporate citizenship and The Nigeria Prize for Literature is one of its numerous contributions towards helping to build a better Nigeria.
Leading up to the announcement of the shortlist of three and winner, there will be a number of events open to the public featuring the authors which will be publicized on our corporate social media platforms.
A shortlist of three is expected in September and a possible winner will be announced by the Advisory Board in October.