Longlist for the 2012 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa Announced

The Lumina Foundation, in partnership with Globacom, has announced the longlist of the 2012 Edition of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa. The Prize, worth US$ 20,000, was established in 2005 by The Lumina Foundation, as a Biennial Award to the best literary work produced by an African. It assess works by African authors selected within the two years preceding the award year. The prize was last won by Kopano Matlwa and Wale Okedira for their novels Coconut and Tenants of the House. The Longlisted books are:
  1. The Beauty I Have Seen by Tanure Ojaide
  2. Bitter Chocolate by Toyin Adewale Gabriel
  3. The Other Country by Hyginus Ekuwuazi
  4. The Book of the Dead by Kgebetli Moele
  5. The Unseen Leopard by Bridget Pitt
  6. On Black Sister's Street by Chika Unigwe
  7. The African American by Dike-Ogu Chukwumerije
  8. Roses and Bullets by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo
  9. Young Blood by Sifiso Mzobe
  10. The Colour of Power by Marie Heese
  11. Pride of the Spider Clan by Odili Ujubuonu
  12. The Lazarus Effect by HJ Golakai
  13. Fallout by Sue Rabie
  14. The Thin Line by Arja Salafranca
  15. Only a Canvas by Olushola Olugbesan
The Shortlist would be out in August and the winner will be announced on September 8, 2012. What is clear is that the award will be won by either a Nigerian or a South African or any combination of the two as the longlist is made up of only these two West and South African countries. 

Comments

  1. geosi13 July 2012 at 11:39

    Oh Nana, it seems these two countries always dominates these major literary awards. The longlist is tight, most of them have already won awards or been positively reviewed. We wait for the shortlist!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Reading Pleasure13 July 2012 at 16:19

    Geosi is right. what is happening to the Ghanaians? Are we short of writers? Anyway, thanks for sharing, Nana.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ImageNations13 July 2012 at 16:32

      I hope not. Most of them are based outside the continent and they do not promote their works here. the author of Zongo street, Kwei Quartey, Mamle Kabu, etc.

      Delete
  3. Ryan14 July 2012 at 15:08

    I promise I'm going to read at least three of these titles before the end of this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ImageNations16 July 2012 at 11:22

      that's great. If I get them I will but not sure of the 'getting'.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous25 July 2012 at 12:59

    Pleased to see a blogspot promoting African writing. I'm H.J. Golakai one of the longlisted authors for this prize. Point of correction though: not everybody on this list is either Nigerian or South African. I'm published by a SA pubisher but I'm proudly LIBERIAN. So another nationality from West Africa has a chance at representing! Good luck to us all...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ImageNations8 August 2012 at 11:11

      Thanks for the clarification Golakai. ImageNations wishes you well in this.

      Delete

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