Shortlist of 10 for the Nigeria Prize (NLNG) for Literature 2012

The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature led by Professor Emeritus Ayo Banjo has announced an initial shortlist of 10 books in the running for the 2012 literature prize. According to the Chair of Judges, Prof. Francis Abiola Irele, it took months of intensive scrutiny by the panel to produce the shortlist drawn from 214 entries from Nigerians at home and abroad; this happens to be the largest number received since the prize was inaugurated in 2004. The following are the shortlisted books:
  1. Ngozi Achebe Onaedo: The Blacksmith's Daughter
  2. Ifeanyi Ajaegbo: Sarah House
  3. Jude Dibia: Blackbird
  4. Vincent Egbuson: Zhero
  5. Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani: I do not Come to You by Chance
  6. Onuora Nzekwu: Troubled Dust
  7. Olusola Olugbesan: Only Canvas
  8. Lola Shoneyin: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives
  9. E E Sule: Sterile Sky
  10. Chika Unigwe: On Black Sister's Street
The Advisory Board announced that the final shortlist will be released soon. The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children's literature. Last year it was won by Mai Nasara (a pseudonym) for Missing Clock (children's literature). The award comes with a cash prize of US$ 100,000.

From all indications, this year's award is going to be keenly competed. Most of the books have received some form of awards and have been hugely patronised and well-reviewed/received. From Chika Unigwei's On Black Sister's Street, through to Lola Shoneyin's The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives, Adaobi's I do not Come to You by Chance, Jude Dibia's Blackbird, and Ngozi Achebe's The Blacksmith's Daughter, the judges are going to find a hard time shortening the list further down and then choosing the winner.

Comments

  1. Reading Pleasure7 September 2012 at 15:02

    You've said it Nana; it's going to be a keen race. I read the Secret LIves of Baba Segi's Wives and it is good, though I felt that Bolanle was not a well developed character and in the end, issues were not resolved properly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ImageNations19 September 2012 at 09:25

      I think Kinna said something of some sort too. Let's see because the list contains some very good names.

      Delete

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