The race for the Nigeria Prize for literature 2013 is heating up. From 201 competitors…eleven made the long list and now….there’s the final three; Tade Ipadeola (The Sahara Testaments), Amu Nnadi (through the window of a sandcastle) and Promise Ogochukwu (Wild Letters). The trio have their eyes on the golden prize “$100,000”.The winner of the competition will be unveiled on October 9th, 2013 at a world press conference.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates annually from prose fiction, poetry, to drama and children’s literature. The winners from inception are :
Gabriel Okara for his volume of poetry The Dreamer, His Vision (co-winner 2004 – poetry);
Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, for his volume of poetry Chants of a Minstrel (co-winner 2004 poetry);
Ahmed Yerima (2005 – drama) for his book Hard Ground;
Mabel Segun (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre;
Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner 2007 – children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy;
Kaine Agary (2008 – prose) for her novel 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.
May the best poet win…wouldn’t you say?
i wish all finalists the very best!