Three Foreign Based Nigerians Writers Makes Shortlist of 2019 NLNG Prize For Literature

Three Nigerian writers have been shortlisted for 2019 Nigerians Prize for Literature. They include Jude Idada, Dunni Olatunde, and O T Begho.

The shortlist was announced in Lagos, Nigeria on September 4, 2019.

The Prize was founded in 2004 to honour Nigerian authors in the four genres of fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

Over the last few years, winners have been Soji Cole for drama (2018), Ikeogu Oke for poetry (2017), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for prose (2016), Sam Ukala for drama (2014), Tade Ipadeola for poetry (2013), and Chika Unigwe for prose (2012).Over the last few years, winners have been Soji Cole for drama (2018), Ikeogu Oke for poetry (2017), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim for prose (2016), Sam Ukala for drama (2014), Tade Ipadeola for poetry (2013), and Chika Unigwe for prose (2012).

Confirmed as the richest literature prize in Africa, the winner of the prize will pocketing US$100,000.

This year, the prize focuses on Children’s Literature which failed to be awarded in 2015 as the panel of judges felt that there was no book worthy of winning the award.

The judges said the three books by the foreign-based authors “represent a very high degree of creativity” and are “highly didactic, yet coated in an absorbing and engaging narrative”.

The shortlist include: “Boom, Boom”, Jude Idada, “Mystery at Ebenezer’s Lodge”, Dunni Olatunde “The Great Walls of Benin”, O. T. Begho.

The longlist was announced on July 18 from the 173 entries.

The winners of the Literature and Literary Criticism prizes will be are revealed at an award ceremony in October 2019.