Longlist for the 2021 NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature

by | Jul 7, 2021 | Gist Corner

The NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature, one of the richest writing prizes in Africa, has announced its longlist.

The prize, which started in 2004 to honour Nigerian authors, is being sponsored annually by oil firm NLNG. The prize worth is US$100,000, and is been given annually four genres of fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

This year’s judging panel is led by Professor Toyin Jegede, a professor of Literature in English at the University of Ibadan. Other members of the judging panel are Prof. Tanimu Abubakar (Professor of Literature in the Faculty of Art, Ahmadu Bello University), and Dr Solomon Azumurana (Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Lagos).

Here are the longlisted works which have been described by the judges as having “fresh approaches to looking at  issues, using new and exciting narrative strategies, techniques and well-written organic plots to present topical discussions in realistic ways:”

  • Delusion of Patriots, Obianuju V. Chukwuorji
  • Give Us Each Day, Samuel Monye
  • Imminent River, Anaele Ihuoma
  • In The Name of Our Father, Olukorede S. Yishau
  • Mountain of Yesterday, Tony Nwaka
  • Neglected, Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma
  • The Colours of Hatred, Obinna Udenwa
  • The Girl with The Louding Voice, Abi Dare
  • The Return of Half- Something, Chukwudi Eze
  • The Son of The House, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia
  • Your Church My Shrine, Law Ikay Ezeh

A shortlist of three will be announced in September, and a winner will be announced by the Advisory Board in October.