Owned by the Department of English and Literary Studies, The Muse Journal is the oldest-surviving students’ journal in West Africa. Founded by Chinua Achebe, its 50th issue was unveiled and celebrated on 11 of July, 2023. Iheoma Uzomba served as the Chief Editor for this edition, while Unoma Azuah guest-edited.
The issue boasts of an eclectic list of contributors: Frances Ogamba, Nome Patrick, Su’eddie Vershima Agema, Ola W. Halim, Enit’ayanfe Ayosojumi Akinsanya, Somto Ihezue, Ernest Ohia and many other exciting writers.
It is tagged as the ‘Homecoming’ Issue as it celebrates 50 years of a sustained legacy of immortalizing African literature and criticism. The pages are rich with language. They are diverse with flash fictions, short stories, poems, non fiction, art works, literary reviews, critical essays and insightful interviews with Nnedi Okafor and Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. The pages call you to “lose yourself to thinking”.
During the unveiling, prizes were awarded to the best entry by a student contributor in each genre. Below is a list of the winners and title of entry:
- Wilson Okereke Prize for Short Story:
Winner: Nnamdi Vin-Anuonye, for “You must be Astonished by my Good Fortune”
Runner-up: Uluata Emmanuel Kalu
for “Borokiri”.
- Ugwuanyi Leonard Prize for Flash Fiction.
Winner: Chukwudalu Abugu, for “In Our Silences”.
Runner-up: Marylinda E. Onwuegbusi, for “Inspirations”.
- Fidelis Okoro Prize for Poetry.
Winner: Chiwenite Onyekwelu, for “The Hand”.
Runner-up:. Adesiyan Pelumi, for “My Mother Teaches Me to Pray” & “A Primeval Void”.
- Eriata Oribabhor Prize for Pidgin Poetry
Winner: Ayogu Emmanuel Uchenna, for “Na Dem”.
Runner-up: Emmanuel Nwachukwu, for “Those of Us Wey Follow”.
- Damian Opata Prize for Literary Criticism
Winner: L. Cornel Ogbakwute, for “Border Planes of Igbo Folktales: A Border Study of Some Selected Folktales in Romanus Egudu’s Calabash of Wisdom”.
- Emeka Anuforo Prize for Literary Artiste of the Year
Winner: Onyekachi Iloh, for “First Knowledge”.
Past editors/ associate editors over the years include Chika Unigwe, Arinze Ifeakandu, Ebenezer Agu, Cheta Igbokwe, Ernest Ohia, Onyemuche Anele Ejesu, Friday Romanus Okpo– just to name a few.
This year, Iheoma J. Uzomba served as the Chief Editor and was assisted by Orjichukwu Golding Chikamobi. Associate Editors were: A.D Xavier (Poetry), Chinenye Okoye (Poetry); Mhembeuter Jeremiah Orhemba (Prose), Okorie Divine(Prose); Eze, Edwin Uchenna (Drama); Gospel Okoro( Critical Writing).
With time, entries from this year’s edition will be uploaded to The Muse’s website. Till then, visit the site here to feast on entries from their previous issues.
Email: museunn@gmail.com
Twitter:themuseunn
Facebook: The Muse, A Creative and Critical Writing Journal
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