Again, Another ANA Rivers Author Makes the Shortlist of the Most Coveted Nigerian Literary Prize.

By Raphael Edookue (Publicity Secretary, ANA Rivers).

In what seems to be a football team selection, the shortlist for the Nigerian Prize for literature, the most prestigious literary prize in Africa, sponsored by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) limited, features eleven best authors out of whatever number of entries received in a year. This year's prize is for prose fiction, it was supposed be administered in 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

As this year's shortlist of  eleven was released by the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature on Saturday, 3rd July, 2021, out of the 202 entries received, the Rivers State Branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) was swallowed  by joy as it's member and former National Auditor of ANA,  Mr. Anaele Ihuoma, fondly called "Nobel" by some older members of the branch made the list with his much talked about novel: "Imminent River".  It will interest you to note that in 2017, Mr. Humphrey Ogu and Dr. Obari Gomba, two authors from Ihuoma's Rivers State branch of ANA made the shortlist for the poetry prize with their poetry collections: "Echoes of Neglect" and "For Every Homeland" respectively. Dr. Obari Gomba has however made the shortlist previously for his play "Guerilla Post" (2018), and "Length of Eyes" (Poetry, 2013) respectively.

Moreover, the atmosphere at ANA Rivers at the moment is a sagging cloud of expectation for the multimillion Naira award. And they deserve that joy of having a member as the eventual winner, having had three different shortlisted authors in the history of this Prize.  Such a good record justifies their hope to drink from the skull of  this $100,000 Prize while Mr. Ihuoma Anaele preserves the head of the stubborn warrior in his literary shrine as a laureate of the Nigerian version of the Nobel Prize for Literature. Perhaps, his colleagues who call him "Nobel" had looked forward to a time like this and more.

Below is the shortlist in alphabetical order:

1. Delusion of Patriots, Obianuju V. Chukwuorji

2. Give Us Each Day, Samuel Monye

3. Imminent River, Anaele Ihuoma

4. In The Name of Our Father, Olukorede S. Yishau

5. Mountain of Yesterday, Tony Nwaka

6. Neglected, Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma

7. The Colours of Hatred, Obinna Udenwa

8. The Girl with The Louding Voice, Abi Dare

9. The Return of Half- Something, Chukwudi Eze

10. The Son of The House, Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia

11. Your Church My Shrine, Law Ikay Ezeh

The insights below were gathered from the Official Facebook page of The Nigeria Prize for Literature:

The list was presented by the Chairman, Panel of Judges for this year’s prize, Professor Toyin Jegede, who is a professor of Literature in English at the University of Ibadan. 

The other judges are Prof. Tanimu Abubakar and Dr Solomon Azumurana. Professor Abubakar is a Professor of Literature in the Faculty of Art, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Dr Azumurana is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at the University of Lagos.  

The judges described the shortlist as 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. The judges stated that there has been a visible improvement in writing skills and commended NLNG for giving writers the platform to blossom and experiment. 

According to the Chairperson of the prize’s Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, the Board unanimously agreed that the shortlist of 11 was an excellent list. She expressed her appreciation to the judges for a thorough job in selecting the shortlist. She stated that excellence was the watchword of the prize, adding that the onus was on the Advisory Board to continue in the tradition that was handed to them by the past Board. 

The Nigeria Prize for Literature has since 2004 rewarded eminent writers such as Gabriel Okara (co-winner, 2005, poetry) for The Dreamer, His Vision; Professor Ezenwa Ohaeto, for his volume of poetry, Chants of a Minstrel (co-winner, 2005, poetry) Ahmed Yerima (2005, drama) for his classic, Hard Ground;  Mabel Segun (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) for her collection of short plays Reader’s Theatre; Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (co-winner, 2007, children’s literature) with her book, My Cousin Sammy; Kaine Agary with her book, Yellow Yellow (2008, prose); 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 Sister’s Street; Tade Ipadeola (2013, poetry) with his collection of poems, The Sahara Testaments; Professor Sam Ukala (2014, drama) with his play, Iredi War; Abubakar Adam Ibrahim with his novel Season of Crimson Blossoms (2016, prose); Ikeogu Oke with his collection of poetry, The Heresiad; (2017, poetry); Soji Cole with his play, Embers (2018, drama); and Jude Idada with his book, Boom, Boom (2019, Children Literature).

The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary categories - prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature. 

A shortlist of three is expected in September. A winner, if any, will be announced by the Advisory Board in October.