2 books on northern Nigeria join NLNG literature prize scramble

Stories by Ibrahim Ramalan

In recent years, voices from the Northern Nigeria have continued to impressively push into the global literary landscape which was hitherto less represented, indicating a vibrant future for the region.
A pointer to which is the two out of the 11 recently shortlisted books for the NLNG literature prize, ‘Born on a Tuesday’ by Elnathan John and ‘Season of Crimson Blossoms’ by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, which are works that were set in the North.

John’s book brings home the reality of what is happening in northern Nigeria with a power the news reports of Boko Haram’s atrocities can’t adequately project. While Ibrahim’s book is a story of relationships set in the predominantly Muslim north of Nigeria, revealing layers of human emotions and desires.
However, according to a statement by the General Manager, External Relations of NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, the shortlist is made up of entries from Nigerian writers at home and in diaspora, parades well-known writers as well as first time novelists, and a shortlist of three is expected in September and a winner, if any, will be announced by the Advisory Board in October.

Other shortlisted authors, as announced by the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, led by Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, are: Chika Unigwe, Ogochukwu Promise, Yejide Kilanko and Ifeoma Okoye. Others are Sefi Atta, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, Aramide Segun, Maryam Awaisu and Mansim Chumah Okafor.
The list was presented by the chairman, panel of judges for this year’s prize, Prof. Dan Izevbaye, well-respected literary critic and a professor of English Language at Bowen University, Iwo.

Other members of the panel of judges include Professor Asabe Usman Kabir, Professor of Oral and African Literatures at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and Professor Isidore Diala, a professor of African Literature at Imo State University, Owerri and first winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. The 2016 prize is for prose fiction and comes with a cash award of $100, 000. Next year’s genre will be poetry.