ANA Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature 2023 longlist announced

The longlist for the Association of Nigerian Author’s Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature 2023 was announced on Monday, October 9, 2023.

Chinua Achebe was the author of Things Fall Apart (1958) the most well-read novel written by an African. His other novels were No Longer At Ease, Arrow of God, A Man of the People, and Anthills of the Savannah. He is also the author of many works of nonfiction. His influence was also felt in his role as a pioneer of the Heinemann African Writers Series which introduced many African writers to the world.

In 2021, the Association of Nigerian Authors unveiled the Chinua Achebe Prize for Nigerian Writing to be awarded to the best novel published by a Nigerian writer in each calendar year. Given an endowment by Anambra State, Achebe’s home state, for 1,000,000 Naira prize money; it has been won by Obinna Udenwe (2021) and Sylva Nze Ifedigbo (2022).

The longlist for the award was announced on Tuesday with the following writers in the running;

• Rogues of the East, Ikenna Okeh
• Leave my Bones in Saskatoon, Michael Afenfia
• The Nigerian Mafia, Onyeka Nwelue
• Zeb Silhouette, Chinyere Grace Okafor
• Saro, Nike Campbell
• Turbulent Waters, Timothy Etchie

Responses

Nike Campbell said, “Great news! Longlisted for the 2023 ANA Chinua Achebe Prize for Fiction. It’s been a journey bringing SARO to the world. Grateful!”

Onyeka Nwelue said, “My novel, “The Nigerian Mafia: Mumbai,” has been longlisted for the 2023 ANA Chinua Achebe Prize.”

While announcing this longlist, the Association of Nigerian Authors also made public several other award categories like;

ANA Prize for Children’s Literature 2023 | Shortlist

• Finding Kitty, Chigozie A. Mbadugha
• A Wonderful World, Vincent Evhade
• The Female’s Duty, Ireyimika Oladele-Ojo
• Crossroad, Taiwo Idowu

ANA/KMVL Poetry Prize 2023 | Shortlist

• Unnoticed: Presence of Things Charles, Utibe Hanson
• On This Land, Terseer Akwen
• Will You Buy My Wares?, Tope Ogundare
• Like Butterflies Scattered About by Art Rascals, Umar Abubakar Sidi
• Whispers in a Junkyard, Thomas Peretu.

ANA Short Story Prize 2023 |Shortlist

• Storm Across the Sahel: A Collection of Short Stories, Aliyu Danladi
• When Dreams Burn, Dul Johnson

ANA Drama Prize 2023 | Longlist

• Isidore Diala (2023) The Truce. Ibadan: Kraft Books Ltd.
• Dul Johnson (2023) In the Crucible. Abuja: NIRPRI/LEHAP.
• Olatunbosun Taofeek (2022) Where is Patient Zero? Lagos: Grecian Company.
• Bayo Mosoba (2023). Passing-Out Parade in Mankilla. Ibadan: Noirledge
• Olutayo Irantiola (2022) The Okeho Exodus: Regicide, Revolt, Relocation. Ibadan, PEO Davies.
• Nkiru Akaenyi (2023). The Mandate. Abak: Ablaze Publishers.
• Ineye Johnny Dudafa (2023) Mangrove in the Desert. Abuja: NIRPRI.
• Stephen Kekeghe (2022) Broken Edges. Ibadan Kraft Books Ltd.
• Peter Omoko (2023). Kidnapped. Ibadan: Kraft Books Ltd.
• Achalugo Chioma Ilozumba. The Women in the Mirror. (2023). Lagos: The Story Station.
• Olubunmi Familoni (2023). When Big Masquerades Dance Naked. Ibadan: Noirledge.

ANA Prose Prize 2023 | Shortlist

• Trophy Husband, Ejiro Joyce Otive-Igbuzor
• The Nigerian Mafia Mumbai, Onyeka Nwelue
• Some Angels Don’t See God, Ever Obi
• The Black Men of Bissonnet Street, Sola Owonibi
• And Then He Sang a Lullaby, Ani Kayode Somtochukwu

The winners will be announced at the Award Dinner Night during the 2023 ANA International Convention in Abuja, Nigeria in November 2023.