Arthur Gabriel Yak’s manuscript Whispers of the Survival won the Quramo Writers’ Prize 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Chukwuma Jonathan and Abiodun Selome Medemaku came second and third respectively.
The Quramo Writers’ Prize is awarded annually to an unpublished fiction manuscript by an unpublished author. Nigeria-based Quramo Publishers founded it to encourage and stimulate a new community of talented writers and to provide an opportunity for otherwise unexposed talent to achieve publishing recognition. Previous winners have been Samuel Monye (2017), Michael Emmanuel (2018), Vivian Onyekachi Ibe (2019), Kadiri Alex (2020), Akinnimi Akintomiwa Oluwaseun (2021), Ibrahim Babatunde Ibrahim (2022), and Chiziterem Chijioke (2023).
The 2024 judging panel chaired by novelist and publisher Eghosa Imasuen, journalist and writer Anote Ajeluorou, and writer and literary critic Lechi Eke announced the longlist on Wednesday, August 14. They then revealed the top three at the Quramo Festival of Words closing ceremony, aka QFest in Lagos on Sunday, October 6.
Jury chair Eghosa Imasuen said, “I am deeply moved by the diversity and depth of the stories brought to life. Each manuscript resonated with a unique authenticity and intensity that speaks to the future of African literature. These works, though in their early stages, hold the potential to become timeless, reflecting the resilience and richness of the human spirit. The talent we’ve seen ensures that the future of African storytelling is in capable hands. I eagerly await what these writers will create next.”
The winner was declared to be Arthur Gabriel Yak’s manuscript Whispers of the Survival. South Sudanese writer and Cairo University graduate Arthur Gabriel Yak is a Veterinary Medical Officer with the Department of Agriculture in the United States where he lives. He received a cash prize of 1,000,000 naira and a publishing deal with Quramo Publishing.
Imasuen said of the winning entry, “Whispers of Survival takes us into the life of Anyang, a young girl navigating the brutal realities of a refugee camp. Amidst violence and exploitation, Anyang’s resilience shines as she faces her abusive brother Ayok and the manipulative camp politics. This manuscript offers a haunting yet powerful portrayal of survival, sacrifice, and human dignity in the face of war’s scars, showcasing emotional complexity and narrative strength.”
Chukwuma Jonathan and Abiodun Selome Medemaku came second and third respectively.
Join the winning writer later today on Instagram at 3 pm GMT/4 pm WAT/5 pm CAT/ 6 pm EAT at Quramo on Instagram.
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