The 9mobile Prize for Literature 2017 shortlist has been announced and the three writers in the running for Africa’s richest prize for a debut novel are Ayobami Adebayo, Lesley Nneka Arimah, and Marcus Low.
The 9mobile Prize for Literature was born in 2013 as the Etisalat Prize for African literature as a platform to showcase the new creative talent out of the continent and invariably promote the burgeoning publishing industry in Africa. The prize has in the past been awarded to Jowhor Ile (2016), Fiston Mwanza Mujila (2015), Songeziwe Mahlangu (2014) and NoViolet Bulawayo (2013).
This year the prize with its new identity of 9mobile Prize for Literature is being judged by Harry Garuba (chair), Doreen Baingana and Siphiwo Mahala. In a year where many novelists are churning out amazing work, they had the difficult task of whittling down a longlist of nine books still in the running to win the award on December 8, 2017.
Today they have announced those in the running for what has become the most prestigious prize for a debut novel on the continent and they are;
- Stay with Me – Ayobami Adebayo
- What it Means When a Man Falls Down From the Sky – Lesley Nneka Arimah
- Asylum – Marcus Low
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Lagos later in the year.
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