The longlist for the NLNG Nigeria Prize for Literature 2023 was announced at a press conference in Lagos, Nigeria on Thursday, July 20, 2023
The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored annually by oil firm NLNG, was started to honour Nigerian authors in the four genres of fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature in 2004. The prize worth US$100,000 makes it the richest in African letters today. In recent times, winners have been Romeo Oriogun (2022), Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia (2021), Jude Idada (2019), Soji Cole (2018), Ikeogu Oke (2017), Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2016), Sam Ukala (2014), Tade Ipadeola (2013), and Chika Unigwe (2012).
For 2023, the focus for the prize is drama and 143 plays were submitted to the jury comprising Prof Ameh Dennis Akoh alongside Prof Osita Catherine Ezenwanebe and Dr Rasheedah Liman for consideration.
The longlist for 2023 announced by the advisory board of Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo (Chair); Prof. Olu Bafemi, and Prof. Ahmed Yerima features the following 11 plays;
- The Spellbinder, Bode Sowande
- Where is Patient Zero, Olatubosun Tuafe
- Yamtarawala The Warrior King, Henry Akubuiro
- The Boat People, Chris Anyokifu
- Gidan Juju, Victor S Dugga
- Grit, Obari Gomba
- Dance of the Sacred Feet (A Play), Ade Adeniji
- When Big Masquerades Dance Naked, Olubunmi Familoni
- The Ojuelegba Crossroads A Play, Abediye Agbolaji
- The Brigadiers of A Mad Tribe, Abuchi Modilim
- Homecoming, Cheta Igbokwe
“The plays impressed our esteemed judges with their profound themes, artistic craftsmanship, and the author’s ability to breath life into their characters and narratives revealing a deep understanding of the human experience,” said Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo.
The shortlist and winner will be revealed in due course.
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