PRESS RELEASE
THE 15th CORA-Nigeria Prize for Literature Book Party for writers longlisted for the 2024 edition of the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature (NLP), endowed and promoted by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG holds as follows:
Date: Sunday August 17, 2024
Venue: Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos
Time: 1pm (prompt).
NB: The event will accommodate virtual guests via Zoom; and will be broadcast live on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
The genre in focus is Childrenโs Literature. The 11-longlist drawn from 163 entries submitted for the 2024 edition of the prize are below โ NOT in alphabetical order.
- A Fatherโs Pride, by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor
- The Road Does Not End, by Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi
- Mighty Mite and Golden Jewel, by Henry Akubuiro
- Village Boy, by Anietie Usen
- Wish Maker, by Uchechuckwu Peter Umezurike
- Risi Recycle โ The DustBin Girl, by Temiloluwa Adeshina
- The Third side of a Coin, by Hyginus Ekwuazi
- The Children at the IDP Camp, by Olatunbosun Taofeek
- Grandma and the Moonโs Hidden Secret, Jumoke Verissimo
- The Magic Jalabiya, by Ayo Oyeku
- Bodeโs Birthday Party, โ Akanni Festus Olaniyi
The party, a literary feast of ideas and life, celebrates the authors and their works for emerging as some of the very best in the country. It promises to be an afternoon of literary feasting, featuring performances, wining and dining.
About the NPL: ย The Nigeria Prize for Literature was inaugurated in 2004 and sponsored by Nigerian LNG Limited with the prize money was later raised to $50,000 and now, it is a $100,000 prize โ the biggest of its kind in Africa.
About the Book Party: The CORA-Nigeria Prize for Literature Book Party โ a specialย iteration of the CORA Book Party launched in 1996 โ was initiated after a review of the first five years of the esteemed Prize project. The idea is to create a platform through which the public gets to engage with the works considered the best of the usually, over 200 entries per edition of the NPL.
About CORA: ย CORA is a group consisting of artistes, art enthusiasts, art promoters and art writers committed to the flowering of all the contemporary arts of the Nigerian people. It has organised, every year since 1999, the Lagos Book & Art Festival, (LABAF), critically described as โthe biggest Culture picnic on the African continent.โ The 26th edition holds November 11-17 with theme: Blowout: Hope is a Stubborn Thing.
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ย SYNOPSES & PROFILES
The Road Does Not End, by Olubunmi Familoni
On the bustling streets of Nigeria, Rilwanโs journey begins with a heartache โ the loss of his parents which was shrouded in secrecy. As a result, he finds himself under the thumb of his cruel aunt, Aunty Biliki, who thrusts him into the unforgiving world of street hawking. Will Rilwanโs resilience lead him to the life he yearns for, or will the streets claim his dreams?
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OLUBUNMI FAMILONI: PLAYWRIGHT, novelist and essayist, Familoni has written plays (for stage and for radio), screenplays, short fiction, and essays on music and pop culture. He wrote the screenplay for the short film, My Brotherโs Keeper, for the Afrinolly/Ford Foundation โCinema4Changeโ Project in 2014; his debut play, Every Single Day, was selected by the British Council for production as part of the Lagos Theatre Festival in 2016; his debut collection of stories, Smithereens of Death, won the ANA Prize for Short Stories in 2015; his poetry chapbook, Love is a Profusion of Roses Growing From the Barrel of a Gun, was second runner-up for the Libretto Chapbook Prize in 2020; his childrenโs book, Iโll Call My Brother For You, won the ANA Prize for Childrenโs Literature in 2020; his novel manuscript, The Becoming-Nothing of Bodies, was longlisted for the Island Prize in 2023; his play, When Big Masquerades Dance Naked, was longlisted for the Nigeria Prize for Literature 2023 and won the ANA Prize for Drama in 2023. His works have appeared in various literary journals, magazines, and anthologies from different parts of the world. https://www.linkedin.com/in/olubunmi-ranti-familoni-0bb94b78/
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The Third Side of a Coin, by Hyginus Ekwuazi
Testament to the importance of compassion and the beauty of embracing diversity, it is a portrait of childhood of Ethan, a boy of eight, growing up in a modern urban Nigerian city. Through him, the reader experiences the underlining religious and ethnic tensions in his family, community, and school environments; experiencing his unease, his internal struggles and his conflicts.
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HYGINUS EKWUAZI: PROFESSOR of Broadcasting & Film, Hyginus has published three novels, four plays and five poetry collections.ย He has won, among others: ANA/Cadbury Prize for Poetry: twice (2007 & 2010]0; ANA/NDDC-Gabriel Okara Prize for Poetry: twice (2007 & 2008); Soyinka Prize for Literature: twice (2012 & 2017); and he was nominated for the Nigeria Prize for Literature (Poetry) in 2009). He taught courses in Film and Broadcasting at the University of Ibadan; Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos; and at the NFIโNational Film Institute, Jos. His other services include: Lead Consultant/Trainer, World Bank-GEM Capacity Building Program for Nollywood; Consultant, Project-Act Nollywood; Multimedia Consultant, CHOGMโCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Abuja, 2003; Lead Consultant, National Technical Committee on Film Policy for Nigeria. Among posts he has handled in the past are: founding director, National Film institute, Jos; Managing Director, Nigeria Film Corporation, Jos; Ag. Vice Chancellor, Dominican University, Ibadan. He has served as Jury member, African Movie Academy Awards; Chair, Script Writers Guild of Nigeria; and he is a member of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists, SONTA. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekwuazi-hyginus-94569ba4/
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A Fatherโs Pride, by Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor
Arriving in the city from her remote village, Urenna is shocked at how fast her expectations of a beautiful life crumble. She encounters unpleasant experiences alien to her but is fuelled by the desire to rise above the tide and fulfil her late fatherโs wishes. Through many twists and turns, Urenna discovers her unique role as a custodian of her culture and a champion for the environment.
NDIDI DOROTHY CHIAZOR-ENENMOR: A MULTI-talented author and advocate for education, childrenโs rights, and cultural awareness, Ndidi has written extensively for children, producing among others, ย picture books, early chapter books, and teen fiction. Her notable works include A Heroโs Welcome, longlisted for the Nigeria Prize for Literature (2019); and One Little Mosquito, Winner of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA) Prize for Childrenโs Literature in 2009. Others are Mina and the Birthday Dress, My Fruits My Alphabet, I Will Always Eat My Food, Timi and the Barber, (translated into several African languages), and Stories of Our Land, (a collection of folk tales from different ethnic regions of Nigeria). Her short story, โOso Ochuโ was published in Wings of Dawn, an anthology of works by Nigerian female writers; a project supported by the British Council in 2006. Her novel, If They Tell the Story won the ANA Prose Prize in 2022. As an advocate of education beyond the classroom, she has conducted numerous creative writing workshops and reading promotion projects for school children in Lagos and Ogun States. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ndidi-chiazor-enenmor-159b442/
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Risi Recycle, The Dustbin Girl, by Temiloluwa Adeshina
Risire Daniels popularly called the Dustbin Girl, fought through the deadly insurgence of the north that shattered her world, crumbled her hopes, and left her family dead. She saw the drama! She fought through the flashes of horror, hunger and poverty. She learned to live in a new world of lack and despondency, with other children she met in the Dustbin Village in Ajegunle.
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TEMILOLUWA ADESHINA : CO-FOUNDER and the Lead Learning Officer at Readland Global, Dr Adeshina is an author with a passion for children and middle-grade literature. Her published books include Bantu The Big Bad Bully, an anti-Bullying Book Series; The Happy Ijapa, folklore, and Tech series, Risi Recycle, and African Girls Can Code; an African Girlsโ Guide to Technology. She is a serial social entrepreneur, and seasoned British Curriculum teacher, and consultant with more than a decade old experience. She is a TEDx speaker, a Tech Women Fellow, and the Local Engagement Coordinator (LEC) for the United States Consulate Tech Girls Program in Nigeria. She handles the learning and development of STEM education curriculums through different digital platforms. Readland started in her living room and was cofounded by her husband. Her family library became the community library and serves hundreds of children in low-income communities. Today, over 150,000 registered children are transformed by several learning projects. Readland Learning Centers are now in communities across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. Other books she has authored are; The Classic English Textbook Series. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-temiloluwa-adeshina-2707921a1/
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The Magic Jalabiya, by Ayo Oyeku
Two homeless boys get a chance at life after one is gifted a magical jalabiya. This teleportation garment could take them to their chosen location within seconds. Out of excitement, curiosity and the pursuit of happiness, the boys visit amazing places, make new friends across different tribes, and leap into the future โ where hope, wonder and purpose bring meaning to their lives.
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AYO OYEKU: AN Ebedi International Residency Fellow and a Humanitarian Leadership Fellow, Ayo first childrenโs book, First among Equals (2004), was selected by World Bank (Nigeria) for distribution across schools and libraries in Nigeria. In 2015, his young adult novel, Tears of the Lonely, won the Ezenwa Ohaeto Prize for Fiction, by the Society of Young Nigerian Writers. He was a finalist for the Golden Baobab Prize in 2016 and 2018 consecutively for his Maya and the Finish Line and The Era of Afrocubs. In 2019, he won the Association of Nigerian Authors Prize for Childrenโs Literature for his Mafoya and the Finish Line. Same year, he was selected by the United States Consulate General to attend a program on Afrofuturism and Science Fiction. His 10th childrenโs book, What Happened on Thursday? A Nigerian Civil War Story will be published by Amazon Crossing Kids in September 2024. He is a contributor to World Kid Lit and EuroLit. He is the founder of the creative publishing firm, Eleventh House.
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Grandma and the Moonโs Hidden Secret, by Jumoke Verissimo
รdรนkรฉ lives with her grandparents in Ibidan and Grandma is her favourite person in the world. She loves when Grandma sings to her, and gives her treats from her stall. But one day, รdรนkรฉ comes home from school and canโt find Grandma anywhere! รdรนkรฉ doesnโt understand why Grandma canโt come back, but then her aunt Yรญmikรก tells her a secret.
JUMOKE VERISSIMO: A CELEBRATED author and educator, Jumokeโs books have been translated into multiple languages, and she has been a guest speaker at literary festivals and conferences around the globe. Her writing is filled with vibrant characters, engaging plots, and gentle lessons about family, culture, and the importance of preserving traditions. Her love for storytelling led her to become an award-winning author, poet, and scholar. She has published numerous books for both adults and children, including her acclaimed novelย A Small Silenceย and the enchanting childrenโs bookย รdรนkแบนฬ, Grandma and the Moonโs Secrets. Her stories explore themes of family, identity, and the resilience of the human spirit, weaving together the magic of imagination with the realities of life. As an Assistant Professor of English at Toronto Metropolitan University, she inspires future generations of readers and writers through her teaching and mentorship. She has also led several workshops in Nigeria to promote writing among children. Her passion for storytelling is evident in her support for emerging authors and her strong advocacy for the preservation of cultural heritage and literacy. https://www.linkedin.com/in/olajumoke-verissimo-ph-d-147aa31a/
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Village Boy, by Anietie Usen
An absorbing adventure into village life in southern Nigeria, especially AkwaCross States. For adults, it is a nostalgia to relish. For children and the younger generation, this is not just a breezy window to the 60s and 70s, but the veritable binoculars to trace the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, in the proverbial good old days.
ย ANIETIE USEN: JOURNALIST, author and technocrat, Usenโs three books, Audacious Journalism, Village Boy and And It Came To Pass have been listed on the UN SDG Book Club which unveiled Village Boy officially in Namibia during the UNESCO World Book & Copyrights Day in 2021. Village Boy has also been put on stage three times by the Theatre Arts department of the same University. An alumnus of Harvard Business School, Oxford Business School, Manchester Business School, Wisconsin Business School, Lagos Business School, Pennsylvania Business School (Wharton Aresty Institute of Executive Education), and the University of Calabar, where he studied Political Science for his first degree, he is a pioneer reporter at the Newswatch magazine, where he rose to become the General Editor. He was also Senior Political Analyst/Editorial Board Member of Thisday newspaper as well as the Regional Editor In-charge of West Africa for the London-based Pan- African magazine, Africa Today. He was the GM/CEO of Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation and founding Head of Corporate Communications and Director of Administration in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Port Harcourt. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anietie-usen/
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Wish Maker by Uchechukwu, by ย Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike
Ebele wishes more than anything to have a memorable Christmas with lots of gifts. But with his widowed mother barely able to afford food and the harsh ridicule of his friends, he knows his wishes may never come true. When a strange man comes to town, the boy opens his heart and home reluctantly. In return, the stranger teaches him there is more to Christmas than just giftsโฆ
ย UCHECHUKWU PETER UMEZURIKE : WINNER of the 2021 Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism, among several other laurels, Uche is an assistant professor in the Department of English at the University of Calgary, Canada. His poetry collection, thereโs more, is currently on the shortlist for the 2024 Alberta Book Publishersโ Award. His next poetry collection was one of the winners of the 2023/24 Alberta Foundation for the Arts and will be published in North America by the University of Calgary Press and in Nigeria by Masobe Books.ย His critical works have been published in among others, Journal of African Literature Association, Metacritic, Men and Masculinities, Journal of African Cultural Studies, and Postcolonial Text. Aside thereโs more, his other published works include ย Double Wahala, Double Trouble (2021), Wish Maker (2021); he is a co-editor of Wreaths for a Wayfarer (2020).ย He is a co-investigator on two research projects funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the University of Calgary, respectively. He is also a collaborator on another project funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
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Bodeโs Birthday Party, by Akanni Festus Olaniyi
A self-told tale of a boy who became a hero after delving in to help his older brother whose life was deteriorating under the grip of an addiction. He was met with challenges which he shared with us in this story about friendship, family and adventures. A ride with Bode on this journey will be memorable.
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AKANNI FESTUS OLANIYI: POET and playwright, Olaniyi, a children literature enthusiast is author of Bodeโs Birthday party and Tara and Treasure as well as the forthcoming children book, Teaching Shola how to dream. He is also currently working on a Poetry collection and two Play books. He was longlisted in the 2023 edition of the Beeta playwriting competition; and also Longlisted for Nigeria Prize for Literature 2024. He is a practising medic (Medic per excellence) who graduated from University of Ilorin, as one of the leading students in his class, and currently on his postgraduate path to becoming a Surgeon. He enjoys listening to and watching nature, from which he mostly draws inspiration. An avid traveler, enjoys hiking, reading, thinking, writing and at other times hiding away from the world. Growing up in the Northern part of Nigeria, he speaks Hausa fluently, he also speaks fluent Yoruba and cut-and-sew Igbo language. Currently learning two foreign languages from the Capital city of Nigeria where he currently resides.
https://www.linkedin.com/akanni-festus-994b82195
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Mighty Mite and Golden Jewel, by Henry Akubuiro
By depicting the hatred for disabled children both in school and social circles by others, the novel advocates for attitudinal change by all and sundry.Using the major characters, Chukwueze (a dwarf) and Nora (an albinoit seeks to enlighten children and the public that many disabled children are born with genetic disorders, and not responsible for their predicaments.
ย HENRY AKUBUIRO : A NOVELIST, childrenโs author, playwright and journalist, Henry is the author of four books for children: Little Wizard of Okokomaiko (2011), winner of the 2009 ANA/Lantern Books Prize for Children Fiction in manuscript form; Adventures of Bingo and Bomboi (2015), Vershima and the Missing Cow (2019) and the latest, Mighty Might and Golden Jewel (2024). He is also author of the novel, Prodigals in Paradise (2016), which is on the reading lists of five Nigerian universities. His play, Yamtarawala, the Warrior King (2023), was shortlisted for the 2023 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. His writings have appeared in international journals, such as OPEC Magazine, Vienna; Maple Tree Literary Supplement, Canada; JALA (Journal of African Literature Association), USA; The Literary Saloon, USA; ANA Review, Nigeria, etc.โฏHe doubles as Arts Editor of Daily Sun and member, The Sun Editorial Board. He won the 2005 ANA/Literary Journalist award. In 2024, he served as Chief Judge of Nwamaka Okoye Prize for Literature. He is currently a juror for the 2024 Alexander Nderitu Prize for African Literature administered in Nairobi, Kenya. https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-i-akubuiro-37a605284/
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The Children at the IDP Camp, by Olatubosun Taofeek
Danlami, through his generosity, becomes a beacon of hope for the children at the IDP camp. He offers solutions to their various challenges. His acts of kindness not only provide practical solutions but also instil hope and purpose in the lives of the children who have been largely abandoned by the world. Motivated by genuine concern for the welfare of the children at the IDP camp, Danlami develops a solution template for their long-standing issues.
ย OLATUNBOSUN TAOFEEK : A SPECIALIST in Literary Psychobiography in which he earned a PhD from the University of Lagos, Taofeek is author of Mr Grammar, a collection of a personality journey into an irredeemable society; Merchants of Trouble, a magisterial play on troublemakers; Humans and Other Beings, a polymorphic poetic journey into metaphysics; 1930: Life and Times of Ayo Babalola, a play on the recreation of evangelistic foist and the tragic death of Ayo Babalola; Oronna and His Amotekun, a play on the historical conceptualisation of โAmotekunโ; Where Is Patient Zero?, a humorous play exposing international politics of disease and economy; Oluronbi, a historical play on modern paradigmatic overture for pecuniary; and lastly is his debut novel, Ominla, of 456-page longlisted in the James Currey Prize for African Literature, Oxford. He has taught at the University of Lagos, Mountain Top University, Leuphana University, Luneburge (not employed) and other local and international circles where his research cut across Africa in exploring personalities and ethnographic expeditions. He served as a cultural ambassador and has received nominations and awards in literary and public speaking circles.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taofeek-olatunbosun-285916242/
