Recently the literary scene in Nigeria was abuzz
when the shortlist for the NLNG (Nigerian
Liquefied Natural Gas) Prize for Literature, worth
$100, 000 was announced from a list of 173
books. Eleven authors were listed, which include
Chika Unigwe, Ogochukwu Promise, Yejide
Kilanko, Ifeoma Okoye, Sefi Atta, Abubakar
Adam Ibrahim, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, Elnathan John,
Aramide Segun, Mansim Chumah Okafor and
Maryam Awaisu. Bookshelf presents a brief of
the authors.
Chika Unigwe
This Nigerian-Belgian made the NLNG Prize for
Literature list for her 2014 novel, ‘Night Dancer’.
One factor that makes her stand-out is the fact
that she was a recipient of the 2012 prize for her
second novel ‘Fata Morgana’, published in Dutch
in 2008 and subsequently released in English with
the title ‘On Black Sisters’ Street’. Chika has
won other awards, including the 2003 BBC Short
Story Competition and a Commonwealth Short
Story Competition award. Her first novel, ‘De
Feniks’, was published in Dutch in 2005 and is
the first book of fiction written by a Flemish
author of African origin. This year, she’s one of
those slated to judge the Man Booker Prize.
Ogochukwu Promise
With over fifteen novels to her name, Ogochukwu
Promise is arguably a strong contender for this
year’s NLNG Prize for Literature. She is in the
shortlist for his novel, ‘Sorrow’s Joy’. In 2013,
she was in the final shortlist, poetry category,
for her collection ‘Wild Letters’ and in 2005 on
the shortlist of her volume of poetry, ‘Naked
Among These Hills’. A multi-talented individual,
she is a former participant in the University of
Iowa’s International Writing Program, a
passionate psychologist, playwright, motivational
speaker, career advisor, and visual artist. She has
also published several motivational books.
Yejide Kilanko
Women certainly have dominated this year’s
NLNG Prize for Literature and Yejide Kilanko
with her novel ‘Daughters Who Walk This Path’ is
not left out. It’s important to note that this is
her debut fiction novel. The book has received
many good reviews and has stimulated
discussions around sexual violence against
women. She is a therapist in children’s mental
health and her social work practice shaped the
work, where she has been involved in sexual
abuse cases.
Ifeoma Okoye
The ‘Fourth World’ which earns Ifeoma Okoye her
name on the shortlist is her fourth novel. An
award-winning author, her first novel, ‘Behind
the Clouds’ won the Nigerian Festival of Arts and
Culture award and was selected by Spectrum
Books as one of the best 25 Nigerian books
written over the past 25 years. Also, her second
novel, ‘Men Without Ears’, won the Association
of Nigerian Authors Best Fiction of the Year
Award, and in 1999 her short story ‘Waiting for a
Son’ won the African Regional Prize in the
Commonwealth Short Story Competition.
Sefi Atta
Her book ‘Everything Good Will Come’ is easily
remembered. This year, she makes the NLNG
Literary Prize shortlist for her novel ‘A Bit of
Difference’. Sefi Atta has several stage and radio
plays to her name and proves to be a seasoned
writer. In 2005 she won the PEN International
David TK Wong Prize, Red Hen Press Short Story
award in 2003, the Wole Soyinka Prize for
Literature in Africa and several more. Her
collection of plays, ‘Sefi Atta: Selected Plays,’ is
forthcoming in 2017.
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
He is a journalist and author of ‘Whispering
Trees’, a collection of short stories that received
international attention and was longlisted for the
inaugural Etisalat Prize for Literature and a story
shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African
Writing. His debut novel ‘Season of Crimson
Blossoms’ is among the shortlist for this year’s
NLNG Prize. Certainly, the contest for this year’s
NLNG Literary Prize seems tight.
Ifeoluwa Adeniyi
This writer, a radio broadcaster, makes the
shortlist with her debut novel, ‘On the Bank of
the River’. The title of Ifeoluwa Adeniyi is from a
statement made by Okonkwo, the main character
in Chinua Achebe’s famous novel, ‘Things Fall
Apart’, “I cannot live on the bank of the river
and wash my hands with spittle,” poet Jumoke
Verissimo wrote in her review of the book.
Elnathan John
A lawyer and writer, Elnathan John made a
significant mark when he was shortlisted for the
Caine Prize for African Writing for his short
story, ‘Bayan Layi’ in 2013. Now, this same short
story, which blossomed into a full-length novel
titled ‘Born on a Tuesday’, has been shortlisted
for the NLNG prize. This author is known for his
skill at satire.
Aramide Segun
She’s a winner of an ANA Prose Prize and makes
this year’s list for her novel ‘Eniitan Daughter of
Destiny’, about a bronze albino woman in her
early 20s. As an adolescent, Aramide Segun read
many ‘Cinderella’ type stories.
Maryam Awaisu
A radio presenter, Maryam Awaisu is in the
shortlist for her novel ‘Burning Bright’. She
wrote her first novel when she was eleven, but it
never got published.
Mansim Chumah Okafor
He is author of three works of fiction, one of
them ‘The Parable of the Lost Shepherds’ listed
for this year’s NLNG Prize for Literature.