Etisalat Launches Prize for Literature

Pix 1 (L-R): Head, High Value Events & Sponsorship, Etisalat Nigeria, Ebi Atawodi; Patron, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Dele Olojede; Chair of Judges, Etisalat Prize for Literature, Pumla Gqola and the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, at the Etisalat Prize for Literature Press Conference, held at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos recently...

The Etisalat telecommunications launches its first ever Pan-African prize for literature celebrating African writers of published fiction novels throughout the continent, as entries begins from today, 5^th June until the 30^th August this year.

According to the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Steven Evans at a press briefing of presenting the judging panel for the maiden edition at the Wheat-baker Hotels, Lagos, entries for the Fiction Novel category opens today, the 5^th of June, to publishers, who have published a minimum of five authors in the last three years. In the end of the competition and process, the winner will go with 15 thousand pounds and other prizes.

The two categories include Full length English fiction novels and Flash Fiction Short Stories, to be launched towards the end of the year and driven entirely through social media. ‘All entries will be assessed by a panel of four preselected judges chaired by the Associate Professor in the Department of African Literature, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) and South Africa’s most celebrated intellectuals, Pumla Gqola. Other judges include the Professor of Creative writing at the University of Ohio and winner of the Commonwealth Prize, Zakes Mda; the Managing Editor of Kwani Trust, of the literary Journal Kwani Billy Kahora and Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer and academic.’

He explained that the submitted works must be the writers’ first fiction novels of over 30,000 words and which have been published in the last twenty-four months. ‘The judges will work together to select the long list as well as a shortlist of three novels and finally the winner will be announced next February (2014).’

Criteria for entry to the Fiction Novel: publishers will submit a minimum of 10 books. Each publisher will be allowed to enter a minimum of three books each from different writers with seven copies of the novel being entered alongside acceptance publicity terms.  

Evans added that the Prize was created out of the need to give recognition to indigenous works of literature while also rewarding new entrants and encouraging further participation. “We are pleased to have initiated this important project that celebrates literary excellence and creativity in Nigeria and across Africa. We believe literature has the potential to effect change and serve as a catalyst for promoting a cultural revolution. However, it is a field that has been relegated to the background, making African fiction and short story writers to look to international awards for recognition.’  

While the long list announcement will be on 11^th December this year, the shortlist announcement will hold on next January15. ‘The winner will be announced next February.

The telecommunications company, Etisalat, says this prize is a way of sharing in the passions and aspirations of young and upcoming writers as well as breathing new life to the literary society. ‘It serves as a viable platform for the discovery of new creative talents from the continent and invariably promotes the growing publishing industry in Africa.’

Other patrons present at the event included the first African born winner of the Pulitzer prize Dele Olojede of Nigerian; the Youngest and first black woman publisher and co-founder of Allison & Busby, Margaret Busby; the Deputy Editor of Granta Magazine Ellah Allfrey from Zimbabwe and the Nigerian intellectual and writer, Professor Kole Omotoso.