Know the 11 books on the Long-list for the 2019 Nigeria Prize for Literature
BY MARTHA
KINGSMIKE
The Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature
announced the long-list of 11 drawn from 173 books, for the 2019 edition of the
prize over a month ago. All 11 long-listed authors are in the running for
winning the cash prize of $100,000 (₦36,200,000)
The 11 books on the long list of 11, in alphabetical
order by the title of the book, are:
- A Hero’s Welcome by Ndidi Enenmor
- Boom, Boom by Jude Idada
- Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree by
Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani
- Double ‘A’ for Adventure by Anisa
Daniel-Oniko
- Ginika’s Adventures by Nnena Ochiche
- Igho Goes to Farm by Anote Ajeluorou
- Mystery at Ebenezer’s Lodge by Dunni
Olatunde
- Obioma: A Girl’s Journey to Self-Discovery
by Nkiru Uzoh
- She Calls Him Daddy by Oladele
Medaiyese
- Spurred Surprises by Lami Adejoh
Opawale
- The Great Walls of Benin by O. T.
Begho
A Book Party was held for the 11 authors whose books were
long-listed for the 2019 Nigeria Prize for Literature, an initiative of NLNG.
Meet the Authors:
9 out of the 11 long-listed authors were present at the
event while the other 2, Dunni Olatunde (author of Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge)
and O.T. Begho (author of The Great Walls of Benin) joined via skype from
Canada and St Kitts & Nevis respectively.
1. Anote Ajeluorou
Anote is the author of Igho Goes to Farm. When asked why
he used a farm, he said:
“I am reliving my childhood experience. Going to the farm at that time was a form of punishment for me, but in reality, it isn’t. The village offers something unique that isn’t in the city. Most children do not know how maize, yam, etc, look. The main character, Igho, takes on a different experience. He is excited and encourages his siblings to go to the farm instead of Disneyland.”
2. Jude Idada
Jude is the author of Boom Boom. He said that he always
aims to write stories that are multi-layered. In his book, he addresses sickle
cell from the physical, emotional and mental angles.
Jude is presently working on a sickle cell foundation and
aims to do his bit in changing the identity from ‘sickler’ to sickle cell
warrior.
3. Ndidi
Chiazor-Enenmor
Ndidi is the author of A Hero’s Welcome. She said that
moonlight stories have always enthralled her, and served as inspiration for her
book.
4. Oladele
Medaiyese
Oladele, author of She Calls Him Daddy whose book tells
the story of Julia, a young girl who lives with her mother and step-father.
Julia is unfortunately molested by her step-father, who threatens her to make
her keep quiet. This book chronicles the ordeal of what most children face in
today’s world and offers them the power to speak out.
5. Anisa
Daniel-Oniko
Anisa is the author of Double ‘A’ for Adventure. There
are a lot of fascinating things about her, most obvious of which is her age;
she is 12 years old, the youngest to make the shortlist in the history of The
Nigeria Prize for Literature. Another fascinating thing about her is that she
is home-schooled.
“I like to read fantasy and adventures, so in my book, I tried to find a way to merge both to develop my story.”
6. Adaobi Tricia
Nwaubani
Adaobi is the author of Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, a
book of 330 pages which is written in a documentary style. Adaobi’s book is
centered around the issue of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria.
“With this book, I tried to capture my experiences working as a journalist working in the North East of Nigeria. During this time, I met with women who had been captives of Boko Haram militants, and some young men captured by the militants. It’s a non-fiction masquerading as a fiction work.”
7. Nnenna Ochiche
Nnenna is the author of Ginika’s Adventures, a
six-chapter book filled with different illustrations, which tells the story of
Ginika, an introverted girl who uses the power of observation to help others.
8. Lami Adejoh
Opawale
Lami is the author of Spurred Surprises. The lead
characters in her book are all females. She hopes to promote national unity
through her work.
9. Nkiru Uzoh
Nkiru is the author of Obioma: A Girl’s Journey to
Self-Discovery. Her book addresses the inferiority complex of a child. Nkiru
believes that positive affirmation helps a lot, so she is using her book to
pass that message across to children.
The top 3 books will be announced in September 2019.
****
Martha Kingsmike is the Head of Content and Marketing at
Okada Books.
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