Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a pan-African writing prize awarded biennially[1] to the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation[2] in 2005 in honour of Africa's first Nobel Laureate in literature, Wole Soyinka,[1] who presents the prize, which is chosen by an international jury of literary figures.[3] Administered by the Lumina Foundation,[4] the prize has been described as "the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize".[5]

Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
Awarded for	Pan-African writing prize for books of any type or genre
Sponsored by	The Lumina Foundation
Country	Nigeria
Hosted by	The Lumina Foundation
Reward(s)	$20,000
First awarded	2006
Last awarded	Active
Website	http://www.luminafoundationsoyinkaprize.com

The winner receives $20,000 at the awards ceremony in Lagos or a selected city in Africa.[6] Entries must be written in English or French.[7] Although originally all genres were considered for every award, since 2014 only one genre is eligible for each edition of the award,[8] with drama being considered for 2014,[9] poetry in 2016, and prose in 2018.[10][11][12]

Winners

• 2006 Sefi Atta, Everything Good Will Come. The inaugural award took place on 5 August 2006 at the Muson Centre, Lagos, Nigeria,[13] where the guest speaker was former Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor.[14]
• 2008 Nnedi Okorafor, Zahrah the Windseeker[13]
• 2010 (shared prize)[13]
  • Kopano Matlwa, Coconut
  • Wale Okediran, Tenants of The House
• 2012 Sifiso Mzobe, Young Blood[15][16][17][18]
• 2014 Akin Bello, The Egbon of Lagos (play)[19][20]

See also

Grand Prix of Literary Associations

Notes

1. Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, official website.
2. The Lumina Foundation
3. "Jury for Wole Soyinka prize announced", Joy Online, 22 June 2015.
4. Dapo Olugbagbe, "Jury for Wole Soyinka Prize and New Advisory Board", Bookcraft, 14 October 2015.
5. "Akin Bello wins $20,000 – 5th Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa", Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature at Glo.
6. "Jury for Wole Soyinka Prize and New Advisory Board", News and Events, The Lumina Foundation.
7. Wole Soyinka Prize Rules, The Lumina Foundation.
8. "Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature Calls For Entry", Book Republic, 31 January 2015.
9. Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku, "Drama takes centre-stage as Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature announces 5th edition", The Guardian (Nigeria), 9 August 2013.
10. 2014 Wole Soyinka Entry Prize Rules.
11. Nurudeen Oyewole, "Nigeria: Soyinka Prize for Literature Opens Entry for 2014", Daily Trust, 11 August 2013.
12. "2014 Wole Soyinka Prize entry Rules". Wale Owoade blog. 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
13. Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa, previous winners.
14. "Africa's Literary Prize", Pan African Writers' Association (PAWA), 29 October 2012.
15. Uhakheme, Ozolua (9 September 2012). "South African wins Soyinka Literary Prize". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
16. Akeem Lasisi (11 September 2012). "Mzobe wins $20,000 Soyinka Prize amidst eulogies". Punch. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
17. SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH (19 September 2012). "Sifizo Mzobe Wins Wole Soyinka's Prize for Literature In Africa". Leadership. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
18. Henry Akubuiro (15 September 2012). "Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature: Another South African writer shines". Sun News. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
19. Press Release (6 July 2014). "Akin Bello wins Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa". WorldStage. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
20. Staff writer (1 November 2014). "Akin Bello: Soyinka Prize for Literature hasn't changed my life". Sun News. Retrieved 2 December 2014.

External links

• Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa official website