OkadaBooks and Union Bank NG Unveil Winners Of First-Ever Campus Writing Challenge

December 24, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments


The first edition of the Campus Writing Challenge, organised by OkadaBooks and Union Bank of Nigeria, was recently concluded at an award ceremony hosted at the Stallion Plaza, headquarters of Union Bank, sponsors of the initiative. 

In a mail from OkadaBooks' Content Manager, Martha Kings, to The Words Finesse (TWF), the hour-long private event was attended by some of the entrants of the contest, including the Top 10 winners, along with a few of their relatives, the OkadaBooks team and representatives from Union Bank.

From a total of 1,793 entries received, to the long list of the top 150 stories, to the shortlist of the top 10, the contest was an exciting journey of literary discovery.

First Place
Sima Essien, is a 100-level student of the University of Nsukka, studying English and Literature. His winning story, All your Colours, tells of the power and pain of family and love.

When asked what inspired his story, Sima revealed that “All your Colours” was actually not the first choice for his entry. He got nervous about his original story and had to do a last minute swap. The story appears to have won the hearts of the judges who had this to say; 

“All Your Colours is a deserving winner, a story told in an inventive and assured voice from. Often you read stories that leave you with enchanting sensations and this is certainly one of those stories.” - Abubakar Ibrahim, contest judge

“All Your Colours by Sima Essien does not have a single false note. It impresses with its vivid use of language and its deft execution of its theme of love, loss and hope.” - Chika Unigwe, contest judge


Second Place
Jesutofunmi Fekoya, a 300-level law student of the University of Lagos snatched the second spot with her story, Dark Clouds, which explores pollution.

In her words: “I wanted to write a story that would not only entertain, but also teach my readers a lesson about the environment”.

Here are what the judges had to say about her story:

“Dark Clouds was chosen for its originality. It is set in Lagos of the future, where clean air is a luxury that only the very rich can afford. It is an original take on a real environmental challenge (pollution) and offers a happy ending.” - Chika Unigwe

“Dark Clouds demonstrates ambition and grit. Though futuristic, it speaks of what may soon be our reality, in a Lagos damaged by an environmental nuclear we seem eager to detonate, but offers hope for the future and speaks of our now. A story told with imagination and confidence.” - Abubakar Ibrahim

Third Place
Joseph Akinkunmi, is a 400-level student of Zoology in the University of Ilorin. His story, Dry Lids and the Devil's Strings, tells the story of a young girl who suffers from an inability to shed tears. Joseph said that his story is inspired by a real life event.

Fiction often helps raise awareness and raise our voice against injustice; Dry Lids and Devil’s Strings does a bit of both.  Beyond that, it is also a compelling story of a young girl at the mercy of an ignorant aunt and unscrupulous pastors. - Chika Unigwe

Audience Favourite
Members of the public were asked to vote a personal favourite story and they chose Silence that Spoke by Roseline Okorie, a 200-level law student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. During a 2-week voting session for the top 150 entries, Roseline’s story scored the highest number of votes.

Best Book Cover
Tales of Kuki by Idaewor Abel, a 300-level dentistry student of the University of Benin, was voted by the public as the entry with the best book cover due to its simple but well detailed graphic design.

Unlike most contests that focus on rewarding only the top 3, the Campus Writing Challenge will be rewarding the top 25. Plans are in motion to make the Campus Writing Challenge an annual competition for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

It would be recalled that the Writing Challenge jointly judged by two winners of NLNG Prize for Literature, Chika Unigwe and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, which opened submissions on 27th August and closed on 7th of October, 2018, promised total cash prizes of N960, 000 to winner.

The winning and shortlisted entries are also expected to be sent to top publishing houses in Nigeria for publishing opportunity deal for winning students. The winning entries will also be published innthe 1st edition of the Collegiate Anthology, to be compiled by OkadaBooks.


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When We Were Growing Up, There Was Enough Time To Read- A.O. Hassan

December 23, 2018 The Words Finesse 2 Comments

A.O. Hassan
AbdulAzeez Hassan aka A.O. Hassan is an Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service and a prolific writer. He is the author of many books of fiction, among which are The Short Route, A Night of Patriotism, The Patriot, The Innavator's Paradise, and Hidden Angle. In this interview with ABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE,  he delves into books, his journey into writing and his dream for an upright Nigeria.

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Winner of 2017 NLNG prize, Ikeogu Oke dies at 51

November 25, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments

Ikeogu Oke 

- Abdulhafeez T. Oyewole 

A renowned Nigerian poet and the winner of the 2017 NLNG Prize for Literature, Ikeogu Oke, is dead.

Born in 1967, he passed away last night, Saturday, 24th of November, 2018 at the National Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness. 

The poet, who was also a journalist, gained nationwide fame last year when he won the 2017 Nigeria Prize for Literature (Poetry Category) for his book, The Heresiad, a book of epic poetry.
3 Shortlisted books for 2017 NLNG Prize for Literature 
The deceased was presented with a cheque of $100,000 (N37m) by the Prize sponsor, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited.

This Oke’s operatic poetry titled, The Heresiad, beat Ogaga Ifowodo’s A Good Mourning and Tanure Ojaide’s Songs of Myself: Quartet, to claim the prize after an intensive adjudication process.
Ikeogu reading the poem he wrote for Okigbo at Ojoto
Ikeogu Oke's poems and other writings have appeared in journals, anthologies and other publications worldwide. He has performed his poems at various fora in Nigeria, South Africa and the United States, including as a special performance poet guest of Brown University in 2014. He graduated with a BA in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar and an MA in Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2010, Nadine Gordimer, the winner of the 1991 Noble Prize in Literature, selected his second collection of poems, Salutes without Guns, as her Book of the Year for the Times Literary Supplement. 

His other books include In The Wing Of Waiting, The Lion and The Monkey, The Tortoise And The Princess and Where I Was Born.

Meanwhile, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), through its National President, Denja Abdullahi, has expressed deep shock over the untimely death of the late poet laureate.

According to the Nigerian Authors' President, "Ikeogu Oke was a committed member of ANA and together we (the deceased and him) have criss-crossed Nigeria on several literary ventures, ranging from Arrow of God @ 50 in 2014 to the recent Return To Idoto 2 which held in Ojoto-Awka in August, 2018."

Abdullahi who said Ikeogu was a friend and compatriot, described him as an affable, gentle and enigmatic fellow who lived and breathed poetry. 

The ministry's Director and cultural technocrat prayed that God give the deceased family and the literary community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, while also praying that his poetic soul rest in peace.



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Shortlists for 2018 African Writers Award is Out

November 11, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments


The African Writers Development Trust (AWDT)'s shortlists for the 2018 African Writers Award have been released by the respective judges of each category of the award.

The shortlistees were unveiled in a statement issued by the Chief judge of the award, Anthony Onugba today.

The category judges who have left comments regarding the entries, shortlisted ten (10) out of Short stories, Flash fiction and Poetry received, except Children’s literature with shortlisted five (5) entries. 

Below are judges' comments, shortlisted entries and their authors:

Children’s Literature

"For this edition, there were few entries for children’s literature compared to the other genres. This shows that there is a dearth of Children’s literature writers from Africa. Perhaps, it is worth considering." – Nahida Esmail (Tanzania)

The shortlists for this genre are:

• Onyekachi Eberechi Grace (Nigeria) for ‘Freedom Is at the Bank of the River.’
• Manu Herbstein  (Ghana) for ‘Roise-Awa.’
• Maryam Awaisu (Nigeria) for ‘Ms Joana’s Rules.’
• Jo Allen (Kenya) for ‘Who Can Stop the Rain.’
• Anierobi Ginikachi Maria (Nigeria) for ‘Destined for Greatness.’

Short Stories

“I believe that the best short stories have the power to change minds, to rethink attitudes, and build empathy by asking the readers to walk in other’s shoes through the breathing of life and emotion into the characters. The 2018 African Writers Awards’ shortlisted stories look beneath the veil of femininity and sexuality. They challenge gender politics and bash at the rough grip societal norms have on the African girl child. Like a thousand voices coming from every nuke, dark crack and sealed door, they give voice to every African woman who has for long been buried under the rug of society.”  -Nyashadzashe Chikumbu (Zimbabwe)

The shortlists are:

• Nana Ama Gyemaah Otuahene (Ghana) for ‘The merchandise.’
• Temwai Mgundu (Malawi) for ‘A Dance in the Dark.’
• Odinegwa Onmwamere (Nigeria) for ‘My Mother’s 4th pregnancy.’
• Musak Worneh (Ethiopia) for ‘Anathema.’
• Munira Hessein (Kenya) for ‘The power of the Wind.’
• Philani Amadeas Nyoni (Zimbabwe) for ‘Celestial Incest.’
• Aisha M. Umar (Nigeria) for ‘Binle’s Emerald. ‘
• Ben Mugo (Kenya) for ‘Dawn.’
• Mazabu Mwanga (Zambia) for ‘Till Death.’
• Mema Daisy Ojukwu (Nigeria) for ‘A Woman Now.’

Flash Fiction

"We received a lot of entries in this category. Below are the shortlisted 10." - Edith Knight (Kenya)

They are:

• Eliza Mabungu (South Africa/Mozambique) for ‘A Breath of Fresh Air.’
• Maryhilda Ibe (Nigeria) for ‘Fragments.’
• Scholar V Akinyi (Kenya) for ‘The Red Affair.’
• Abah Linus Ajene (Nigeria) for ‘Favour’s Favours.’
• Chibuike Ogbonnaya (Nigeria) for ‘A Tempered Destiny.’
• Farrah Bhajee (Kenya) for 6 ‘Flavours of Breast.’
• Edoizem Miracle (Nigeria) for ‘Me in the Mirror.’
• Esther Enewerome (Nigeria) for ‘Resonance.’
• Grace Ojogbane David (Nigeria) for ‘Death is An Innocent Girl.’
• Jude Imereti (Nigeria) for ‘The Sad Suffering Smiling Spouse.’


Poetry

"The criteria for the selection include:
– works that followed submission guidelines of providing a bio and an accompanying picture of poet
– works graded on evocativeness such as use of imagery, use of figure of speech, “Africanness” in words used and context, concise word usage (some works were prose in verse), rhythm, etc
– some male poets were not selected due to the poet personae they used. For a topic as sensitive as gender and in particular, the girl child, the male author cannot be seen as telling the girl child story but rather amplifying it by playing a supportive role or educating other men as to their responsibilities." – Kolabomi Adeko (Nigeria)

The shortlists are:

• Petronella Nyirenda (Zambia) for ‘Beauty.’
• Oscar Sogli (Ghana) for ‘Dowry of Education.’
• Chiamaka Pamela Ofoma (Nigeria) for ‘Reachout.’
• Kofi Acquah (Ghana) for ‘Young and Green.’
• Joseph Olamide Babalola (Nigeria) for ‘Penned.’
• Abeiku Arhin Tsiwah (Ghana) for ‘Sometimes Being Beautiful [a Girl] is the Only Way to Escape Fire.’
• Adedokun Amar-Sobur (Nigeria) for ‘Cornrows.’
• Bijou Mwaura (Mauritius) for ‘Know Your Worth Girl Child.’
• Chiamaka Onu-Okpara (Nigeria) for ‘A Battle Cry to be Read Loudly and Softly.’
• Jesutoni Akoni (Nigeria) for ‘Obinrin.’

According to Anthony Onugba, the winners will be announced during the 2018 African Writers Dinner/Awards which will hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja at 5:30 PM, where the winners will also receive their awards during the event.

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Nine African poets shortlisted for 2018 Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature

November 04, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


Nine poets from Africa have been shortlisted for the sixth edition of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa which will be awarded at the MUSON Centre, Onikan in Lagos on December 9 2018.

This edition of the rotating Pan-African prize is for poetry and had 110 submissions from 11 countries on the continent, including Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Rwanda.

The long-listed writers and their works are: Dami Ajayi- Clinical Blues, Servio Gbadamosi- A Tributary in Servitude, Tanure Ojaide- Songs of Myself, Harriet Anena- A Nation in Labour, Iquo Eke- Symphony of Becoming, Hyinus Ekwuazi- One Day, I'll Dare to Raise My Middle Finger at the Stark and the Reaper, Su’eddie Vershima Agema- Home Equals Holes: Tale of An Exile, Abayomi Animashaun- Sailing for Ithaca and Onesi Taiwo Dominic- Heaven on Earth: A Harvest of Poems.

A joint release by The Lumina Foundation and from its administrators of the Prize: Founding Director, Dr. Ogochockwu Promise and the Development Advisor, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah, said the quality and volume of entries received were very high and expressed appreciation to the eminent jury of three for their readings and selections.

The jury was chaired by the UK-based literary and Editorial Director, Margaret Busby OBE, who is also chair emeritus of the Soroptimist International of Leeds, previously chair of the Caine Prize for African Writing and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.

The other two were the renowned historian of the University of Texas at Austin, Professor Toyin Falola, author of the celebrated A Month Sweeter than Salt and the Lagos-based international literary scholar, Olu Obafemi, Professor of English and Dramatic Literature.

The prize money of $10,000 and citation will be given to the eventual winner by the Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

The ceremony will be attended by the literary establishment in Nigeria, some writers’ associations in Africa and the United Kingdom.

Previous winners of the prize have included novelists Sefi Atta for Everything Will Come, the South African Sifiso Mzobe for Young Blood which won over another South African short-listed book the same year, The Unseen Leopard by Bridget Pitt.

The short-list of three will be announced at a press conference in Victoria Island, Lagos on November 21, 2018 and the winner will be declared on December 9, 2018.

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23rd Edition of WSA Magazine Ready for Free Download

November 03, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments


The November edition of Writers Space Africa (WSA) is now available for free download.

Published by the African Writers Development Trust, Writers Space Africa (WSA) is a literary magazine which celebrates African Writers. 

This 23rd Issue, with the theme 'Tears of the African Child', which Sandra Unlimited covers, features the following writers:

Muyambo Mwenda, Zambia
Refiloe Thato, Motswana
Brian Ngoma, Zambia
Mylord Zulu,Zambia
Benny Wanjohi - Kenya
Tshiamiso Makole – Motswana
Muhammed Tambedou. (Hamlet kid), The Gambia.
Ridwan Adelaja, Somaliland
Nnane Ntube, Cameroon
Petronella Nyirenda, Zambia
Cynthia Katlego Matale, Motswana
Omadang Yowasi, Uganda
Sinaso Mxakaza, South Africa
Olofinnika Omobolaji, Nigeria
Namara Lwansa, Tanzania
Lisa Ndobho, Tanzania
Kelvin J. Shachile, Kenya
Robert Banda Jere, Zambia
Mbianyor Bill- Erich Nkongho Agboryah, Cameroon
Nonhlanhla Radebe, South Africa
Abu Blessing Nne, Nigeria
Meaza Aklilu Hadera, Ethiopia
Muthoni Nyaga, Kenya

To download this issue, CLICK HERE.

Meanwhile, the shortlist for the 2018 African Writers Award will be announced next week.

In a mail to The Words Finesse, there were free entries on Children's Literature category.

"... there were fewer entries under the Children's Literature category. This is not far from the truth that there are few writers of children's stories in Africa." The statement submitted.

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Kwara ANA Honours Late Justice Akanbi with Reading Session, Book Dedication

October 24, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Kwara State chapter on Wednesday, the 17th of October, 2018, organised a Special Reading session in honour of late Justice Mustapha Adebayo Akanbi in recognition of his invaluable contributions to scholarship and literary development in the country.

The Association also dedicated an anthology to late Akanbi, who was also a writer and poet in his own rights during his life time.

Speaking during the event held at African People's Hall, Onikanga, G. R. A, Ilorin, the ANA state Chairman, Malam AbdulRahman Aderinoye said the production of anthology in the name of Justice Akanbi was borne out of the former President of the Court of Appeal’s tremendious support to the Association when he was alive.

Malam Aderinoye explained that late Honourable Justice Akanbi was a strong pillar of support for ANA as he did everything humanly possible to promote reading culture through personal donations and self production of literary works.

He eulogised Justice Akanbi’s other related support and assistance for the growth and development of literary works and reading culture in the society.

Speaking on behalf of Akanbi’s family, Professor Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi expressed delight over the recognition and commended ANA for keeping the memory of their father, late Justice Akanbi, alive.

Professor Akanbi who doubles as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the reading session in honour of his father was very apt and worthwhile, adding that the event was a continuation of his father’s dreams in ensuring that all Nigerian children are well educated.

“I feel highly delighted because this is the way of putting the memory of our late father in front burner. While he was alive, he believed in scholarship and for ANA to organise this reading session, it is a continuation of dreams he had to ensure that as many as Nigerian youth are educated.” Professor Akanbi said.

Also speaking, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor A.T. Shehu, who represented the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University at the occasion said late Justice Akanbi lived a life of integrity that worth celebrating. 

"Baba was one of the greatest man I have met on earth. He lived a life of integrity and up to today we are celebrating him."

"Nobody will lay hands on justice Akanbi's judgement and will say it's a trash and lacks honesty and integrity he lived and preached." He said.

Professor Shehu thanked the organiser for organizing such gathering in the late Wakili Ilory's honour.

Other dignitaries like Chairman, Mustapha Akanbi Foundation, Dr Mashood; and Chief Librarian, National Library, Ilorin Branch, Mrs Olani in their good will messages lauded great contributions of the late legal icon in promoting reading, writing and listening skills as well as good reading culture. 

They also outlined his various landmark achievements in the cause of adding values to lives and serving the humanity.

Anchored by the Kwara ANA Secretary, Mr Babayemi Opeyemi, the session witnessed reading from the late legal luminary's works and poetry presentations by members of the Association as well as from the students of the Secondary schools present. 

Kwara ANA members such as Col. Oladele Babajamu (rtd.), Mr Iyanda Suleiman Ayinde, Mr Mubarak Oladosu, Mrs Betty Ige, Mr Braimoh Abdulrasak, Mr Saliu Ahmad Toyin, Mr Sheriff Olanrewaju, and Mr Abdulhafeez T. Oyewole made beautiful reading from the late jurist's works and rendered poems in his honour, while some students from the invited schools like Kamaldeen Muhsinat (from Nana Aishat Academy) and Abubakar Ola-AbdulHamid (Army Day Secondary School) equally perfomed their beautiful poems in honour of the late judge.

The students of the represented secondary schools across Kwara state were in turn left with so much of good lessons, virtues and wisdom to tap from the reading session, as they listened to the remarks of members of the high table on the life and time of the first Wakili of Ilorin, Honourable Justice Mustapha Akanbi, CFR, PCA (rtd.).


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Song Of The Slum holds my story and experiences- Jalal Poetry

October 16, 2018 TWF Editor 1 Comments


Jalaludeen Shuaib Assayouti, with the pen-name Jalal Poetry, is a young talented upcoming Nigerian poet and playwright base in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. In this interaction with ABDULHAFEEZ T. OYEWOLE, he speaks about his upcoming anthology, "Song of the Slum" and other issues on poetry and writing.

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Kwara ANA and MAF invite Public to Reading Session for late Justice Mustapha Akanbi

October 08, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


The Kwara State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) in conjunction with the Knowledge Platform and Mustapha Akanbi Foundation (MAF) are inviting the general public to Special Reading Session for the late jurist, Honourable Justice Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi CFR, PCA (rtd).

The session, which will feature reading from the late icon's works, according to the Chapter's Chairman, Mallam Abdur-Rahman Aderinoye, is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 17th of October, 2018 at African People's Hall, MAF, Onikanga, G.R.A, Ilorin, Nigeria, by eleven o' clock in the morning. 

Justice Mustapha Akanbi until his death on Sunday, 3rd of July, 2018, remained Kwara ANA's pillar of support and benefactor. The late jurist would have been 86 years old on 11th of September, this year.

Before he passed on, he was able to published his autobiography in 2014, titled The Story of My Two Worlds: Challenges, Experiences and Achievements; and published other titles such as Corruption on Prowl (2014), Forty Seven Poetic Thoughts and Wise Cracks, and Collection of School Poems Learnt in the 1940s (2017).

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ANA Releases Shortlists for its 2018 Literary Prizes

October 06, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


The Judges of the Association of Nigerian Authors Literary Prizes have  released the shortlists for the 2018 ANA Prizes. 

The judging panel for the literary prizes, which consist of: Prof. Nelson Fashina- University of Ibadan; Prof. Effiong Johnson – University of Uyo;  Ismaila Bala Garba-  Bayero University, Kano; Dr. Owojecho Omoha- University of Abuja; and Prof. G.M.T. Emezue- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, release the shorlists today.

According to the panel of judges, winners of the various prizes will be announced at the awards dinner of the 37th Anniversary International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors  (ANA), coming up on Saturday, the 27th of October, 2018 in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Below are names of authors and titles of their shortlisted works in no particular order:

ANA PROSE FICTION PRIZE
The Beginning of Everything Colourful - Onyeka Nwelue
Hang No Clothes Here - Bolaji Olatunde,
The Longest Trial - Uchenna Eze,
Absolution - Oreva Ode-Irri,
The Return of Half-Something - Chukwudi Eze

ANA DRAMA PRIZE
Teeth set on Edge - Akin Bello
Brother - Achalugo Ezekobe
Guerilla Post – Obari Gomba
Saint Ojedi - Amechi Chiedu Obumse

ANA POETRY PRIZE
The Poet of Dust - Umar Abubakar Sidi
The Lagos Cuban Jazz Club - Onyeka Nwelue
Bombblast or Breakfast - J. O. J. Nwachukwu-Agbada
Blood Drops - Patrick Oguejiofor

ANA/ABUBAKAR GIMBA PRIZE FOR SHORT STORIES
Justice Club - Sasi Miet Jajja
Things That Start Small But Sweet - Bibi Ukonu
Vacancy for the Post of a Bride - Emmanuel Asika

THE ANA PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
Nwauwa: the Girl with big Dreams - Paschal Okeke & Vera O. Chuks-Iwuchukwu
Primrose and the Kidnappers - Jide Ogunlana
Once Upon a Village- Su’eddie Vershima Agema

ANA/NECO TEEN AUTHOR PROSE PRIZE
If You Looked Inside a Girl - Chibundum Kosisochukwu Ndukwe
Tomorrow Brings Beautiful Things: Stories - Ernest Ogunyemi

ANA/MARIA AJIMA PRIZE FOR LITERARY CRITICISM
Nativisation as Style and Identity Marker in Barclays Ayakoroma’s Dance on His Grave - Ebi Yeibo

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October 2018 Edition of WSA Magazine now Available for Free

October 05, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments


The October 2018 Edition of the Writers Space Africa (WSA)- a literary magazine that celebrates African writers, published by the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), is now available for free download.

This 22nd Issue features African writers like: Anthony Onugba, Nigeria; Ayotunde Oyeniran, Nigeria; Wanangwa Mwale, Zambia; Shimbo Pastory William, Tanzania; Valentine Tusai, Zimbabwe; Mohau Mohlope, Nigeria; Benny Wanjohi, Kenya; Gift Samwel Ngamanja, Tanzania; Kweku Sarkwa, Ghana; Kelvin Shachile, Kenya; Kimberly Chirodzero, Zimbabwe; and Gabrielina Gabriel-Abhiele, Nigeria.

Writers Space Africa also calls for submissions for its 23rd Issue, under the theme "Tears of an African Child" which is closing on the 12th of October, 2018 and therefore accepting literary works from African writers above 18 years on or before the deadline. 

To read the magazine, click HERE to DOWNLOAD and get information on how to submit to the November 2018 edition. 

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Brittle Paper Announces Shortlists for its 2018 Award

October 04, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments
Brittle Paper, one of the online literary platforms promoting African literature has announced the shortlists for their 2018 literary award. The announcement was made in a statement released today on their website.

"We are delighted to announce the shortlists for the 2018 Brittle Paper Awards. Begun in 2017 to mark our seventh anniversary, the Awards aim to recognize the finest, original pieces of writing by Africans published online. The $1,100 cash prize is split across five categories: the Brittle Paper Award for Fiction ($200), the Brittle Paper Award for Poetry ($200), the Brittle Paper Award for Creative Nonfiction ($200), the Brittle Paper Award for Essays & Think Pieces ($200), and the Brittle Paper Anniversary Award ($300) for writing published on our blog.


"Forty-eight pieces were shortlisted last year, and the winners: South African memoirist Sisonke Msimang for Essays & Think Pieces, Liberian novelist Hawa Jande Golakai for Creative Nonfiction, Nigerian poet JK Anowe for Poetry, South African writer Megan Ross for Fiction, and Nigerian poet Chibuihe Obi for the Anniversary Award.


The Award is to celebrate not only of writers and their works but also of magazines, journals, and websites, and their editors and publishers who have set up open spaces where true literary diversity can thrive and where their works speak for themselves.

Below are the shortlists:
THE BRITTLE PAPER AWARD FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION ($200)
“On Meeting Toni Morrison,” by Sarah Ladipo Manyika (Nigeria), in Transition
“The Miseducation of Gratitude,” by Sibongile Fisher (South Africa), in Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction, published online in Enkare Review
“How to Gossip About African Writing in Geneva,” by Oris Aigbokhaevbolo (Nigeria), in Catapult
“Chapter Thirty-Three,” by Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenya), in Brittle Paper
“A House for Mr Soyinka,” by Kola Tubosun (Nigeria), in Popula
“Home Means Nothing to Me,” by Tinashe Mushakavanhu in collaboration with Nontsikelelo Mutiti and Simba Mafundikwa (Zimbabwe), in Chimurenga

THE BRITTLE PAPER AWARD FOR ESSAYS & THINK PIECES ($200)
“History Through the Body or Rights of Desire, Rights of Conquest,” by Panashe Chigumadzi (Zimbabwe), in The Johannesburg Review of Books
“Verse Africa: The Malleable Poetics of Some Contemporary African Poets,” by Matthew Shenoda (Egypt), in World Literature Today
“A Stranger in ‘the Village," by Bongani Madondo (South Africa), in The Johannesburg Review of Books
“Preserving and Writing History,” Ayesha Harruna Attah (Ghana) in Conversation with Gaamangwe Joy Mogami (Botswana), in Africa in Dialogue
“The Colonizer’s Archive Is a Crooked Finger,” by Emmanuel Iduma (Nigeria), in Catapult
“James Baldwin in Rhodesia,” by Percy Zvomuya (Zimbabwe), in The Johannesburg Review of Books

THE BRITTLE PAPER AWARD FOR POETRY ($200)
“A List of Things I Do Not Tell My Mother,” by Sarah Lubala (South Africa & Congo), in Apogee Journal
“A Field, any Field,” by Itiola Jones (Nigeria), in The Offing
“Origin Myths,” by Megan Ross (South Africa), in The Single Story Foundation Journal
“On the Isle of Lesbos,” by Tsitsi Jaji (Zimbabwe), in Harvard Review
“I Like to Think I’d Yet Manage to Weave Words into Poems,” by Chisom Okafor (Nigeria), in Expound
“Summer Night Spent Cosplaying Ashanti & Ja Rule Or Something Else Resembling Happiness,” by Momtaza Mehri (Somalia & UK), in Frontier Poetry

THE BRITTLE PAPER AWARD FOR FICTION ($200)
“Moon Secrets,” by Lauri Kubuitsile (Botswana), in The Single Story Foundation Journal
“The Man at the Bridge,” by Kiprop Kimutai (Kenya), in As You Like It, republished in The Johannesburg Review of Books
“Involution,” by Stacy Hardy (South Africa), in Migrations: New Short Fiction from Africa
“Our Husband Grief,” by Christine Odeph (Kenya), in Migrations: New Short Fiction from Africa (as “My Sister’s Husband”), republished in Brittle Paper
“All Our Lives,” by Tochukwu Emmanuel Okafor (Nigeria), in ID: New Short Fiction from Africa, republished in The Johannesburg Review of Books

THE BRITTLE PAPER ANNIVERSARY AWARD ($300)
“An African in London and Other Reflections on African Literatures,” by Richard Oduor Oduku (Kenya), Memoir
“Why I No Longer Use the Term ‘Game’ for Bushmeat,” by Chika Unigwe (Nigeria), Think Piece, first posted on Facebook
“Bantu’s Swahili, or How to Steal a Language from Africa,” by Kamau Muiga (Kenya), Essay
“The Nervous Conditions of the Mother Tongue,” by Mapule Mohulatsi (South Africa), Essay, first published in Selves: An Afro Anthology of Creative Nonfiction
“On Postcolonial Theory,” by Shailja Patel (Kenya), Tweets
“Facebook Writers and Other Trivia,” by Alaaka Tobi (Nigeria), Essay
“Jambula Tree,” by Lillian Aujo (Uganda), Poetry
“For What Are Butterflies without Their Wings,” by Troy Onyango (Kenya), Fiction

According to the Editor, Dr. Ainehi Edoro Glines and Deputy Editor, Otosirieze, the winners will be announced on Monday, November 19, 2018.

For more details, visit their website HERE.

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Purple Hibiscus Trust Creative Writing Workshop Calls for Applications

September 28, 2018 TWF Editor 3 Comments


The Purple Hibiscus Trust announces call for the 11th edition of its creative writing workshop. 

Applications for the workshop will be open until October 15, 2018. The workshop, which would be run by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will start from November 20 to November 30, 2018.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be received via email to purplehibiscus2018@gmail.com.

The email subject should read "Workshop Application".

The body of the email should contain the following: applicant's name, address, a short bio and a fiction or non-fiction writing sample between 200-1,000 words.

The final shortlisted applicants will be notified on November 7, 2018.

Accommodation will be provided for accepted applicants.

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Chimamanda Adichie’s creative workshop back with a new name, Purple Hibiscus Trust Writing workshop

September 27, 2018 TWF Editor 1 Comments

Chimamanda Adichie.
 Photo: Mamadi Doumbouya for Vulture
The literary community, budding writers and fans of internationally-acclaimed and award-winning Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who has been silent following the temporary resting of the Farafina Trust Creative Writing workshop heaved a sigh of relief when the creative director, Chimamanda Adichie announced the return of the annual creative writing workshop.

The workshop which suffered a set back and could not hold last year because the sponsors pulled out, will now hold, as a new sponsor, Trace Nigeria, has taken over. 

This was announced by Chimamanda during an interactive session with the press in Lagos.

The workshop which is currently in its 11th year, will now hold from November 20 to 30, 2018. 

According to her, “the workshop will continue to provide me the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the writing community in Nigeria. It will also serve as a platform for writers to learn from one another and from established writers.” 

On his part, Sam Onyemelukwe, Managing Director of Venator Partners/Trace Nigeria, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She is an inspiration to youths in Africa and around the world; and through her art, she not only entertains, but challenges stereotypes and kindles conversations that would often otherwise not be had. This corresponds with the Trace mission to engage and inspire urban and Afro-Caribbean youths through news, entertainment, arts, lifestyle and culture.” 

Speaking about the workshop, she said that the workshop, which was formerly known as the Farafina Trust Creative Writing workshop is now to be called the Purple Hibiscus Trust Writing workshop. Pointing out that the workshop has really lived up to its bidding, “it has gone really well, it has grown, people have benefited from it. People are being made to understand that every society needs strong story tellers. I feel very proud of them and what they have done through it”. 

Adichie has been organising the workshop for the past 10 years under different sponsorships. The workshop has graduated over 200 participants, many of whom have become published writers and editors.

She teaches the workshop alongside other established writers who are invited. Past co-teachers include Poet laureate of Scotland, Jackie Kay, British-Malaysian writer, Tash Aw, and American novelist, Dave Eggers. 

She also called for applications from elligible canditates for the workshop which opened on  September 24 and will run till October 15. Such applications with few sentences about the person should be sent to purplehibiscus2018@gmail.com.

Reacting to a question on feminism, Ms. Adichie called for equality among men and women, “Women and men should be given equal opportunity. No one should stop anyone no matter the sex from being what he/she wants to be. Talents and intelligence cut across gender, so women should be allowed to occupy positions of authority.” Adding that, “we should not use religion or biological differences to hold women down.” 

On her style of writing, she said: “I don’t think I am a poet. I started with tiny books, but it did not go well. The first books were like trying to find myself and I finally found myself in fiction.”

On when next to expect a new book from her, she laughed and said: “I don’t know exactly, but what I can say is watch out.”

Some of the alums of the workshop, Sheilla Chukwunozie and Mazi Nwonwu also shared their experiences about the workshop, how it really impacted them and changed their lives.

Culled from Vanguard

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Call for Submission: Tribute to Kofi Annan

September 27, 2018 TWF Editor 1 Comments


Anase Writer Society and Muse for Peace Foundation are inviting poets and writers to submit their works from either of Poetry, Article or Essay, as tributes for the late Kofi Annan, the great peace activist and exemplary leader, who was passionate and dedicated to world peace and equality in his life time.

The submission which closes on Sunday, the 30th of September, 2018, is open to authors or poets of any nationality. 

Any interested poet or writer is permitted to submit only one poem (30 lines Maximum) or one article/essay.

Email subject of the submission should read "Tribute to Annan", while the submission should be placed in the body of mail, as file attachment is not allowed.  

Entrant is also expected to include his or her Name, Country, short Bio and Contact details in the body of mail to be sent to the mail welcoming the submission: kofiannantribute9@gmail.com.

Born on 8th of April, 1938; Kofi Atta Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, from January 1997 to December 2006 and also the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an international organization founded by Nelson Mandela. He died on 18 August, 2018.

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Call For Entries to Win 100K for the Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize

September 25, 2018 The Words Finesse 0 Comments


Committee for Relevant Arts and  Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize for Literary Review have called entries of movie reviews by all and sundry that's equal to the task for a reward of One Hundred Thousand naira (N100,000).

The Prize will be given to the winning entry at this year's Lagos State Book and Art Festival (LABAF 2018) scheduled to hold  in November.

How to enter
Review any three of the legendary Nigerian film maker, Tunde Kelani 's full length feature movies to win 100k for the Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize.

Entries should be sent to info@lagosbookartfestival.com or Coralabaf@gmail.com on or before October 20th, 2018.

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Bakwa Magazine releases Issue 8 on Pain

September 25, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


A magazine of literary and cultural criticism, Bakwa Magazine, has released its eighth issue, themed PAIN.

Founded in 2011 by Dzekashu MacViban, Bakwa magazine is Cameroon’s leading Anglophone publication of literature, politics, and art. Its editorial team currently comprises editor Dzekashu MacViban, assistant editor Socrates Mbamalu, copy editors Nfor E. Njinyoh and Kelechi Njoku, staff writer Howard M-B Maximus, and editorial adviser Kangsen Feka Wakai. It also explore pain in different forms with an exciting mix of memoir, fiction and poetry.

Bakwa‘s Issue 08: PAIN has contributions from Isabella Morris, Howard M-B Maximus, Ucheoma Onwutuebe, Margot Block, Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, Olubunmi Familoni, and Isabella Morris, Dane Cobain, Stanley Princewill McDaniels, Agogho Franklin, Immanuel James, Leslie Meya, Imhanguelo Angela, Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto, Abigail George, and Kwoh Elonge.

Download Bakwa's Issue 08: PAIN. 

For more information, click HERE. 

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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie named winner of Everett M. Rogers Award

September 23, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


Nigerian author and writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named the winner of the 2019 Everett M. Rogers Award.

This was revealed in a press release by The Norman Lear Centre, a multidisciplinary research and Public policy centre with a focus on how entertainment and industry impact society.

This Norman Lear Centre has presented the award since 2007 on behalf of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.

The women’s rights activist, critic, and feminist is set to receive the award on February 7, 2019, and speak at USC Annenberg ceremony.

Ms. Adichie’s first novel, Purple Hibiscus (2003), won the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Her 2013 novel Americanah won the National Book Critics Circle Award and was named one of The New York Times’ Top Ten Best Books of 2013. Her work has been translated into over 30 languages.

“Her voice and her power to inspire made Chimamanda Adichie the unanimous choice for the 2019 Rogers Award,” said USC Annenberg School Dean Willow Bay. “Her visit will continue the global conversation about race, gender and identity to which she’s contributed so forcefully.

Ms. Adichie’s “The Danger of a Single Story” is one of the most-watched TED talks of all time. A MacArthur “genius” Fellow and a member of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, she was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2015. In 2017, Fortune magazine named her one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.


What is the Everett M. Rogers award?

The USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism is a leader in education and scholarship in communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relation at all levels.

The award is presented in honour of Annenberg’s late Professor Everett M. Rodgers, the author of Diffusion of Innovations, the second most cited book in social sciences.

The award recognizes excellence in social causes, journalism, media, academia, authoring, and communication.


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Poor access to books limits literary conversation- Denja Abdullahi

September 23, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


Denja Abdullahi is the President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). His play, Death and the King’s Grey Hair, a metaphorical piece on tenured, monarchical leadership in an ancient African society, is one of the three drama pieces shortlisted for The Nigeria Prize for Literature Prize 2018. The prize is worth $100,000. In this interview with ANOTE AJELUOROU, he reflects on the prize, the challenges of playwriting and books in the country.

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Malawian Poet and Dipomat, David Rubadiri Departs the World at 88

September 19, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


Malawian poet, academic, playwright, novelist and diplomat Professor James David Rubadiri has passed on at the age of 88 on the 15th of September, 2018.  Rubadiri, who was Malawi’s first ambassador to the UN and the USA was regarded as one of Africa’s most widely anthologized and celebrated poets to emerge after his country’s independence in 1964.

Rubadiri was born in July 19, 1930, where his father served as a District Officer while his mother was a homemaker who took care of the children as his father worked across the border in Tanzania. He crossed over to Uganda in search of better education and attended both primary and secondary education at King’s College, Budo in Uganda from 1941 to 1950, then Makerere University, Kampala from 1952-56, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and History, before flying out to the University of London where he studied for a BA in Literature, History and Geography, and graduated with a first class honours degree. He went on to study MA in Literature at Cambridge before receiving a Diploma in Education from the University of Bristol.

After breaking off ties with the Malawian government in 1965, Rubadiri went on exile, teaching at Makerere University from 1968 to 1975, the University of Nairobi from 1976 to 1984, and, upon Wole Soyinka’s invitation, the University of Ibadan alongside Okot p’Bitek. He was further Dean of the Language and Social Sciences Education Department at the University of Botswana from 1984 to 1997. In 1997, he was reappointed Malawi’s ambassador to the UN, and then named Vice Chancellor of the University of Malawi in 2000. In 2005, he received an honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde.

Rubadiri’s poetry appeared in the 1963 anthology Modern Poetry of Africa as well as in Transition, Black Orpheus, and Présence Africaine. His only novel, No Bride Price, which was published in 1967 and was critical of Malawi’s government, has been cited as among the earliest published fiction by Malawians. His other works include the anthologies Growing Up With Poetry: An Anthology for Secondary Schools (1989) and Poems from East Africa (1971), the latter of which he co-edited with David Cook, and the play Come To Tea (1965).

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3 Manuscripts Shortlist for 2018 Dinaane Debut Fiction Award

September 18, 2018 TWF Editor 0 Comments


The Jacana Literary Foundation (JLF) has announced a three-manuscript shortlist for the R35,000 Dinaane Debut Fiction Award. They are:

■ Legacy of a Rain Queen – The Eagle’s Martial by Sophia Tao
■ Not to Mention by Vivian de Klerk
■ The Mourning Bird by Mubanga Kalimamukwento

Submissions were judged blindly by a panel comprising: creative writing professor David Medalie, author of the story collections The Shooting of the Christmas Cows (1990), The Mistress’s Dog (2010) and the novel The Shadow Follows (2006); Rehana Rossouw, author of the Etisalat Prize-shortlisted and Humanities and Social Sciences Award-winning novel What Will People Say? (2014) and New Times (2017); and Songeziwe Mahlangu, author of the Etisalat Prize-winning and Sunday Times Fiction Prize-shortlisted novel Penumbra.

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony in October, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg Library. One of the runners-up will receive the R25 000 Kraak Writing Award which will offer the recipient mentoring and intensive coaching from an editor/publishing expert.

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