The Words Finesse

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.

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).

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.