The Words Finesse

Two Nobel Prizes in Literature will be presented this year after the scandal-hit awarding body, Swedish Academy, was blocked from naming a winner in 2018.

The Nobel Foundation banned the Swedish Academy from awarding last year's prize following allegations of sexual misconduct against the husband of one of its board members and accusations of leaks, which effectively paralysed the institution. 

In a press release on Tuesday, the foundation, which executes Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel's will, said that its Board of Directors "believes that the steps that the Swedish Academy has taken and intends to take will create good opportunities for restoring trust in the Academy as a prize-winning institution".

In a statement, the Nobel Foundation said, "The Nobel Prize in Literature will once again be awarded, and this autumn laureates for both 2018 and 2019 will be announced."  

The Nobel Foundation had previously threatened to strip the Swedish Academy of its role in awarding the prize following the scandals, which first emerged in 2017 and resulted in a wave of resignations in protest. 

Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of poet and former academy member Katarina Frostenson, was convicted on two charges of rape and sentenced to prison in October 2018. Frostenson left the body in January after an inquiry found she had leaked the names of prize winners on multiple occasions, which she denied.

The Academy's Pernanent Secretary, Anders Olsson, had announced in May that the prize would not be awarded in 2018 "in view of the currently diminished Academy and the reduced public confidence in the academy".

It was the first time the prestigious award was not handed out since a suspension in 1943 due to World War II.

According to Tuesday's statement, "several important changes" have been made, including a change in bylaws making it possible for members to resign, electing new members and dismissing any members who are "subject to conflict of interest or criminal investigation".

More so, five independent external members, intended to provide "valuable new perspectives" and assist in choosing the laureates, have been appointed. 

"Although it will take time to fully restore confidence, the Board of the Nobel Foundation believes that the prerequisites for this are now good. Given the reforms that have been implemented and planned, the Swedish Academy has the opportunity not only to put the past year behind it, but also to become a better-functioning organisation in the future," the Nobel Foundation statement read. 

Worth some nine million Swedish kronor ($966,300), the Nobel Prize in literature is awarded to a writer who has produced "the most outstanding work in an ideal direction", according to Alfred Nobel's will. The last recipient was British novelist Kazuo Ishiguro in 2017.

Reports have it that previous recipients have included singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, novelist Ernest Hemingway and poet Pablo Neruda.

In 2018, a one-off "alternate Nobel" called the New Academy Prize in Literature was awarded to Guadeloupean author Maryse Conde in lieu of the Nobel. 

The Swedish Academy is only responsible for awarding the literature prize. Other Swedish academic institutions select the winners of the awards in scientific fields, while a Norwegian committee picks the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. 

The winners are usually announced in October, with the prizes being presented on the anniversary of Nobel's death on December 10.

The Kwara State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors  (ANA) in conjunction with the National Library of Nigeria, Kwara State Branch, is inviting writers, authors, literary enthusiasts as well as the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi's proteges, friends and associates to the Public Presentation of a book titled, "Harmonious Chronicles" and commemoration of the World Poetry Day.

The book is a literary compendium dedicated to the pillar of support and benefactor of the Association of Nigerian Authors, late Honourable Justice Mustapha Muhammed Adebayo Akanbi, CFR, PCA, who departed the earth last year.

The event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 21st of March, 2019 at Mustapha Akanbi Library and Resource Centre, No. 6, Agba-dam link road, G.R.A, Ilorin, by nine o'clock in the morning.

Expected at the occasion are academists, legal luminaries, literay scholars and other important dignitaries in all walks of life.

After the book review by Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, there will be series of poetry and dramatic performance in commemoration of the World Poetry Day which is observed yearly on the 21st of March.

To this end, interested performers at the event are mandated to send in their well edited works of salient themes to kwaraana15@gmail.com for scrutiny and prior approval by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) before D-Day. 

The subject of the work should be, "Work to Present at Kwara ANA's Harmonious Chronicles Public Presentation" and should be sent as a single MS Word attachment or copy-pasted in the body of the mail.

The Nigeria Prize for Literature aka the NLNG Prize for Literature, worth $100,000, is calling for submissions in the category of Children’s Literature this year.

To qualify for the Prize which application closes on 5th of April, 2019, you must have a children’s story book that worth the prize and have been written in the last four years. You must also be a Nigerian who has a national passport or national identity card.

Entries are invited for The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2019 based on the following Submission Procedure:

• Ten copies of the entry and, if available, an e-copy, together with evidence of Nigerian citizenship (photocopy of Nigerian passport or National identity card), may be submitted either by authors or publishers, in accordance with the genres in competition.

• Books should be submitted to Nigeria LNG Limited's External Relations Division, promoters of the prize, by the stipulated deadline. Failure to meet the stated conditions will lead to disqualification of the entry.

• No book published before January, 2015 will be accepted. Complete contact information, including full contact address, email(s), phone number(s) and other relevant contact Information should accompany each submission.

• An author will enter only one published work, Mere manuscripts will not be considered. No book previously submitted for this competition may be re-submitted at later date, even if major revisions have been made or a new edition published. The prize will be awarded for no other reason than excellence.

• No members of the Advisory Board or Panel of judges can enter their work(s) for the award in the period in which they are serving and two years therafter. No entries will be entertained from members of NLNG Staff and their families.

• A panel of judges has been appointed for The Nigeria Prize for Literature by the Advisory Board for Literature.

• The appointment of judges has been done to reflect the genre in competition for the year. Persons appointed as judges have wide experience, peer recognition, good public image, and command respect nationally and internationally.

Writers Space Africa (WSA), an international literary magazine, published by the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), is calling for submissions for its 26th edition (February Edition) under the theme “Love in Africa”.