Call for entries for Africa’s most prestigious literary Prize

Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, called for entries on Wednesday at a press briefing in Lagos. He also revealed the judging panel for the 2016 Etisalat Prize which includes Nigerian novelist and poet, Helon Habila, as the Chair of Judges, South African writer and activist Elinor Sisulu and Ivorian writer, Edwige Rene Dro as members.

The Nigerian voice reported that Mr. Willsher, while speaking about the uniqueness of the Etisalat Prize, said it is designed to serve as a leading platform for the discovery and encouraging of creative writing talents as well as the celebration of literary arts by African writers.

“We are delighted to champion the cause for celebrating the richness and strength of African literature. Etisalat Prize for Literature is about discovering and bringing to the world stage the many creative talent Africa boasts of."

Willsher added that only books by debutant writers published not later than 24 months before submission, will qualify for entry.

The Etisalat Prize also incorporates an award for Flash Fiction; an online-based competition for non-published African writers of short stories.

The Etisalat Prize for Literature was created by Etisalat Nigeria in 2013 and it is the first ever pan-African prize to celebrate first-time African writers of published fiction books.

The prize aims to serve as a platform for the discovery of new creative talent out of the continent and invariably promote the burgeoning publishing industry in Africa.

The fourth annual Etisalat Prize comes with prize money of £15 000 (about 6 million naira) and a fellowship at the University of East Anglia under the mentorship of Professor Giles Foden, the award-winning author of The Last King of Scotland.

Zimbabwean NoViolet Bulawayo won the inaugural Etisalat Prize for We Need New Names in 2013, Songeziwe Mahlangu won the 2014 edition for Penumbra and Fiston Mwanza Mujila won the 2015 edition of the Prize with his Tram 83.

Apply here.

READ: Congolese author wins 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature for Tram 83