The 9mobile Prize for Literature (formerly the Etisalat Prize for Literature 2013–16) was created by Etisalat Nigeria in 2013, and is the first ever pan-African prize celebrating first-time African writers of published fiction books."Prize Profile"
, 9mobile Prize for Literature. Awarded annually, 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 Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the

University of East Anglia The University of East Anglia (UEA) is a public research university in Norwich, England. Established in 1963 on a campus west of the city centre, the university has four faculties and 26 schools of study. The annual income of the institution f ...

. The 9mobile Prize for Literature also aims to support publishers by purchasing 1000 copies of all shortlisted books, to be donated to various schools, book clubs and libraries across the African continent. In 2017, Etisalat Nigeria renamed itself 9mobile and the award name changed at the same time.

Entry and prize

The 9mobile Prize for Literature celebrates new writers of African citizenship whose first fiction book (more than 30,000 words in length) was published in the previous 24 months. The prize accepts any printed production in book form of any type or genre, written in English or published in English translation. Authors and their publishers can be based anywhere in the world. The winner of the 9mobile Prize for Literature receives £15,000, a

Samsung Galaxy Note The Samsung Galaxy Note series is a discontinued line of high-end Android phablets and smartphones developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics. The line is primarily oriented towards pen computing; all Galaxy Note models ship with a styl ...

and an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück. In line with the prize's vision of promoting upcoming writers, 9mobile sponsors a book tour to three African cities for the winning writer and shortlisted writers. The winning writer is also awarded the 9mobile Fellowship at the

, mentored by Professor

Giles Foden Giles Foden (born 11 January 1967)George Stade and Karen Karbiener (eds), ''Encyclopaedia of British Writers, 1800 to the Present'', 2nd edn, Infobase Publishing, 2010, p. 176. is an English author, best known for his novel ''The Last King of S ...

, which includes significant opportunities to meet other writers, publishers and work on a second book. Shortlisted writers win a

and also embark on a book tour to two major African cities. The 9mobile Prize has a board of patrons (in addition to the judges) who are mostly writers, academics, publishers and critics. Patrons are carefully selected based on professional excellence and a relationship with the African writing industry. Those who have served as patrons are: *

Ama Ata Aidoo Ama Ata Aidoo, ''née'' Christina Ama Aidoo (born 23 March 1942) is a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright and academic. She was the Minister of Education under the Jerry Rawlings administration. In 2000, she established the Mbaasem Foundation t ...

, writer, playwright and academic (2013–) * Dele Olojede, journalist, winner of '' Pulitzer Prize'' (2013–) * Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, OBE, editor and literary critic (2013–) * Kole Omotoso, writer (2013–16) * Margaret Busby, OBE, writer, editor and publisher (2013–) *

Sarah Ladipo Manyika Sarah Ladipo Manyika is a British-Nigerian writer of novels, short stories and essays and an active member of the literary community, particularly supporting and amplifying young writers and female voices. She is author of two well received nove ...

, writer and academic (2016–) *

Zakes Mda Zakes Mda ( ), legally Zanemvula Kizito Gatyeni Mda (born 1948) is a South African novelist, poet and playwright and he is the son of politician A. P. Mda. He has won major South African and British literary awards for his novels and plays. He ...

, novelist and playwright (2013–)

Award history

Blue ribbon () = winner

2013

From a longlist of nine titles, the shortlist was announced on 23 January 2014. The winner was announced on 23 February 2014, and the award ceremony took place on Sunday, 2 March, at the Federal Palace Hotel,

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

. *

Yewande Omotoso Yewande Omotoso (born 1980) is a South African-based novelist, architect and designer, who was born in Barbados and grew up in Nigeria. She is the daughter of Nigerian writer Kole Omotoso, and the sister of filmmaker Akin Omotoso. She currently ...

(South Africa), ''Bom Boy'' ( Modjaji Books, South Africa) * Karen Jennings (South Africa), ''Finding Soutbek'' ( Holland Park Press, UK) *

NoViolet Bulawayo NoViolet Bulawayo is the pen name of Elizabeth Zandile Tshele (born 12 October 1981), a Zimbabwean author. In 2012, the National Book Foundation named her a "5 under 35" honoree. She was named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by ''New ...

(Zimbabwe), '' We Need New Names'' (

Little, Brown and Company Little, Brown and Company is an American publishing company founded in 1837 by Charles Coffin Little and James Brown in Boston. For close to two centuries it has published fiction and nonfiction by American authors. Early lists featured Emily ...

/ Chatto & Windus, UK) The judges in 2013 were: *Zakes Mda, novelist and playwright *

, writer, academic * Pumla Dineo Gqola, writer, academic * Billy Kahora, writer, editor of ''

Kwani? ''Kwani?'' ( Sheng for ''so what?'') is a leading African literary magazine based in Kenya that has been called "undoubtedly the most influential journal to have emerged from sub-Saharan Africa". The magazine grew out of a series of conversatio ...

2014

The longlist was announced in November 2014 and the shortlist in December 2014. The winner was announced on Sunday, 15 March 2015, at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, Nigeria. *

Nadia Davids Nadia Davids (born in Cape Town, 1977) is a South African playwright, novelist, and author of short stories and screenplays. Her work has been published, produced, and performed in Southern Africa, Europe, and the United States. She was a Philip ...

(South Africa), ''An Imperfect Blessing'' (

Random House Random House is an American book publisher and the largest general-interest paperback publisher in the world. The company has several independently managed subsidiaries around the world. It is part of Penguin Random House, which is owned by Germ ...

Struik-Umuzi, South Africa) *

Chinelo Okparanta Chinelo Okparanta (born 1981) is a Nigerian-American novelist and Short story, short-story writer. She was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where she was raisedRae Winkelstein-Duveneck"Religion, The Bible, and Personal Morality: An Interview with ...

(Nigeria), '' Happiness, Like Water'' ( Granta Books, UK) * Songeziwe Mahlangu (South Africa), ''Penumbra'' ( Kwela Books, imprint of NB Publishers, South Africa) The 2014 judges were: * Sarah Ladipo Manyika (chair) * Alain Mabanckou * Jamal Mahjoub *

Tsitsi Dangarembga Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 4 February 1959) is a Zimbabwean novelist, playwright and filmmaker. Her debut novel, '' Nervous Conditions'' (1988), which was the first to be published in English by a Black woman from Zimbabwe, was named by the BBC i ...

2015

The longlist was announced on 3 December 2015. The shortlist was announced on 8 March 2016, and the winner on 19 March. * Penny Busetto (South Africa), ''The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself'' (Jacana Media, South Africa) * Fiston Mwanza Mujila (Democratic Republic of Congo), ''Tram 83'', translated by Roland Glasser (Deep Vellum, USA) * Rehana Rossouw (South Africa), ''What Will People Say'' (Jacana Media, South Africa) The 2015 judges were: * Ato Quayson (chair) *

Molara Wood Molara Wood (born 1967)
Editorial Board, ''Sentinel Poetry Quarterly''. is a Nigeria ...

Zukiswa Wanner Zukiswa Wanner (born 1976) is a South African journalist, novelist and editor born in Zambia and now based in Kenya. Since 2006, when she published her first book, her novels have been shortlisted for awards including the South African Literary ...

2016

The longlist of nine titles was announced on 23 November 2016 and the shortlist of three on 5 January 2017. The winner was announced on 20 May. * Jacqui L’Ange (South Africa), ''The Seed Thief'' (Umuzi Publishers, South Africa) * Jowhor Ile (Nigeria), ''And After Many Days'' ( Kachifo Limited, Nigeria) * Julie Iromuanya (Nigeria), ''Mr & Mrs Doctor'' (

Coffee House Press Coffee House Press is a nonprofit independent press based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The press’s goal is to "produce books that celebrate imagination, innovation in the craft of writing, and the many authentic voices of the American experience ...

, USA) The 2016 judges were: *

Helon Habila Helon Habila Ngalabak (born November 1967) is a Nigerian novelist and poet, whose writing has won many prizes, including the Caine Prize in 2001. He worked as a lecturer and journalist in Nigeria before moving in 2002 to England, where he was a ...

(chair) * Edwige-Renée Dro * Elinor Sisulu

References

External links

9mobile Prize for Literature
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802204517/https://literature.9mobile.com.ng/ , date=2 August 2017 official website * Prisca Sam-Duru
"Echoes from Etisalat Prize for Literature"
''Vanguard'', 8 March 2014. African literary awards Nigerian literary awards Awards established in 2013 2013 establishments in Nigeria First book awards Fiction awards English-language literary awards