Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a pan-African writing prize awarded bienniallyWole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
official website. to the best literary work produced by an African. It was established by the Lumina Foundation in 2005 in honour of Africa's first

Nobel Laureate in Literature ) , image = Nobel Prize.png , caption = , awarded_for = Outstanding contributions in literature , presenter = Swedish Academy , holder = Annie Ernaux (2022) , location = Stockholm, Sweden , year = 1901 , ...

Wole Soyinka Akinwande Oluwole Babatunde Soyinka (Yoruba: ''Akínwándé Olúwọlé Babátúndé Ṣóyíinká''; born 13 July 1934), known as Wole Soyinka (), is a Nigerian playwright, novelist, poet, and essayist in the English language. He was awarded t ...

, who presents the prize, which is chosen by an international jury of literary figures. Administered by the Lumina Foundation, the prize has been described as "the African equivalent of the Nobel Prize". The winner receives $20,000 at the awards ceremony in

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

or a selected city in Africa. Entries must be written in English or French.Wole Soyinka Prize Rules
The Lumina Foundation. Although originally all genres were considered for every award, since 2014 only one genre is eligible for each edition of the award, with drama being considered for 2014, poetry in 2016, and prose in 2018.

Winners

*2006

Sefi Atta Sefi Atta (born January 1964) is a Nigerian-American novelist, short-story writer, playwright and screenwriter. Her books have been translated into many languages, radio plays have been broadcast by the BBC, and her stage plays have been performe ...

, ''Everything Good Will Come''. The inaugural award took place on 5 August 2006 at the

Muson Centre MUSON Centre (Musical Society of Nigeria) is a performance hall in Lagos. The multipurpose civic auditorium is located in the heart of Lagos Island, situated between the National Museum, the City Mall, the Onikan Stadium and the former offic ...

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, where the guest speaker was former

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

President

John Agyekum Kufuor John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009. He was also Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008. Kufuor's career has been sp ...

. *2008

Nnedi Okorafor Nnedimma Nkemdili "Nnedi" Okorafor (formerly Okorafor-Mbachu; born April 8, 1974) is a Nigerian-American writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. She is best known for her ''Binti Series'' and her novels ''Who Fears ...

, '' Zahrah the Windseeker'' *2010 (shared prize)Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa
previous winners. **

Kopano Matlwa Kopano Matlwa (born 1985) is a South African writer and doctor, known for her novel ''Spilt Milk'', which focuses on the South Africa's "Born Free" generation, and ''Coconut'', her debut novel, which addresses issues of race, class, and colonizat ...

, ''Coconut'' **

Wale Okediran Wale or WALE may refer to: Places *Wale, Devon, a hamlet in England *Wale, Tomaszów Mazowiecki County, a village in Poland People * Wale (surname) *Wale (rapper), stage name of American rapper Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Radio and television ...

, ''Tenants of The House'' *2012

Sifiso Mzobe Sifiso Mzobe is a South African author. Biography Mzobe was born and raised in the Durban township of Umlazi. He attended St Francis College in Mariannhill, then studied Journalism at Damelin Business Campus in Durban. He has worked for commu ...

, ''Young Blood'' *2014

Akin Bello Akin may refer to: People *Akin (given name), a list of people *Akin (surname), a list of people *Akın, a list of people with the Turkish given name or surname Places *Akin, Illinois, a town in the United States *Akin, Aksaray, a village in Ak ...

, ''The Egbon of Lagos'' (play) *2018 (shared prize) **

Harriet Anena Ber Anena born and previously published as Harriet Anena is a Ugandan writer and performer, whose writing includes poetry, nonfiction and fiction. She is the author of a collection of poems, ''A Nation In Labour'', published in 2015, won the 201 ...

, ''A Nation in Labour'' **

Tanure Ojaide Tanure Ojaide (born 1948) is a Nigerian poet and academic. As a writer, he is noted for his unique stylistic vision and for his intense criticism of imperialism, religion, and other issues. He is regarded as a socio-political and an ecocentric poe ...

, ''Songs of Myself''Nigerian professor, Ugandan win Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature
by Jayne Augoye,

Premium Times ''Premium Times'' is a Nigerian online newspaper based in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory. It was launched in 2011. The online medium is notable for investigative journalism and Reports among other fields. Awards and nominations In 2013 ...

, December 10, 2018.

Notes

{{Reflist, 30em

External links

Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa official website
Awards established in 2005 2005 establishments in Nigeria African literary awards Nigerian literary awards Biennial events

Winners

See also

Notes

External links