Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa |
|
|---|---|
| Host | The Lumina Foundation |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Reward | $20,000 |
| First awarded | 2006 |
| Last awarded | Active |
The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a special award for writers from Africa. It is given out every two years to the best book written by an African author.
This prize was started in 2005 by the Lumina Foundation. It honors Wole Soyinka, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Wole Soyinka himself often presents the award. An international group of experts chooses the winner. Many people call this prize "the African Nobel Prize" for writing.
About the Prize
The winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize receives $20,000. The award ceremony takes place in Lagos, Nigeria, or another chosen city in Africa. Books entered for the prize must be written in English or French.
How Winners Are Chosen
When the prize first started, books of any type could win. This included novels, poems, or plays. However, since 2014, the rules changed. Now, each time the award is given, it focuses on only one type of writing. For example, in 2014, only plays were considered. In 2016, it was poetry, and in 2018, it was prose (like novels or short stories).
Past Winners
Many talented writers have won the Wole Soyinka Prize. Here are some of them:
- 2006: Sefi Atta won for her book Everything Good Will Come. The first award ceremony was held in Lagos, Nigeria. The former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, was a special guest.
- 2008: Nnedi Okorafor won for Zahrah the Windseeker.
- 2010: The prize was shared between two writers:
- Kopano Matlwa for Coconut
- Wale Okediran for Tenants of The House
- 2012: Sifiso Mzobe won for his book Young Blood.
- 2014: Akin Bello won for his play The Egbon of Lagos.
- 2018: The prize was shared again:
- Harriet Anena for A Nation in Labour
- Tanure Ojaide for Songs of Myself
See also
In Spanish: Premio Wole Soyinka de Literatura en África para niños
- Grand Prix of Literary Associations
External Links
- Official website for the Wole Soyinka Prize: https://web.archive.org/web/20150822035328/http://www.theluminafoundation.org/projects/wole-soyinka-prize-for-literature-in-africa
