Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa facts for kids

The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa is a special writing award. It is given every two years to the best book written by an African author. The Lumina Foundation started this prize in 2005. They wanted to honor Wole Soyinka, who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. He is a very famous writer!

Wole Soyinka himself gives out the award. A group of expert writers from around the world chooses the winner. Many people call this prize "the African version of the Nobel Prize" because it is so important.

The winner gets $20,000. The award ceremony happens in Lagos, Nigeria, or another big city in Africa. Books entered for the prize must be written in English or French. At first, any type of book could win each year. But since 2014, the prize focuses on one type of writing at a time. For example, in 2014, only plays could win. In 2016, it was poetry, and in 2018, it was prose (like novels).

Winners of the Prize

Here are the amazing writers who have won the Wole Soyinka Prize:

• 2006 Sefi Atta, for her book Everything Good Will Come. This was the very first award! It took place on August 5, 2006, in Lagos, Nigeria. The former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kufuor, was a special guest.
• 2008 Nnedi Okorafor, for her book Zahrah the Windseeker
• 2010 (This year, two writers shared the prize!)
  • Kopano Matlwa, for Coconut
  • Wale Okediran, for Tenants of The House
• 2012 Sifiso Mzobe, for Young Blood
• 2014 Akin Bello, for his play The Egbon of Lagos
• 2018 (Two writers shared the prize 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