By Prisca Sam-Duru 

The Shell hall of the Muson Centre was filled to capacity with smartly dressed kids. They were there for a party; not the usual party like birthday parties that children are used to.

It was a book party and you can bet, they enjoyed every bit of it as they had drinks, small chops to snack on and packs to take away. There was also entertainment.

It was the 15th edition of CORA-Nigeria Prize for Literature (NPL) Book Party endowed and sponsored by the Nigeria LNG.

Glaringly, the colourful literary feast of ideas injected life into the 20th anniversary celebration of the biggest literary award in Africa, which is also one of the richest literary awards in the world- the Nigeria Prize For Literature, as well as the ambience of the Muson Centre, Lagos.

A collaborative effort between the Committee for Relevant Arts (CORA), and the NLNG, the literary banquet of ideas was held in honour of the longlisted authors for the 2024 edition of the Prize. The writers who are competing for the $100,000 prize money were celebrated for emerging as the best 11 out of 163 entries received this year.

The book party which marked the first public gathering of the longlisted authors, was a vibrant mix of book readings and a panel session. It witnessed a children-dominated audience which made it clear that this 2024 edition focuses on Children Literature.

Nine Laureates; Ndidi Chiazor Enenmor (A Father’s Pride), Akubuiro Henry (Mighty Mite and Golden Jewel), Familoni Oluranti Olubunmi (The Road Does Not End), Anietie Usen (Village Boy), Temiloluwa Adeshina (Risi Recycle-The Dustbin Girl), Hyginus Ekwuazi (The Third Side of A Coin), Olatunbosun Taofeek (The Children at the IDP Camp), Ayo Oyeku (The Magic Jalabiya, and Akanni Festus Olaniyi (Bode’s Birthday Party), were physically present.

While two; Jumoke Verissimo (Grandma and the Moon’s Hidden Secret), and Uchechukwu Peter Umezuruike (Wish Maker), who are based abroad, joined virtually. They took turns to tell the audience what motivated them to write the longlisted books as well as what they plan to do with the cash award of a whopping $100,000 if they emerge winner. They also had a word or two for upcoming children literature writers.

The 11 selected works were chosen from a pool of 163 entries by a panel of judges led by Professor Saleh Abdu of the Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State and, Professor Vicky Sylvester and Dr. Osarobu Igudia. The winner is set to be announced in October 2024.

The prize contenders only owned the stage after selected children from different literary groups took turns to read from the longlisted books. Highlight of the children’s participation in the memorable event was a scintillating musical performance. It featured children from different organisations; AJ House of Poetry, Kings and Queens, Eye read and others, beautifully showcasing the diverse cultures of the peoples of Nigeria through dance, costumes, etc. In the musical, the children dramatised key areas in all the longlisted books.

In his remarks, Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development in NLNG, lauded the CORA Book Party as a standout event among the series of activities leading up to the announcement of the Nigeria Prize for Literature winner. 

“The CORA Book Party is a remarkable event that brings together the greatest number of authors, books, journalists, and lovers of literature and the arts to celebrate books and their authors. It’s an event laden with positive emotions, giving the day its special spark and the awards their glorious luster,” Mr. Odeh stated. 

He added that the literary atmosphere in the country is charged with hope and anticipation, with everyone eager to see who will emerge as the next laureate of the prestigious The Nigeria Prize for Literature.

Odeh emphasised the commitment of NLNG to excellence, a value, he said, that has driven the Company from a modest gas company to a major global gas giant over the past 35 years, stressing that the Prize has not only celebrated literary excellence but also spurred improvements in the quality of books, editing, publishing, and the broader literary ecosystem.

He expressed his pride in the eleven authors who emerged from the array of talents vying for the Prize, stating that their achievements have made their families, their country, and NLNG proud.

Mr Odeh also appreciated CORA and the Nigerian authors for ensuring that the book party remains a notable book festival in the country’s literary calendar.

Also speaking, CORA’s Secretary-General, Mr. Toyin Akinosho, emphasised the significance of the book party which provides a platform for authors to discuss their books and interact with readers. 

“The first book party was organised after a review of the first five years of the Prize, in response to calls that the Prize should do more than a glamorous Gala night in which one author got rich, but the Nigeria book trade and literary scene as a whole didn’t seem elevated. CORA decided to help out”, noting, “this afternoon presents an opportunity to get a sense of what’s happening around Children literature.”

Akinosho described the NPL as a Prize that “has become an enabler in the Nigerian literary ecosystem’, adding, “Part of it is the cash money; in 2019, the $100,000 was 36Million Naira. Today, it is 160Million Naira. That’s quite some significant amount of money in anyone’s account.

But at CORA, we see an opportunity for the creation of an entire economy around the book trade. The NPL cannot alone wipe out all the entrenched dysfunctions of the Nigerian publishing sector, but it goes far. And those who are comparing it with book prizes in countries with structured book industries are grossly unfair.” 

 As the Prize continues its commitment to nurturing talent and supporting the arts, the impact of this year’s edition is expected to inspire the next generation of Nigerian writers and readers. 

The Nigeria Prize for Literature, which has been promoting excellence in literature for 20 years, rotates annually among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s literature.