Announcing the 2012 WS prize
Members of the Board of Trustees, of the WS Prize for Literature in Africa, Executive Director, The Lumina Foundation, Gentlemen of the Press.
Dear friends, it is my pleasure to welcome you today as we announce the fourth edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa and call for entry for this prestigious Pan African Prize. Prize for Literature in Africa
The Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa was established in 2005 as a Biennial Award to the best literary work produced by an African. It assesses works by African authors published within the two years preceding the award year. It is intended to serve as an African equivalent of the Nobel Prize, and also intended to recognize and encourage professional and personal excellence.
The WS Prize for Literature in Africa counts as its sponsors, some of the best brands in Africa, and its Pan-African structure showcases Africa’s great brands, as they collectively promote Africa’s identity, content and packaging.
The Prize of the award is US$20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars), and the winner is decided by a Panel of Judges made up of eminent scholars, entrepreneurs and individuals of intellect across the African continent. Prof. Wole Soyinka always gives out the Prize at each award night.
The first edition of the award assessed eighty-seven entries from eight African countries and was held on August 5, 2006 (at the Muson Centre, Lagos); Seffi Attah emerged the first winner of this prestigious WS Prize for Literature in Africa, with her novel, ‘Everything Good Will Come’..
The second edition assessed two hundred and four entries from ten African countries and was held on November 2, 2008 (at the Eko hotel, Lagos). Nnedi Okorafor emerged the second winner with her novel, ‘Zahrah, the Windseker’’.
The third edition assessed three hundred and thirty-six entries from eleven African countries. The joint winners are from South Africa and Nigeria, both medical doctors Dr, Kopalno Maltwa and Dr. Wale Okediran with their novels ‘Coconut’ and ‘Tenants of theHouse’ respectively. The award night which took place at The Civic Centre Lagoson April 30, 2010. The event was as usual attended by the cream of the society.
The encouraging growth of the award and the significant increase in literary works submitted brings home the progress made in developing a truly African mechanism for promoting, enhancing and recognizing the greatness of our vast cultural and literary heritage. We therefore look forward with confidence to the fourth edition of the Award which will take place on Friday, July 6, 2012.
Our call for entry for this prestigious Pan African Prize is made today Friday, July 15, 2011. Our schedule for the rest of the events leading to this prize is as follows:
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We have enjoyed the friendship and goodwill of our friends in the media houses, and we trust that you will continue to be with us and give us your support as we continue to uphold this Prize, irrespective of the challenges before us.
Thank you most sincerely,
Mrs. Francesca Yetunde Emanuel, CON. Mni
Chairman, Lumina Foundation. &
Ogochukwu Promise, Ph.D,
CEO Lumina Foundation,
Sole administrators of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa.