Back in July we brought you the shortlist for the NGNL Nigeria Prize for Literature 2016 and now after weeks of deliberation, three final entries from the original eleven-strong list have emerged.
The prize, one of Africa’s most esteemed is given yearly to an author from Nigeria, who also collects a $100,000 prize. The prize is so well known that all the shortlisted novels sell well, and the overall winner is likely to be a worldwide best seller.
If you’re looking to add some diversity to your reading, it’s a great place to start and this year’s three finalists are also looking promising! Here are the final three novels, with the winner expected in October.
Born on a Tuesday – Elnathan John
Born on a Tuesday is John’s debut novel and looks at contemporary Northern Nigeria and how it has been shaped by years of religious violence. The novel is also shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing.
Night Dancer – Chika Unigwe
Night Dancer follows a young woman on a search for identity, learning about her mother’s values in a Nigeria long gone. Chika Uniqwe was the 2012 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2012 for her novel On Black Sisters Street.
Season of Crimson Blossoms – Abubaker Adam Ibrahim
Set in conservative Northern Nigeria, Season of Crimson Blossoms is a tale of love, religion and politics. The author has won several prizes for prose.
The winner of the prize will be announced in October and we’ll bring you more news then, it’s hard to choose between three such fantastic novels!
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