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The Atelewo Cultural Initiative has announced the launch of the 5th Atelewo prize for Yoruba Literature, featuring a grand prize of N1million.
This special edition marks the 5th anniversary of the prize, aiming to honour and promote the richness of Yoruba literature and culture while continuing Atelewo’s mission to preserve and rejuvenate the Yoruba language.
This exciting announcement was revealed at a press conference organised by Atelewo Cultural Initiative at the Leaders Hub, Bodija in Ibadan on Saturday.
The event was attended by literary enthusiasts, cultural advocates, and members of the press, all eager to learn more about the special 5th anniversary edition of the prestigious Yoruba literature prize.
The Atelewo prize for Yoruba Literature was instituted to address various challenges faced by creative writing in Yorùbá, such as the need for committed publishers, effective distribution, and the cultivation of invested readerships.
The prize aims to rejuvenate the vibrant, universally praised, and unquestionably rich Yorùbá literary culture, which boasts a heritage spanning over a century.
“We accept works in four categories: Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Translation, and we are delighted to be launching the 5th edition, continuing our mission to promote Yoruba language, literature, and cultural expression.
One of the founders of the Initiative, Rasaq Malik Gbolahan explained “Contrary to previous four editions where we usually have a grand winner and three other category winners who share the cash prize, this edition is special. We are only selecting one winner who will receive One Million Naira.
“This winner can be from any of the four established categories that are Poetry, Prose, Drama, and Translation.
“The submitted works must not have been published, whether physically or virtually, in any form whatsoever. All submissions must follow the laid down editorial guidelines and must be sent in before November 30, 2024,” he added.
According to the organizers, previous winners from the past four editions of the prize are not eligible to contest. This rule ensures a level playing field for new and emerging voices in Yoruba literature, encouraging fresh talent and diverse contributions to the rich and vibrant Yoruba literary culture.
“We are currently launching the 5th edition, marking five uninterrupted years of administering the Prize,” said Ibrahim Oredola, co-founder of ÀTẸ́LẸWỌ́ Cultural Initiative.
“To us, this is a great milestone, and we are proud of the good works we are doing to promote Yoruba literature. This Prize has grown to become a beacon of excellence in the Yoruba literary community, fostering a new generation of writers and thinkers.
“We also want to use this opportunity to appreciate our patrons and supporters who have been very instrumental to the development of this Prize over the years.”Oredola continued. “We are deeply grateful to individuals like Prof. Adeleke Adeeko, Mr. Oladele Onile-ere, and Mr. Oye Olatoye.
“Their unwavering support and dedication have been pivotal in sustaining and advancing the objectives of the Atelewo prize for Yoruba Literature.
