By Damiete Braide
The literary world is set to witness a thrilling celebration of creativity and literary excellence as we announce the launch of The Akachi Ezeigbo Prize next year, 2024, a distinguished book nomination contest.
Named in honour of the esteemed author, Professor Akachi Ezeigbo, this prize aims to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions to literature.
Professor Ezeigbo’s commitment to the written word and literary exploration serves as the inspiration behind prestigious literary awards.
The prize is a book nomination contest designed to spotlight remarkable literary works across various genres.
Authors, publishers, and literary enthusiasts are invited to nominate books that have left an indelible mark on readers and pushed the boundaries of creative expression.
Nomination Period starts in January 2024 and ends on July 3, 2024, while the judging period is between August 1 August 2024 to October 13, 2024. The winners will be announced on November 1, 2024.
To nominate books, authors, publishers and readers are encouraged to submit nominations through the official prize website:
https://akachiezeigboprize.com/nominate/. Nominations should include a brief synopsis highlighting the book’s significance and impact.
The panel of judges will review the nominations and select the winners based on literary merit, creativity, and overall contribution to the literary landscape. Books eligible for consideration must have been published between 2018 and 2022.
All entries must have been made available for purchase by the general public in either hardcover or bound paperback. All books must be written in the English language.
The author of the book may be of any nationality, but the subject of the book must explore African worldview and experiences. Only one submission is allowed from an author in this contest.
Entries should be submitted in PDF (not more than 100MB. The cover page must be included in the submission. Also, the biography of the author must be aptly captured on the cover of the book. Entry is free. Categories to enter include Poetry, Drama, Fiction, Non-Fiction and Children’s Literature.
Winning authors will receive a prestigious award, extensive media coverage, and the opportunity to showcase their work at literary events and festivals. The Akachi Ezeigbo Prize aims to propel deserving authors into the literary spotlight, offering them the recognition they deserve. You can follow the hashtag: #AkachiEzeigboPrize2024 on social media to stay updated on nominations.
The project is facilitated by Dr. Onyeka Nwelue, a multi talented scholar, who has proved to be exceptional in his career. He is a Nigerian filmmaker, publisher, talk-show host, author, academic visitor and founder of the James Currey Society, at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford and La Cave Musik, a record label based in Paris. founder of the UK-based Abibiman Publishing. He held an academic position as a visiting research fellow at the Center for International Studies, Ohio University.
He is also a visiting assistant professor and visiting fellow of African literature and studies in the English Language Department of the Faculty of Humanities, Manipur University in Imphal, India.