The judges of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Literary Prizes have released the shortlist for the 2016 ANA Prizes.

Competing for the ANA Prose Fiction Prize are: Avenger of Blood by Franklin Finecountry; On the Bank of the River by Ifeoluwapo Adeniyi; Prodigals in Paradise by Henry Akubuiro and Odufa: A Lovers’ Tale by Othuke Ominiabohs.

For the ANA Drama Prize, the contestants are: Kosoko King of Eko by Fela Omoyele; Sacking the Porter by Olatunde Bolaji and Fated Rift by R.C. Ofodile.

For the ANA Poetry Prize, Thunder Protocol by Obari Gomba; Kontradiction by Saddiq Dzukogi and The Birth of Illusion by Jumoke Verissimo will battle it out.

The ANA/Abubakar Gimba Prize for Short Stories has River People and Other Stories by Peter Ukwa; Midnight Cry by Paul Ugah and From Sin to Splendour by R. C. Ofodile as contestants.

The ANA / Ngozi Chuma Udeh Prize for Children’s Literature has The Quest for the Gem of Arubia by Augusta Mmakamba Okon; Sunny and the Arodan by Ozimede Sunny Ekhaalume and Water-Carrier Millionaire by Philip Begho as contestants.

For the ANA/Maria Ajima Prize for Literary Criticism, the “The Film Script, Nollywood and Cultural Diplomacy: Criticism of Artist’s Knowledge of the Film Story.” by Nwagbo Pat Obi, will be for honorable mention only.

To make the final decision are the panel of judges — Professor Nelson Fashina of the University of Ibadan, Mallam Salihu Mohammed Bappa of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Ismaila Bala Garba of the Bayero University, Kano, Dr Owojecho Omoha of the University of Abuja and Mrs Joan Oji of the Educational Resource Centre, Abuja.

Winners of the various prizes will be announced at the awards dinner of the 35th Anniversary International Convention of the association coming on Saturday, October 29, 2016 in Abuja.