Some months after the winner of last year’s edition was recognised at a colourful ceremony in Lagos, the race for the 2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature is on

From left, Dele Olojede; CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher and Chair of Judges, Helon Habila

THE race for the 2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature got underway on Wednesday, June 1 with a call for entries and announcement of the judging panel of the Pan African contest for debutant writers of fiction.

Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher; patrons of the prize, Professor Kole Omotoso and Dele Olojede; chair of the judges, Helon Habila, and Manager, High Value Sponsorship and Events, Etisalat Nigeria, Opeyemi Lawal, were all present at a news briefing held at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos where the call for entries was made.

Speaking at the occasion, Willsher described the prize now in its fourth year “as the leading prize in the continent that identifies and recognises some of the amazing talents we have here.” He added that it’s a “critical prize not just for recognising literature but talents coming through in the literary world.”

Willsher, who further noted that the prize is important to support the author and the publishing industry as a whole, appealed to writers and publishers to “submit great new works.”

He added that only books by debutant writers published not later than 24 months before submission, will qualify for entry. “They must also be by registered publishing houses not less than six years as incorporated publishers with registered ISBN Number or the equivalent, and who must have published a minimum of six authors. All entries should be accompanied by seven copies of the book entered along with an acceptance of our publicity terms. A publisher may submit a maximum of three books. The rules and guidelines for entry are available at prize.etisalat.com.ng,” he said.

The CEO, who reiterated that Etisalat believes in innovation and creativity, said the company’s commitment to the prize is long term and deeper than just sponsorship. Etisalat, he said, is also keen about improving publishing in Africa and would continue to do its best to promote it by purchasing a thousand copies of the winning entry for distribution to schools and libraries across Africa.

He thereafter announced the judges of this year’s prize to be Nigerian writer and academic, Helon Habila; South Africa’s Elinor Sisulu and Ivorian writer Edwige-Renée Dro.

Professor Omotoso hailed the prize as one that “supports the institutional elements of the book industry; publishers, editors and book sellers.” The author of ‘Just Before Dawn’ also reacted to grievances from some quarters that no Nigerian writer has won the prize this way: “if Nigerian writers want to be winners, Nigeria’s publishing industry must revive itself. We must talk about the change the publishing industry needs in Nigeria.”

Pulitzer Prize winner, Olojede aligned himself with Prof. Omotoso. He noted that Nigeria has insufficient infrastructure for her pool of talents and highlighted the critical roles editors supplied by publishing firms play in the lives of writers. “A writer needs that supportive infrastructure absent in Nigerian publishing houses,” he said adding that he is “pleased to have seen the prize grown to an institution.”

Writer, poet and Associate Professor of Creative Writing at George Mason University, USA, who is also, chair of the judges, Habila, expressed happiness with the task that he and his colleagues have been assigned. The author of ‘Waiting for an Angel’, ‘Measuring Time’ and ‘Oil on Water’ said he doesn’t see the task as a challenge but as an “opportunity to do something great.” He expressed hope that there would be more entries this year and described the prize as a great opportunity for writers to tell Africa stories, especially as African literature is sometimes underappreciated.

Sisulu, who spoke vide video from South Africa, also hailed the Prize, comparing it with the prestigious Noma Prize. “The Etisalat Prize is a very exciting development; its structure is brilliant and innovative. Here is a message to first time authors: ensure your publisher enters your book,” said the judge of numerous literary prizes including the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and Golden Baobab Award.

Instituted in 2013, Etisalat Prize for Literature prize which also incorporates an award for flash fiction; an online-based competition for non-published African writers, is celebrates debut African writers of published fiction. The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000, a fellowship at the University of East Anglia, UK under the mentorship of Professor Giles Foden, the award-winning author of ‘The Last King of England’ while 1,000 copies of the winning entry are also purchased for distribution to schools and libraries across Africa.