The Awele Creative Trust Award, a literary prize given to distinguished and talented creatives has announced Chinaza James-Ibe as the winner of the 2024 edition of the Award. Her amazing winning story titled “the fly and the corpse” has been described as “unsettling as it is compelling.”
“The Fly and the Corpse” is a haunting exploration of grief, denial, the supernatural and the danger of holding on too tightly to what has been lost. It is a testament to the power of storytelling. The story starts with a daughter who gives birth to her father and slowly morphs into something even more disquieting. In an age where we’re taught that anything is attainable, this story is a reminder that some lines ought not to be crossed.
An annual contest for writers between the ages of 16-26. The Awele Creative Trust Act Award was founded in 2013. The Awele Creative Trust has supported several Nigerian creatives in literature and arts by giving them a chance to showcase their works and earn literary recognition. The final winner of this year’s edition will win 100,000 naira and in cases where a translator is involved, a certain amount of money will be awarded.
A Nigerian writer and a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsuka, Chinaza James-Ibe is currently studying English and Literary studies. Her writing has often be said to “defy her” and the power to create and destroy often leaves her with a drunken feeling. Chinaza’s works have been published in several literary journals including the Isele Magazine and the Brittle Paper. Her works can also be found on Agbowo, the Kalahari Review and the Fiery scribe.
The winning story truly impressed the judges with its ambitious and original concept, its exceptional prose and vivid imagery. The story left a lasting impression and demonstrated remarkable promise.
Congratulations, Chinaza James-Ibe!
Oreoluwa Odusote
Writer, poet, and dreamer.
