SEVHAGE Publishers and SEVHAGE Literary and Development Initiative have officially announced the shortlist for the SEVHAGE Literary Prizes 2024.
This year’s competition celebrated African creativity and attracted a significant number of submissions across three categories: the E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism, the Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Non-Fiction, and the K & L Prize for Fiction. Additionally, the poetry category is being conducted in collaboration with JAY Lit, the Pan-African Art Magazine, and the Vivian Ihaza Memorial Project, with winners for the teenage poetry competition to be revealed in 2025.
The selection process was both exhilarating and challenging due to the exceptional quality of submissions. The esteemed judging panel, led by Professors Hyginus Ekwuazi and Maria Ajima, conducted rigorous evaluations alongside a dedicated team of readers.
SEVHAGE President S Su’eddie Vershima Agema acknowledged the competitiveness of this year’s entries, emphasizing that the absence of certain works from the shortlist does not reflect their quality but rather the limited slots available. Agema extended his gratitude to all participants and judges for their dedication.
The shortlisted entries for each category are as follows:
E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism:
- An Appraisal of the Poetry of the Ìkòyí-ẹ̀ṣọ́ Lineage by Ademuyiwa Adewale
- A Transnational Critique of Leila Aboulela’s Short Story, ‘The Ostrich’ by Gogo Iorwuese
- Cabals, Umpires and Villains in Nigeria’s 21st Century Democracy. An Analysis of Goodluck Jonathan’s My Transition Hours by Ifeoma Onwugbufor
- In Defense of Leopartitude: A Case to Update an Indigenous African Literary Theory by Bizuum Yadok
- Muddling the Waters: Matriarchal Failure and Patriarchal Intervention in Chika Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter and Aiwanisen Odafen’s Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Petrina Atom
- Place, Women and the African-European Encounters in Warsan Shire’s Our Men Do Not Belong To Us by Deborah Uzoma
- Postcolonialism in Transition: A Zero Counter-Discursive Approach to Joseph Ushie’s Yawns And Belches by Ekikereobong Usoro
- The Contemporary African Short Story as A Social Commentary: A Study of Select Stories of Abubakar Adam Ibrahim by Uchenna Emelife
- The Manifestation of the Tripartite Psyche in Unoma Azuah’s Edible Bones: A Freudian Psychoanalytic Criticism by Terese Uwuave
- The Pen-Pusher and the Gun-Wielders: Portraiture of Nigerian Military in Idris Amali’s Poetry by Onyebuchi Nwosu
- Traumatic Experiences Among Northern Wives in Polygamous Marriages: A Critical Evaluation of Razinat T. Mohammed’s The Travails of a First Wife by Dooga Theophilus
- When Places Speak: Deciphering Nengak Daniel’s Postcards from Salamaville by Alexander Izang
Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Non-Fiction:
- Afụnwaelotanna by Chinonso Nzeh
- Compass Rose by Abasi-maenyin Esebre
- Crossing the Road by Olaposi Halim
- Five Things Mother Did Not Prepare Me For by Sumaiyah Muhammad Salisu
- Grave Visits and Other Worries by Sanusi A. Sanusi
- I Have Come to Understand That a Daughter’s Marriage is Also as Difficult as Giving Birth to Her by Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto
- Motherhood by Summaya Jaeh
- Rinsing Death by Nasiba Babale
- Riverside Resurgence by Juliet Ugbedeojo
- The Protest Lamb by Ojo Blessing
- To Ife, My Life in Songs by Chinaza James-Ibe
- We Bought an Album in June by Nana Sule
K & L Prize for Fiction:
- A Funky Business Called Parenthood by Olayinka Yaqub
- Alkaline by Queen Deraa
- Book of Confrontation by Hajaarh Muhammad Bashar
- Heavy by Justin Clement
- Neneh by Uchenna Ekweremadu
- Nurturing a Child by Chinaza Agomuo
- Quicksand by Ruby Excel
- Saving Adanna by Amira Abdul-Azeez
- The Thing with Feathers by Ekpenyong Kosisochukwu
- The Water Scar by Enit’ayanfe Ayosojumi Akinsanya
- This, too, will pass by Amanda Ilozumba Otitobunkechukwu
- Unexplainable Bygones by Raphael Adebayo
The winners in each category will be revealed on 31st December 2024 via SEVHAGE’s official website and social media platforms (@sevhage).
Congratulations to all shortlisted writers!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
