Omotoso, Bulawayo on Longlist of nine for Etisalat Literature Prize

Described as the first pan-Afrian prize, the Etisalat Prize for Literature has released its Longlist.

Launched in June 2013 with the aim of becoming "one of the most prestigious literature prizes for African fiction, it is open solely to debut fiction writers of African citizenship."

The Long list:
Bomboy  – Yewande Omotoso (Modjaji Publishers)
Daughters Who Walk This Path  – Yejide Kilanko (Penguin Books Canada)
Finding Soutbek – Karen Jennings (Holland Park Press)
Sarah House – Ifeanyi Ajaegbo  (Bookcraft Ltd)
The Great Agony And Pure Laughter Of The Gods – Jamala Safari (Random House Struik)
The Spider King’s Daughter – Chibundu Onuzo (Faber & Faber)
The Spiral House – Claire Robertson (Random House Struik)
The Whispering Trees – Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (Parresia Publishers)
We Need New Names - NoViolet Bulawayo (Little, Brown and Company)


The judges include Prof Pumla Dineo Gqola,  at the University of Witwaterstrand as chair; Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Managing Editor of Kwani Trust Billy Kahora.

According to Etisalat, a short list of three novels comes at a retreat in Morocco next month, to be followed by purchase of 1,000 copies of their books by Etisalat. In addition, the three writers go on a multi-city sponsored tour, also in January.

The overall winner will be announced at the Etisalat Prize for Literature Award Ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, February 23, 2014.