By Henry Akubuiro
Quramo Writers’ Prize (QWP), a one-of-a-kind competition for unpublished African writers, designed to stimulate a new breed of African writers around the world, has announced its longlist for the 2023 edition. The prize is sponsored by Quramo, which also organises the highly innovative Quramo Festival (Qfest) every year.
Announcing the longlist of 20 young writers at Quramo office in Victoria Island in Lagos was Mrs. Gbemi Shasore. The manuscripts were handed over to the 3-man jury made up of novelist and publisher, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen (jury head), writer and literary critic, Mrs. Lechi Eke, and journalist and writer, Mr. Anote Ajeluorou. The shortlist of five manuscripts and their writers will be released in September.
The winning work chosen from among the five shortlisted manuscripts will be announced at Qfest 2023, scheduled to hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, in a week-long feast of words from October 4 through 8, 2023.
The five authors will also be on a panel to discuss their works at Qfest 2023, so festival audience have insight into their works in the build up to the prize award during Qfest 2023. The theme for Qfest 2023 is ‘Connecting The Dots’. Quramo Writers’ Prize is worth N1m given to the winner plus a publishing contract.
The writers whose manuscripts make up the longlist include Husna Yussif, Obinna Paul Ezeodili, Oluwasegun Odetola, Chidi Nwakpa, Emmanuel Chukwunweike Monyei, Zainab U. Imam, Bisola Faith Akintomide, Mujahid Ameen Lilo, Chiziterem Chijioke, David Vera Sorochi, Grace Aggrey-Fynn and Ishaokanyie Otogbo. Others are Sandra Uche Delumozie, Adejuwon Akande, Truth Bakare, Uduak Alphonsus Ikono, Chike Ibekwe, Darius Kwabena Partey, Chikezie Onwumere, and Chimezie Agumbah.
Dr. Eghosa Imasuen is a Nigerian writer and Executive Director, Business Development at Narrative Landscape Press Ltd. He worked for several years as a medical doctor before writing his first novel, To Saint Patrick, published by Farafina, an imprint of Kachifo in 2008. He is also the author of Fine Boy and worked as Chief Operations Officer at Kachifo Limited from 2013 – 2016. He is known for his powerful storytelling and deep insight into African culture.
Quramo Writers’ Prize was opened in April 2017 for the first time for African writers all over the world to submit short stories of 3000 to 5000 words. In October 2017, the inaugural winner, Samuel Monye, was unveiled with his short story, “Give Us This Day”, which was then developed into a standard-length novella and released as Give Us Each Day at QWP 2018. The novella was later longlisted for The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2021.
Open worldwide to unpublished Africans of any age, gender and nationality, the inaugural edition (QWP 2017) featured two award categories and a prize of ₦1m for each: The Quramo Writers’ Prize for YA and adult fiction. The two recipients of the latter are Arshiya, for The Forgotten, and Esohe Isabella Cole for her essay on the topic “The World in 2030”.
Submissions are for a manuscript of a minimum of 30,000 for adults aged 16 and up. The prize accepts entries in the English language and entry is free.