2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature opens for entries

Mobile telecommunication firm, Etisalat has called for entries for the 2016 edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Only books by debut writers published not later than twenty-four months will qualify for entry. The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 (N4.2 million) in addition to a fellowship at the University of East Anglia, UK, […]

Mobile telecommunication firm, Etisalat has called for entries for the 2016 edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature. Only books by debut writers published not later than twenty-four months will qualify for entry.
The winner receives a cash prize of £15,000 (N4.2 million) in addition to a fellowship at the University of East Anglia, UK, under the mentorship of Professor Giles Foden, award-winning author of ‘The Last King of Scotland.’
CEO of Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, said in Lagos that the prize is designed to serve as a leading platform for the discovery and encouraging of creative writing talents as well as the celebration of literary arts by African writers.
“We are delighted to champion the cause for celebrating the richness and strength of African literature,” he said. He added that the Etisalat Prize is about creativity, excellence, empowerment and reward, also, about celebrating African diversity in very innovative ways through various forms of art and literature.
Willsher said that entries “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.”
Willsher also announced the judging panel for the 2016 edition which includes Nigerian novelist and poet, Helon Habila as chair, South African writer and activist Elinor Aisulu and Ivorian writer, Eddwige Rene Dro.
The Etisalat Prize for Literature is a Pan-African prize that celebrates debut African writers of published fiction. The 2015 winner was Democratic Republic of Congo’s Fiston Mwanza Mujila, for ‘Tram 83’, translated by Roland Glasser.