Trust reporter, columnist shortlisted for Caine Prize

The other three Nigerians also shortlisted are  Elnathan John, a for his story titled Bayan Layi’; Tope Folarin for his short story ‘Miracle,’ and Chinelo Okparanta for her story titled ‘America’. The non Nigerian is Sierra Leone’s Pede Hollist. The Chair of judges, art historian and broadcaster, Gus Casely-Hayford said “the shortlist was selected from […]

The other three Nigerians also shortlisted are  Elnathan John, a for his story titled Bayan Layi’; Tope Folarin for his short story ‘Miracle,’ and Chinelo Okparanta for her story titled ‘America’. The non Nigerian is Sierra Leone’s Pede Hollist.
The Chair of judges, art historian and broadcaster, Gus Casely-Hayford said “the shortlist was selected from 96 entries from 16 African countries. They are all outstanding African stories that were drawn from an extraordinary body of high quality submissions.”
Casely-Hayford said “the five contrasting titles interrogate aspects of things that we might feel we know of Africa – violence, religion, corruption, family and community – but these are subjects that are deconstructed and beautifully remade. These are challenging, arresting, provocative stories of a continent and its descendants captured at a time of burgeoning change.”
The winner of the £10,000 (about N2.3 million) prize is to be announced at a celebratory dinner at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, on Monday   July 8.
Responding to his short-listing, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim says he is full of joy and appreciation for his publisher.
“I am delighted and excited by this news. I am honoured to be on such a strong shortlist for such a huge prize. And the fact that there are three other Nigerians in the running for it makes this even more special. For me, the fact that my publishers, Parresia Publishers, had faith in my writing and gave me the platform, and for this effort to have reached this level, is a vindication of our faith in ourselves as Nigerians. There is hope for literature in this country,” he said.
Elnathan John said: “I am deeply humbled. I am quite pleased with all the Nigerians on the shortlist and especially Abubakar Adam Ibrahim with whom I just attended Caine Prize workshop. Everyone of the shortlist is a winner. I feel privileged to be counted among them.”