Eleven poetry collections have been selected from 223 entries for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature, setting the stage for a fierce contest for the $100,000 award.
The announcement was made in a statement by Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, and formally unveiled by the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who described the milestone as a reflection of the depth and quality of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
The longlisted works are:
- Adult Love — Tanure Ojaide
- Bakandimiya — Saddiq Dzukogi
- Black Passport — Paul Akpomuje
- 2000 Blacks — Ajibola Tolase
- Ceremony for The Nameless — Theresa Lola
- Corpus: Animistic Verses — Ayo Oyeku
- Floral’s Love Colony — Tares Oburumu
- The Origin of Wounds — Malik Gbolahan
- The Years of Blood — Adebayo Agarau
- Unbind Me Now — James Ugwu Eze
- Why Does God Need a Gun — Ogaga Ifowodo
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo noted that the selected works showcase poetry’s power to reflect human experience, preserve cultural memory, and interrogate historical narratives. She added that many of the collections explore themes of resilience, identity, violence, and social fragmentation.
According to her, the entries stand out for their artistic depth, blending lyrical intensity with symbolism, folklore, and contemporary realities. She emphasized that the next phase will involve deeper evaluation of originality, language, structure, and long-term literary value.
The announcement signals the beginning of the next stage of the competition, with a shortlist of three expected in August, while the overall winner will be revealed in October.
Sponsored by NLNG, the Nigeria Prize for Literature now in its 22nd year remains one of Africa’s most prestigious literary honours. The award rotates across four genres annually, with the 2026 edition dedicated to poetry.
Source: The Guardian NG
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