Amanze Chinonye
Organisers of the Nigeria Prize for Literature have unveiled the 11-book longlist for the 2026 edition of the prestigious $100,000 award, with poetry as the featured genre for this year’s competition.
The longlist was announced ahead of the 18th CORA–Nigeria Prize for Literature Book Party, scheduled for August 2 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event will provide readers, critics and literary enthusiasts an opportunity to engage with the longlisted authors and their works through readings, conversations and performances.
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According to the organisers, 223 poetry collections were submitted for consideration, from which 11 titles were selected for the longlist.
The longlisted works, arranged alphabetically, are Adult Love: In the Childhood Garden by Tanure Ojaide; Bakandamiya: An Elegy by Saddiq Dzukogi; Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje; 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase; Ceremony for the Nameless by Theresa Lola; Corpus by Ayo Oyeku; Flora’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu; The Origin of Wounds by Rasaq Malik Gbolahan; The Years of Blood by Adedayo Agarau; Unbind Me Now by James Ngwu Eze; and Why Does God Need a Gun? by Ogaga Ifowodo.
The selected collections explore a wide range of themes, including migration, identity, memory, colonialism, spirituality, race, nationhood, war, environmental concerns, grief and the search for belonging. Collectively, they reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
Several of the longlisted writers are among the most accomplished voices in Nigerian and African literature. Ojaide is a multiple award-winning poet whose work has earned international recognition, while Dzukogi’s acclaimed collection Your Crib, My Qibla won both the Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry and the Julie Suk Award.
Theresa Lola, winner of the 2025 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry, joins the list alongside Ajibola Tolase, whose debut collection 2000 Blacks won the 2024 Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Rasaq Malik Gbolahan’s The Origin of Wounds secured the 2024 Anhinga Prize for Poetry, while Tares Oburumu is the recipient of the 2022 Sillerman Prize for African Poetry.
Other longlisted authors include Ayo Oyeku, whose Corpus marks his debut poetry collection; Paul Akpomuje, whose work focuses on migration and identity; Adedayo Agarau, whose The Years of Blood won the Poetic Justice Institute Editors Prize; James Ngwu Eze, an award-winning poet and cultural organiser; and veteran poet, lawyer and activist Ogaga Ifowodo, a multiple recipient of the Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize.
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The annual Book Party, organised by the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), serves as a public platform for readers to engage with works considered among the strongest submissions in each edition of the prize. The event will also be streamed live on digital platforms.
Established in 2004 and sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, the Nigeria Prize for Literature is widely regarded as Africa’s richest literary prize. Originally valued at $20,000, the award was subsequently increased to $50,000 and now carries a prize purse of $100,000. The prize rotates annually among four genres: poetry, prose fiction, drama and children’s literature.
The release of the longlist marks the first stage of the selection process, with a shortlist expected before the eventual announcement of the 2026 winner later in the year.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
