Nigerian Scholar Otiono Shortlisted For Poetry Prize In Canada

Nigerian Associate Professor at the Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, Nduka Otiono has been shortlisted for the Archibald Lampman Award for poetry.

Otiono who is currently the Director of the Institute of African Studies, at the university, had his new collection of poems, titled “DisPlace: The Poetry of Nduka Otiono,” shortlisted for the award.

The Archibald Lampman Award is an annual Canadian literary prize awarded to the year’s most outstanding collection of poetry by a writer living in the National Capital Region.

Prof. Otiono who announced his nomination through a post on his Facebook on Tuesday, expressed excitement over the literary achievement.

He said “I am excited to be shortlisted for the Archibald Lampman Award for poetry for my new collection of poems, DisPlace: The Poetry of Nduka Otiono.”

A report in the Arc Poetry Magazine published in the university, indicated that “the announcement of the Archibald Lampman Award winner will take place at the Ottawa Book Awards ceremony. The event will take place in person on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022, at Les Lye Studio at the Meridian Theatre, starting at 7 PM EST.”

Prior to the Otawa Book Award ceremony, the three shortlisted authors will on Monday, September 19, 2022, join together for an evening of readings from their shortlisted collections. The event which starts at 7PM EST, will be held at Spark Beer (702 Somerset Street W, Chinatown, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), the Arc Poetry Magazine reported.

Otiono congratulated other poets shortlisted for the award and thanked his family and associates for helping to ensure that the book was a success.

“Congratulations to the other shortlisted great poets, and thanks to my family, friends, associates–especially Chris Dunton and Peter Midgley–and my publisher, Wilfrid Laurier University Press.”

Commenting on the Otiono’s latest poetry collection, the Jury said, “Otiono’s edited collection of poetry reflects consummate diasporic writing, as at ease in Lagos as in Edmonton. Crafty and aware, these poems give us Otiono’s take on history, global petroleum, national politics, but also spend valuable time musing on tradition, literature, and love.

“Beyond the poems themselves—which churn with linguistic play, rhythmic force, and searing insight—this volume includes helpful commentary and a thoroughly illuminating interview between Otiono and Chris Dunton. Wonderful poetry from a poet who is already internationally important.”

Otiono is an author and co-editor of several books on creative writing and academic research. One of them is titled, Oral Literary Performance in Africa: Beyond Text (2021).

The Delta State born, was prior to his sojourn in academia, a journalist in Nigeria for more than a decade, and also the National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors between 2001 and 2005.

His research has appeared in top-rated journals while he has also won several awards and scholarships in creative writing early in his career, including the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship; and Black History Ottawa Community Builder Award.

Otiono is President of the Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS) and member of the board of directors of the Canadian Authors Association.

He was appointed as the Director of the Institute of African Studies at the Carleton University in July this year.