Kopano Matlwa holds head high

By Aderinsola Ajao


The third edition of the biennial Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa took place on Friday, April 30 at The Civic Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Of over 300 entries, a panel of judges selected from across the continent had the task of pruning the list down to a longlist if 11 and eventually to a shortlist of three. The final three up for the grand prize of $20,000 were South African writer Kopano Matlwa (Coconut), Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani (I Do Not Come To You By Chance) and Wale Okediran (Tenants of The House).

Before the winner was declared, The Crown Troupe of Africa led by Segun Adefila held the curious audience's attention with a series of performances.

The three finalists also received tokens from the organisers to make up for any one of them eventually losing out. Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, who was also at the event, had pointed out that hopefully, this year the winner will not be a Nigerian woman as had been the case with the two previous editions. Okediran was the single male and second Nigerian writer on this edition's shortlist and Soyinka had hoped he would not win.

At the end of the evening, one winner was declared plus one more. Possibly to break from Soyinka's observation, Matlwa of South Africa and Okediran, former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) were declared joint winners of the third Wole Soyinka Prize for literature.

This came as a surprise to many in the hall, who already thought there would be one clear winner.Previous winners include female Nigerian writers Sefi Atta (Everything Good Will Come) and Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (Zahrah the Windseeker).

Organised by The Lumina Foundation, the award was established in 2006 to "encourage people to read, to think and to write," said its chairperson, Francesca Emanuel. Since its inception, known and unknown writers from across the continent have vied for the top prize of $20,000. For the first edition, 87 entries were received from four African countries; by the next edition 126 works were submitted from 6 African countries. This year's edition received 330 entries from 11 participating countries.