2007 ANA LITERARY PRIZES SHORTLIST

ANA Convention begins in Owerri today. Here's a statement sent to me by my friend Denja, who is the secretary-general of ANA:

The panel of judges for the Association of Nigerian Authors' (ANA) Annual Literary Prizes met in Abuja from the 12th – 13th October, 2007 to bring out a shortlist for the 2007 edition after critically sifting through over 200 entries for the various categories of the prizes. The following creative works and writers in alphabetical order emerged as front liners in each category. The eventual winners will be announced at the awards dinner of the 26th International Convention taking place in Owerri from 1st – 4th November, 2007.

ANA/ATIKU ABUBAKAR PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
1. Nadia and other Stories – Hadiza Suleman
2. Tales by the Fluorescent – Lizi Ashimole

ANA/FUNTIME PRIZE FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
1. Olekanma and the Famine – Lizi Ashimole
2. Between Rats and Men – Ngozi Ifeyinwa Razak-Soyebi
3. A Grain of Mustard – Spencer Okoroafor

ANA/NDDC FLORA NWAPA PRIZE FOR WOMEN WRITING
1. Three Women – Bunmi Oyinsan
2. Waiting for Maria – Ifeoma Chinwuba
3. Yellow–Yellow – Kaine Agary
4. Echoes of a Heartbeat – Lilian Amah

ANA/JACARANDA PRIZE FOR PROSE
1. Nine Lives – El–Nukoya
2. Dreamers – Femi Ojo–Ade
3. Vision Impossible – Isidore Emeka Uzoatu

ANA/LANTERN PRIZE FOR CHILDREN FICTION
1. Adventures of Bingo and Bomboy – Henry Akubuiro
2. The Chief of the Drums – Osarobu Igudia
3. Chike and the Pigeon and Other Stories - Uche Peter Umez

ANA/CHEVRON PROSE PRIZE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
1. Yellow–Yellow – Kaine Agary
2. My Grandfather – Richard Ovuorho
3. The Activist – Tanure Ojaide

ANA/NDDC KEN SARO-WIWA PRIZE FOR PROSE
1. Tata Morgana – Chika Unigwe
2. The Keeper of Secrets – Ifeanyi Ajaegbo
3. Unbridled – Jude Dibia

ANA/NDDC GABRIEL OKARA PRIZE FOR POETRY
1. Letter from the Earth – Albert Otto
2. Love Apart – Hyginus Ekwuazi
3. The Horsemen and other Poems – Obi Nwakanma

ANA/NDDC J.P. CLARK PRIZE FOR DRAMA
1. Idemili – Ahmed Yerima
2. Closed Doors – Julie Okoh
3. Futonje: Our Love – Ziky O. Kofoworola

ANA/CADBURY PRIZE FOR POETRY
1. Love Apart – Hyginus Ekwuazi
2. Tender Moments (Love Poems) – Niyi Osundare
3. The Horsemen and other Poems – Obi Nwakanma

JUDGES:
Prof. Chidi T. Maduka - University of Portharcourt
Dr Muazu Maiwada - ABU, Zaria
Dr. Sunday E. Ododo - University of Ilorin
Prof. (Mrs.) Abiola Odejide - University of Ibadan
Dr. (Mrs.) Vicky Sylvester - University of Abuja

ANA/MAZARIYYA TEEN AUTHOR PRIZE (POETRY)
NO AWARD!

ANA/NECO TEEN AUTHOR PRIZE (PROSE)
1. The Mind of a Child - Stella Obi
2. A Rope with Three Chords is Difficult to Break - Towunmi Coker
3. Grandpa’s Tales – (No Cover Page, No Name)

JUDGES:
Omowunmi Segun – Ibadan
E.E. Sule – Nassarawa State University
Dr. Martins Akpan – Uyo

ANA/SENATOR KEN NNAMANI PRIZE FOR IGBO LITERATURE (In Honour of Nnamdi Azikwe)
1. Odogwu Be Anyi - Perpetua Nnenna Ihebori
2. Onukwughaa - Wingate Emmanuel Onyechi

JUDGE:
Mrs Carolyn Mbata – Alvan Ikoku COE, Owerri

ANA ANYIAM-OSIGWE LITERARY JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARD
Twelve (12) entries were received and are currently receiving attention with the judges. A shortlist would be out before the convention.

DENJA ABDULLAHI
General Secretary, ANA
13th October, 2007