Report on the shortlist of three by professor emeritus Ayo Banjo, chairman of the advisory board of the Nigeria prize for literature
Protocols.
The journey of the 2019 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature started in March 2019 when the Call for Entries in the category of Children’s Literature, the genre in focus, was published.
A panel of distinguished and accomplished literary critics was appointed for the job of adjudicating the entries in search for the best book worthy of the prize, worth $100, 000. In August this year, the Advisory Board approved, based on the recommendations of the judges, 11 books for the first shortlist. The entries were made public in the build-up to this day when we announce the shortlist of three.
The panel of judges yesterday decided on three books as finalists for the prize. One of the books, based on the verdict of the judges, and the advice of our international consultant, Professor Kelvin Nyong Toh, a professor of English at University of Bamenda, Cameroun, will become the winning entry for the 2019 edition of the prize in October. The shortlisted entries, in alphabetical order, are:
Boom Boom by Jude Idada
Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge by Dunni Olatunde
The Great Walls of Benin by O.T. Begho
According to the judges, the book, Boom Boom, is narrated through the eyes of an innocent child as he struggles with the bond of relationships, love, affection, friendship, loyalty and trust in times of crisis. The book gives Sickle Cell Anaemia immense clarity in an absorbing and engulfing narrative. The main proposition of the novel is that nature inflicts pain, but has also made provision for its succour and cure. This solution is however hidden in a complex web of natural and social circumstances that human beings must unravel. The novel is an experiment in pursuit of this objective.
In Mystery at Ebenezer Lodge, the judges see links or intertextual relations between the work and that of The Famous Five, a popular children’s thriller and adventure series by the renowned English author, Enid Blyton. However, the book cleverly domesticates the plot and temperament of Blyton’s series, taking existing and dominant stories out of their familiar western terrains, resetting and localising them. The book is suitable for children as the actions can easily be adapted by children to suit any situation. The storyline can help children to create a sense of right or wrong.
The Great Walls of Benin, promotes indigenous knowledge by focusing children’s attention on myths of origin. The book upholds the role of oral literature as an effective tool for disseminating knowledge to children. Using origin myth as tool, the author creates an imagery setting which carries one into a world of fantasy that can be understood and appreciated by children. It, among other things, preaches unity, trust, togetherness and understanding.
The judges describe these books as highly didactic, yet coated in an absorbing and engaging narrative. The style of writing exhibited in these books is suitable for children and gives clarity to the vicissitudes of life, spurs healthy curiosity, builds problem solving skills as well as promotes the role of oral literature as an effective tool for disseminating knowledge to children.
The winning entry will be announced at an award ceremony on the 11th of October, 2019.
Thank you.
