Monday 16 March 2015

South African Songeziwe Mahlangu Emerges Winner of the 2014 Etisalat Prize for Literature

A literary award is usually presented to someone who has demonstrated skills in the mastery of book writing. The award honors writers who present their self-published or books published by a subsidy publisher or independent book publisher.

The Etisalat Prize for literature is Africa's foremost literary award competition that showcases the best of Africa's aspiring and upcoming writers. 

The overall winner of the 2014 Etisalat Prize for literature was announced yesterday, March 15th, 2015 in Lagos at a remarkable evening of wining and dining with lovers of literature from across Africa and beyond.

The evening began with a lovely meet-and-greet cocktail session followed by the announcement of the winner for the flash fiction category of the awards. Neema Komba took home the prize in this category which came with a cash bonus of  £1,000.

Graciously dramatized enactments of the shortlisted novels got the crowd excited and roaring in admiration.

South African writer Songeziwe Mahlangu emerged winner and £15,000 richer for his novel, Pen Umbra – beating Nigerian Chinelo Okparanta, author of Happiness, Like Water and South African Nadia Davids, author of An Imperfect Blessing.

The evening ended with an energetic performance by Grammy award winning singer and songwriter, Angelique Kidjo who went through a play-list of some of her fan favorites.

Watch our short interview with Songeziwe Mahlangu and enjoy images from the evening.




Guest


Dare Art-Alade and Kunle Afolayan

Jennifer Ukoh and Nike Oshinowo

Etisalat CEO, Mattew Willsher and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka




Nominees 


Nominees in the Flash Fiction Category and Etisalat CEO, Mattew Willsher (middle)


Nominees in the Etisalat Prize for Literature category and Etisalat CEO, Mattew Willsher (1st left)


Nominees in Etisalat Prize for Literature category and Literary blogger/PR specialist, Marian Balogun aka Mya (middle)




Enactments

Actors enacting Chinelo Okparanta's Happiness, like water


Actress enacting Nadia Davids An Imperfect Blessing


Actor enacting Songeziwe Mahlangu's Pen Umbra


Winners
Flash Fiction Winner, Neema Komba receiving her award and cheque


Etisalat Prize for Literature Winner,  Songeziwe Mahlangu receiving his award and cheque



Performances
Performance by Etisalat prize for literature Patron, Kole Omotoso 

Performance by Zibili Evelyn (Evelle)


Performance by Angelique Kidjo

7 comments:

  1. Durojaiye Titilayomi17 March 2015 at 11:01

    Welldone!!!! Girlie........

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  2. Durojaiye Titilayomi17 March 2015 at 11:03

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. Its refreshing to see young and talented African writers rewarded for their creativity. Etisalat weldone!

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  4. This is a really nice piece, Thumps Up Etisalat for discovering talents all over Africa...

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  5. 'Just love those titles - make me want to pick up a book and read now!!!

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