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