The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has announced the shortlisted writers and works for its 2026 literary competitions, with contenders emerging across eight categories, including poetry, fiction, drama, literary criticism, non-fiction, children’s fiction, young adult literature, and the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature.
The announcement comes ahead of the association’s 45th International Convention, where the winners of the various prizes are expected to be recognised.
For the ANA/KMVL Prize for Poetry, the shortlist features Abraham Aondoana for Songs for a Burning Continent, Ebi Yeibo for Cantos of a Capsized Canoe, and Jide Salawu for Contraband Bodies.
The ANA/King Dakolo Prize for Fiction includes Yejide Kilanko’s In Our Own Ways, Onyikan Braithwaite’s Cursed Daughters, and Onyeka Nwelue’s Murder in Orania.
In the ANA Prize for Drama, Uzo Nwamara’s Eye of the Emperor, Selome Medemaku’s The Throne of Silence, and Bolaji Olatunde’s Life Less Abundant made the final shortlist.
The ANA/Amina Talaku Zakama Prize for Literary Criticism will be contested by Onyebuchi Nwosu for “Poetic Kaleidoscope: Portrayal of Judicial Corruption in Niyi Osundare’s ‘My Lord, Tell Me Where to Keep Your Bribe,’” Barthlomew Chizoba Akpah for “Negotiating Nigeria’s Cohesion and the Rhetoric of Herdsmen Attack in Ahmed Yerima’s Hendu,” and Ekikerebong Aniekan Usoro for “Postcolonialism in Transition: From Counter Discourse to Non-Counter Discourse in Joe Ushie’s Yawns and Belches.”
The ANA/Sir Chukwuemeka Sam Nwelue Prize for Non-Fiction has two shortlisted entries: Al-Bishak’s Humility Sparks Progress and Chude Jideonwo’s How Depression Saved My Life.
For Children’s Fiction, the ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Prize shortlist comprises Amaechi Odimeze’s Avarice, Foluke Sijuwola Falayi’s Beans for Supper, and Amaka Confidence Obinwogu’s Friends till Friday.
The HRM Eze M. O. Kanu/ANA Prize for Young Adult Literature features Erhu Kome’s The Smoke that Thunders, Peter Adah’s A Twist of Fate, and Bolaji Tijani’s Adamu in Trouble.
Rounding out the 2026 shortlist is the Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature, with Dexter Loko’s The Bako of Zereshe, Henry Akubuiro’s No Place Like Home, and Oyekitiachi Uzozie Nmezi’s Chikoba in contention.
The Chinua Achebe Prize, established in 2021, recognises excellence and outstanding achievement in Nigerian fiction. Previous winners include Obinna Ndenwe, Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, Nikė Campbell, Ifeoma Chinwuba and Ndidi Chiazor Enenmor. (The Guardian Nigeria)
This year’s prize includes a ₦1 million cash award, a plaque, and a certificate. United Nigeria Airlines has also committed ₦10 million towards the prize money and administrative costs for the 2026–2030 period. (Association of Nigerian Authors)
The 2026 ANA shortlists highlight the breadth of contemporary Nigerian writing, bringing together established and emerging voices across different literary forms and audiences.
The winners are expected to be announced during the awards ceremony at ANA’s 45th International Convention, scheduled to be held from October 29 to November 1, 2026.
