Etisalat is helping to carry the African story-Wood

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Nigerian writer Molara Wood has been chosen to judge the 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature with two other Judges who are Africans.In a press briefing last week when Etisalat  announced the call for entries for the 2015 Etisalat Book Prize, the three judges for the first novel prize were also revealed, Ghanaian Writer and Professor of English  Ato Quayson is to chair the the Judge while Molara wood and Kenyan Writer Zukiswa Warner will work with him in choosing the longlist , shortlist and the winner of the 2015 prize

In its third year, the Prize is the first ever Pan African prize celebrating debuttng African writers of published fiction.

In a press briefing , Matthew Willsher, Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria said “The Etisalat Prize for Literature serves as a platform for the discovery of new creative writing talents out of the African continent.”  He also noted the passion for excellence which runs through the prize noting that the prize also want to empower Publishers, their business, that is why Etisalat took that bold step of buying 1,000 books from publishers whose novels got shortlisted.

Willsher highlighted that following the success of the second year which was concluded early this year, the literary community is eagerly awaiting the third year recalling how NoViolet Bulawayo won the maiden edition of the Etisalat Prize for Literature with her highly celebrated debut novel, We Need New Names, while Songeziwe Mahlangu emerged winner of the second year of the prize with his novel, Penumbra.

According to Willsher,   Etisalat prize is designed to foster writing in Africa, bring exciting new African writers to the attention of a wider audience, and promote the reading culture. The winner is to receive a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia under the mentorship of the award-winning author, Professor Giles Foden. The winner will also receive a sponsored three-city book tour while the two other shortlisted writers will receive a sponsored two-city book tour to promote their books.

Wood during the press briefing stated that Etisalat is helping to carry the African story in  its multiplicity hoping the prize becomes a standard to what is used to measure the African continent, she looks forward to the stories that will be submitted for the prize.

Warner was incredibly happy to be at the press brief , happy that Etisalat is celebrating Pan Africanism through literature hoping that our Universities in Africa will be revolutionary enough for the fellowship to be held on the African continent.

Nigerian writer ,Kole Omotoso  who sits on board as  one of the Patrons of the Prize during the Press briefing spoke about his experience in South Africa last month when the African Month was celebrated noting that only five countries notice and celebrate the African day.He praise the prize for building bridges across Africa through the prize

Director of Brands Etisalat Nigeria Enitan Deriloye said during the Press brief that the Prize stands for what Etisalat do in Music and Literature, nurturing people to achieve their goals.

The Etisalat  prize  accepts submitted works which must be a writer’s first work of fiction and  over 30,000 words, published within the last 24 months.  Etisalat also stated during the  launch that the online based flash fiction prize will be announce later in the year to engage the rising stars of fiction.