By Jumoke Verissimo
I’M writing this because once people hear things like “awards” or “prizes,” they often start to dissect them like a local government budget, sometimes overlooking what it truly means to be a writer, and the long journey of seeking recognition. And, of course, some people are luckier in this journey than others, and that is fine. We don’t have the same head shape!
So, regarding The Nigeria Prize for Literature, sponsored by NLNG, which is one of the few major literary prizes in Nigeria that has consistently shown up, and not packed up (see bars. hehehe), it is perhaps understandable that the excitement sometimes gets the better of us annually. Some of us even lose our home training, annually too; abusing, manipulating, confusing whoever needs to be abused to be seen.
I mean a USD$100,000! A prize that creates opportunities for writers to be read widely, to expand and focus their skills can make you misbehave, so I may not understand the lack of home training, but I do understand the excitement around the money. The point is, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is a competition, and even while all those on the longlist want to be acknowledged as a winner, there can only be one winner. And it is a brutal truth.
As a writer, I must tell you, writing is work. Serious work o, and since we usually don’t win “contracts” or earn “annual bonuses” like corporate employees, prizes are not simply validations, but a form of “certificate” we even show some of our readers to say, “Trust me, I’ve put in the effort.” Let me even tell you one thing: there are prize winners who have sold just 200 copies of their books. So, you see how that USD$100,000 is clearly a lifeline for many: Prizes are valuable, but the biggest value is: BUY A BOOK TODAY. BUY OUR BOOKS O!
So, I want to just share some definitions for those who may be confused with what feels like a genuine call for change, but also a rousing of emotion that does little for the prize. So, to move away from the annual bandwagon fallacy around The Nigeria Prize for Literature, I wanted to share a few insights that address writers and The Nigeria Prize for Literature. That is not to say that the prize does not deserve criticism, but it should be guided by the structures that exist, or the lack thereof. As we know, “where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.”
First, regarding the annual debate around writers resident in Nigeria vs. those outside Nigeria, I wanted to state a few things:
Firstly, I have seen the claim that those published abroad are submitting republished books. Here is a quick definition.
A book that is described as “republished or reprinted means it is a book that has been re-released by the same publisher (a reprint) or by a different publisher (a republication), often after a period of being out of print, or to introduce a new version. A few reasons why a book is republished could be to issue a new edition, or due to a resurgence of demand, as we saw with 1984 during COVID palava.
Secondly, there is also the “International Editions” or “Foreign Rights Editions,” and these are books published in different countries. This means that the book is available in different versions or releases across various countries. This broadly covers the nuances of separate publishing deals for different regions.
So, Yewande Omotoso, Chika Unigwe, Uwem Akpan, Chigozie Obioma and others based abroad might have North American/UK publishers but also have Nigerian publishers who hold exclusive rights for their designated region. In the case of Narrative Press, they also extend their rights to East Africa. So, the books submitted for The Nigeria Prize for Literature are books that the Nigerian publishers have foreign rights for. We have writers who are on the longlist, like Ayo Oyeku, who have books published in the US, and this means that his publisher can also nominate him for some prizes in the US.
Thirdly, living abroad does not instantly mean you will get published abroad. Publishing is a process that involves rejections and acceptances. In fact, it is not a child’s play. It is brutal, brutal, brutal. My sister and brother, country hard everywhere, and for writers, it isn’t a joke. Ask writers who have sent over 300 query letters to publishers and literary agents this year alone.
Getting published is the biggest validation, and our gratitude after we get published is to enter for prizes so that we can acknowledge the trust the publisher placed in us. If the book is on the longlist, it gets attention. If it is on the shortlist, more attention. If it wins the prize, everyone is a winner. Publishing anywhere in the world is not “beans”. Please, don’t undermine the efforts these writers put into their work to get published, particularly those who use traditional publishers. I can’t lie to you, brethren, the submission process is even more ruthless than entering for a prize. We thank the publishers who publish us.
Also, prizes are wonderful. But you see, the best thing you can do for us, writers, is to buy our books. Considering the conditions surrounding publishing a book, please just buy our book, so we won’t stay awake all night thinking of what to do with USD$100,000 (10K to Baba Sidi, provide electricity to Lagos and Ogun States now that they won’t have light for 20 days….)
The point is, if you buy our books, we won’t even sit on the hot seat of the Book Party and endless interviews, acting like our life depends on the money. Make our books bestsellers. I should remind you that entering for a prize is like trying to win a lottery. Sure bet doesn’t mean it is sure o! The prize is not even like a salary, because it won’t even handle the “layered problems” that exist. Prizes are important, but what is more “importanter” – as we joke in Naija – is that you buy our books. Kai! YOU WILL CHANGE OUR LIVES. BUY THOSE BOOKS ON THE LONGLIST!
Fifth, and yes, what exactly is The Nigeria Prize for Literature? (As someone who worked in Marketing/PR in another life, I believe the prize could benefit from re-establishing its focus through clearer media communications that capture its true essence.) At its core, The Nigeria Prize for Literature is simply that: a prize, and nothing more.
What it aims to do is to award writers and provide them with an enormous financial incentive to focus on their craft for an extended time. It also seeks to establish recognition as a national prize, showcasing Nigerian literary talent to the rest of the world. It is very important to understand that it is not an instituted Arts Council. An Arts Council is an organisation specifically designed to provide grants to artists, including writers and publishers, funding the completion or exhibition of works, and supporting broader artistic development.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature was not created to fund travel grants or solely for the completion of literary projects in the way an Arts Council does. While it is a prize, with room for potential improvements, it definitely holds the capacity to lay a strong foundation for the expansion of the broader arts community in Nigeria, and this role could be more clearly communicated.
The sixth key point here is that it is not an instituted Arts Council. The Nigerian government needs to be questioned. I am talking not only of the Federal Government; ask your local government chairman, your state (governor), what are they doing for the arts? What money is allocated to the arts? When was the last time, if any time, a local government or even a state government sponsored a writer’s project in Nigeria?
An Arts Council is an organisation that provides grants to artists, and this includes writers, publishers, and visual artists, publishers, and helps them with funding to complete their work, exhibit their works around the country or outside the shores of their country. It is not created to fund travel grants or solely for the completion of literary prizes. The death of independent publishers in Nigeria, and I have stories o, (but that is not for today) is because they are doing it all on their own! The government is killing the industry!
I have experienced the Nigeria Prize for Literature process, and when you do not win, it hurts. And that is normal. But man no die, man no rotten. It is why writers write again and again and keep writing, and enter his/her work for any prize, a hundred times. Don’t let envy damage your organs; there’s nothing wrong with being nominated or even winning a prize more than once.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that Nigeria isn’t the only country that awards literary prizes, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong if a Nigerian living abroad submits their work for a prize! Na abroad dem dey live o, dey no dey drag presidency with anyone in Aso Rock! I believe it is even troubling that we have never seen a naturalised Nigerian on the longlist. What does that say? Here, folks are fighting about non-resident Nigerians submitting for a prize. Who hurt us?
What kind of message are we sending? That folks back home are doing less or aren’t doing enough? How dare anyone say that? I know the Nigerian government is showing everyone shege, but let’s not forget: we have writers writing deep, long, and sweet letters to the world. So, please, please, let’s not turn the prize into a “sharing a bag of rice” election mentality. This is not one of those situations where ‘e go reach everybody.’ In fact, ‘e no go even reach.’ So, rejoice with those who rejoice…
Congratulations to everyone on the list! And I wish you success beyond The Nigeria Prize for Literature!
