SEVHAGE author Chukwudi Eze has made the Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature (worth $100,000) longlist with his novel, The Return of Half-Something. Published in 2018, the novel centres around New York-born Emmanuel, who is haunted by two issues that will shape his life: his biracial heritage and a family curse if he refuses to return to serve the people of their home kingdom of Umuati. Readers experience his journey from the moment he falls in love with Rebecca, a conservative Jewish heiress in Wall Street, with their seeming insurmountable battles to break free from religious, cultural and racial boundaries. Unperturbed, he takes on a major fight against environmental pollution arising from massive crude oil spills in their West African kingdom, leading to a thrilling adventure of love, betrayal and discovery. Told in the third person narrative, The Return of Half-Something is a beautiful story that is set in contemporary times, embracing timeless themes and written in the tradition of modern African literature.

The 10 other books on the Nigeria Prize for Literature longlist include: “Delusion of Patriots” by Obianuju V. Chukwuorji; “Give Us Each Day” by Samuel Monye; “Imminent River” by Anaele Ihuoma; “In The Name of Our Father” by Olukorede S. Yishau and “Mountain of Yesterday” by Tony Nwaka, “Neglected” by Lucy Chiamaka Okwuma; “The Colours of Hatred” by Obinna Udenwa; “The Girl with The Louding Voice” by Abi Dare; “The Son of The House” by Cheluchi Onyemelukwe-Onuobia; and “Your Church My Shrine” by Law Ikay Ezeh. A shortlist is expected to be announced in September 2021. The judges headed by scholar, Professor Toyin Jegede described the “list as fresh approaches to looking at issues, using new and exciting narrative strategies, techniques and well-written organic plots to present topical discussions in realistic ways.”

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Copies of The Return of Half-Something are available in bookshops nationwide or via request from SEVHAGE (contact us at sevhage@gmail.com for copies or more information).