The SEVHAGE Prizes 2024 have been a remarkable journey so far, with 857 entries received across three categories:

• K & L Prize for Fiction
• Eugenia Abu/SEVHAGE International Prize for Creative Non-Fiction
• E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism

The judging process has been rigorous, led by the renowned Professors Hyginus Ekwuazi, Maria Ajima, and an exceptional team of readers and judges. Most of the entries we received this year were truly outstanding, with some narrowly missing a place on the longlist. Thus, it is important to emphasise that the entries not reflected on the list are by no means lacking in quality but were edged out in a highly competitive selection process.

We are excited to unveil the longlist of 22 entries for each category, starting with E.E. Sule/African Literary Criticism.

Mark your calendars for the longlist announcements!

• 15th December 2024: African Literary Criticism
• 16th December 2024: Creative Non-Fiction
• 17th December 2024: Fiction

The shortlist for all categories will be announced on 27th December 2024, with the winners revealed on 31st December 2024.

Spotlight: E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism

The E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism honours critical discourse on African literature, celebrating innovative and thought-provoking essays. This prize pays tribute to Professor Sule Emmanuel Egya (E. E. Sule), a distinguished scholar, critic, and author, whose enduring contributions to African literary studies continue to inspire.

We are delighted to announce the 2024 longlist for African Literary Criticism, which showcases an incredible range of critical thought and intellectual engagement:

Longlist for the E. E. Sule/SEVHAGE Prize for African Literary Criticism 2024
(Alphabetical by title)

1. Afraid of Fire, I Say Yes to Drowning: Terror and Transcendence in Contemporary Nigerian Poetry by Ogochukwu Ukwueze
2. An Appraisal of the Poetry of the Ìkòyí-ẹ̀ṣọ́ Lineage by Ademuyiwa Adewale
3. A Transnational Critique of Leila Aboulela’s Short Story, ‘The Ostrich’ by Gogo Iorwuese
4. Cabals, Umpires and Villains in Nigeria’s 21st Century Democracy. An Analysis of Goodluck Jonathan’s My Transition Hours by Ifeoma Onwugbufor
5. Diachronic Trends in Pre- and Post-Independence African Literary Publishing: A Critical Review by Adewuyi Aremu Ayodeji
6. Exploring Dimensions of Power and Violence in Dul Johnson’s Deeper Into The Night And Across The Gulf by Joseph Christopher
7. Heroism, Defection, Liminality of Freedom and the Nigerian-Biafran War in Eddie Iroh’s A Siren In The Night by Davidson Iwunze
8. In Defense of Leopartitude: A Case to Update an Indigenous African Literary Theory by Bizuum Yadok
9. Lagos as a Perfect Copy of African Postcolonial Cities in African Contemporary Literature with Emphasis on Teju Cole’s Every Day Is For The Thief by Witness Agaba
10. Muddling the Waters: Matriarchal Failure and Patriarchal Intervention in Chika Unigwe’s The Middle Daughter And Aiwanisen Odafen’s Tomorrow I Become A Woman by Petrina Atom
11. Place, Women and the African-European Encounters in Warsan Shire’s Our Men Do Not Belong To Us by Deborah Uzomah
12. Postcolonialism in Transition: A Zero Counter-Discursive Approach to Joseph Ushie’s Yawns And Belches by Ekikereobong Usoro
13. Reading Northern Nigerian Fiction as Crisis Narratives: The (Un)Triumphant Hero in Habila and John by Dina Yerima-Avazi
14. Reliving African Romanticism Literature Era in Osundare’s Pastoral Poetry, Village Voices, for Urban Sanity by Olajuwon Joseph
15. Root Identity as a Postcolonial Authenticity Crisis in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s The Last Gift by Ikechukwu Egbuta
16. The Contemporary African Short Story as A Social Commentary: A Study of Select Stories of Abubakar Adam Ibrahim by Uchenna Emelife
17. The Manifestation of the Tripartite Psyche in Unoma Azuah’s Edible Bones: A Freudian Psychoanalytic Criticism by Terese Uwuave
18. The Pen-Pusher and the Gun-Wielders: Portraiture of Nigerian Military in Idris Amali’s Poetry by Onyebuchi Nwosu
19. The Positioning of Orality in the Emergence and Continual Survival of Modern African Poetry by Nzube Nlebedim
20. The Reflection of Tiv Culture in Contemporary African Literature by Lubem Agber
21. Traumatic Experiences Among Northern Wives in Polygamous Marriages: A Critical Evaluation of Razinat T. Mohammed’s The Travails of a First Wife by Dooga Theophilus
22. When Places Speak: Deciphering Nengak Daniel’s Postcards from Salamaville by Alexander Izang

Congratulations to all the longlisted authors and thank you to all those who submitted. Here is wishing you – and us all – the very best.

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