 AKEEM LASISI Lagos-based Adeyemi Adeleke wins the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, writes AKEEM LASISI. |
With the feat, the Efon Alaye, Ekiti State-born Adeyemi, who published the book under the pen name, Mai Nasara, has also emerged winner of the single 'biggest' literary amount on African soil, since the cash prize is the highest on the continent (about N15m), as the Guinness Book of Records has also acknowledged.
He beat two other writers - Ayodele Olofimuade (author of Eno's Story) and Chinyere Obi-Obasi (The Great Fall) - who were also on the short list drawn from a total of 126 entries received by the jury chaired by literary scholar and award-winning writer, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo.
At a press conference held at The Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Ezeigbo, who presented the judges' report, described The Missing Cock as an unusual story.
She said, "The Missing Clock tells an unusual story of a four-year-old boy, Banji, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tobe. The simple or naive act of Banji, who plants a bunny clock in the garden at his home, triggers a flurry of activities that propels his parents to embark on an agricultural project that brings the family enormous wealth. The story celebrates ingenuity, hard-work, faith, creativity and self-reliance. The narrative sparkles in a correct and efficient language that reveals the individuality of characters and brings out their mannerisms and peculiarities. It celebrates environmental health and conservation."
Ezeigbo, who had also shared the prize with literary matriarch, Mabel Segun, four years ago, noted that Mai Nasara is a gifted storyteller who explores the consciousness, emotions and actions of a child in a fascinating narrative distinguished by the simplicity of its themes, ideas, language and style.
"Indeed, this is a loveable and credible novel that endorses family cohesion and responsible parenting that would guide children to become imaginative, well-motivated and balanced individuals. The Missing Clock meets basic requirements of art for excellence in children's literature. It is a well-told story," she added.
Established seven years ago by Nigeria LNG, the Nigeria Prize for Literature started with a cash award of $20,000. Two years later, it moved up to $50,000, with writers such as Gabriel Okara, Ahmed Yerima, Kaine Agary, the late Ezenwa Ohaeto and Esiaba Irobi having won it at different times. Nigeria LNG, through the Advisory Board headed by Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, pleasantly shocked stakeholders earlier in the year when it multiplied the cash prize by two.
Incidentally, 2011 is the first year the company would not organise an award night. Indeed, this decision had made some people fear that there might not be any winner - despite the fact that the company's officials have always stressed that they never get to know the judges' decisions until they finally present such. The suspicion was heightened on Monday morning when none of the short-listed writers was present at the press conference. But Adeyemi's emergence eventually doused the tension, even as the judges commended the sponsors for keeping the prize alive and kicking.
"They did not ask us to come, but they did not ask us not to come too," an elated Adeleke told our correspondent on the phone on Monday evening. "So, I just decided to go on with my work."
He added that on learning that he had won, however, he became temporarily speechless.
"Honestly, I experienced what it means to be speechless," he noted. "The heart swells with gratitude to the One who gave the story of 'The Missing Clock' in trust for me to tell for such a time as this, a fact which the mind has had time to turn over. Though the story has the vegetable ugu has leitmotif, it is the bitterleaf that comes readily to mind to illustrate the feeling.
My mother, who wrote before me
Picture showing the lucky winner
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