Playwright and academic, Sam Ukala has emerged winner of the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Ukala, a Professor of Drama at the Delta State University, Abraka, was declared winner of the prize worth 100 dollars on Thursday morning at a world press conference at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He took the prize now in its 10th year ahead of Jude Idada (Oduduwa, King of the Edos) and Friday John Abba (Alekwu Night Dance).
In declaring Ukala winner of the prize, the Panel of Judges led by Professor Charity Angya, commended ” the masterly handling of vast historical material through the narrative and action method.”
According to Prof. Angy, “The language captures indigenous sensibilities, preserves the profundity of the original, and yet entertains.”
The Independent International consultant to the Advisory Board on the 2014 Prize, Prof Mzo Sirayi, described the thematic focus of the book as “poignant, proactive and stimulating.”
The other members of the jury were Professors Ahmed Yerima and Akanji Nasir.
In a related development, Isidore Diala has emerged winner for the Award for Literary Criticism.
The prize is worth one million naira and is awarded for the most astounding piece of literary criticism in the last four years.
Diala’s winning entry titled ‘Colonial Mimicry and Postcolonial Re-membering in Isidore Okpewho’s Call Me by My Rightful Name’ was published in Journal of Modern Literature, Vol 36, No 4.
It was selected by the judges ahead of six other articles and was described as “exciting to read and provides refreshing discourse. The author has contributed to knowledge through his clear depiction of his understanding of post-colonial thinking about Nigerian culture.”
