9mobile Prize for Literature

The 9mobile Prize for Literature was a literary award established by Etisalat Nigeria in 2013. It was the first ever pan-African prize for a debut African novel or short story collection. Awarded annually, the prize aimed to discover new literary talent on the continent and promote the African publishing industry. The winner received a cash prize of £15,000 in addition to a fellowship at the University of East Anglia.
The 9mobile Prize also sought to support publishers by purchasing 1000 copies of all shortlisted books. The books were donated to schools, book clubs and libraries across the African continent.
The award was initially named the Etisalat Prize for Literature. In 2017, Etisalat Nigeria was rebranded 9mobile and the award name changed accordingly.

WWW prize.etisalat.com.ng

Entry and prize

The 9mobile Prize for Literature was directed at emerging writers of African citizenship whose first fiction book was published in the previous 24 months. All genres were eligible as long as written in English or published in English translation.
The winner of the 9mobile Prize for Literature received £15,000 and a Fellowship at the University of East Anglia where they were mentored by Professor Giles Foden. The winner also was awarded a Samsung Galaxy Note, as were the shortlisted writers, and an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück. All of the finalists participated in book tour through three African cities sponsored by 9mobile.
The 9mobile Prize was overseen by a board of patrons composed of literary figures. These included:

Ama Ata Aidoo, writer, playwright and academic
Dele Olojede, journalist, winner of Pulitzer Prize
Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, OBE, editor and literary critic
Kole Omotoso, writer
Margaret Busby, OBE, writer, editor and publisher
Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer and academic
Zakes Mda, novelist and playwright

Award history

Blue ribbon = winner

2013

From a longlist of nine titles, the shortlist was announced on 23 January 2014. The winner was announced on 23 February 2014, and the award ceremony took place on Sunday, 2 March, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

The judges in 2013 were:

Zakes Mda, novelist and playwright
Sarah Ladipo Manyika, writer, academic
Pumla Dineo Gqola, writer, academic
Billy Kahora, writer, editor of ''Kwani?''

2014

The longlist was announced in November 2014 and the shortlist in December 2014. The winner was announced on Sunday, 15 March 2015, at the Intercontinental Hotel Lagos, Nigeria.

Nadia Davids, An Imperfect Blessing
Chinelo Okparanta, Happiness, Like Water
Songeziwe Mahlangu, Penumbra

The 2014 judges were:

2015

The longlist was announced on 3 December 2015. The shortlist was announced on 8 March 2016, and the winner on 19 March.

Penny Busetto, The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself
Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Tram 83, translated by Roland Glasser
Rehana Rossouw, What Will People Say

The 2015 judges were:

2016

The longlist of nine titles was announced on 23 November 2016 and the shortlist of three on 5 January 2017. The winner was announced on 20 May.

Jacqui L’Ange, The Seed Thief
Jowhor Ile, And After Many Days
Julie Iromuanya, Mr & Mrs Doctor

The 2016 judges were:

2017

No award was given. In August 2017, the name of the literature prize was changed to 9mobile.

2018

The shortlist was chosen in January 2018 and winner announced on 8 August 2019,

Lesley Nneka Arimah, What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky
Marcus Low, Asylum
Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Stay with Me

The judges for the 2018 edition of the prize were Professor Harry Garuba, Doreen Baingana and Siphiwo Mahala.

Announcement of resignation of patrons

The founding patrons of the prize, which was established in 2012 as the Etisalat Prize for Literature, announced their resignation from the award in July 2019.