The Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature has unveiled the longlist for the 2026 edition of the award, with 11 poetry collections selected from 223 entries submitted for this year’s competition.
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The longlist was announced on Thursday by the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, who described the selection as a reflection of the quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
The longlisted titles, arranged alphabetically, are:
| S/N | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adult Love | Tanure Ojaide |
| 2 | Bakandimiya | Saddiq Dzukogi |
| 3 | Black Passport | Paul Akpomuje |
| 4 | 2000 Blacks | Ajibola Tolase |
| 5 | Ceremony of The Nameless | Theresa Lola |
| 6 | Corpus: Animistic Verses | Ayo Oyeku |
| 7 | Floral’s Love Colony | Tares Oburumu |
| 8 | The Origin of Wounds | Malik Gbolahan |
| 9 | The Years of Blood | Adebayo Agaru |
| 10 | Unbind Me Now | James Ugwu Eze |
| 11 | Why Does God Need a Gun | Ogaga Ifowodo |
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important milestone in the 2026 edition of what she called one of Africa’s biggest and most prestigious literary prizes.
She said the selected collections demonstrate poetry’s enduring power to illuminate human experiences through reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
According to her, the works revisit history, interrogate dominant historical narratives and expose the forces that shape collective identities and social relationships.
She noted that although the books explore different themes, they share a strong commitment to examining resilience in the face of violence, oppression and social fragmentation.
Commenting on the literary quality of the entries, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the collections show remarkable diversity in style, marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth and artistic innovation.
She said many of the works use allegorical and elegiac techniques that invite multiple interpretations, while others draw from folklore, oral traditions and contemporary realities to create a rich fusion of the past and present.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present,” she said.
She added that the language of the selected works is generally fluid, evocative and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas.
“These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities, challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences,” she stated.
Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the next stage of the competition would require closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value.
She also commended the panel of judges for their dedication and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible selection process, literary excellence and the promotion of a vibrant reading culture.
The announcement formally opens the next phase of the competition, with a shortlist of three books expected in August, while the winner will be announced in October.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited, The Nigeria Prize for Literature carries a cash award of $100,000 for the winning author.
Now in its 22nd year, the prize rotates annually among four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature. The 2026 edition is dedicated to poetry.
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