Association of Nigerian Authors
The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) represents Nigerian creative writers at home and abroad. It was founded in 1981 with the novelist Chinua Achebe as its president. The current president is Hon. (Dr) Wale Okediran. The Association has branches in almost all the states in Nigeria.
Niger State Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has been a supporter of the Association. In January 2008, he said to a delegation from the Association of Nigerian Authors, Niger State, "I think Niger State will be the most published state in 2008. We want to publish you; we shall publish you..." The state was to publish at least twenty titles in 2008 alone.[1] Speaking in October 2009 at a convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Aliyu said that over 90 percent of Nigerian politicians have criminal intentions, spending huge amounts to gain office for their own benefit rather than to serve the public.[2]
Prizes it has sponsored
In 2004[3] it awarded the following prizes:
- ANA/ATIKU ABUBAKAR Prize for Children Literature — Sola Alamutu and Dawodu Peju: Cate Saves the Ikopi Rainforest (winner); Lawal–Solarin, Tunde: Lanre and the Queen of the Stream; Olajire Olanlokun: Children Poetry for Pleasure.
- ANA/NDDC Drama Prize (In honour of J. P. Clark) — Yahaya Dangana: The Royal Chambers (winner); Chetachukwu Isaacs-Iroegbu: Ezewanyi; Leke Ogunfeyimi: Sacrifice the King.
- ANA/NDDC Prize (In honour of Gabriel Okara) — Ohaeto Ezenwa: Chants of a Minstrel (winner); Emeka Agbayi: Stars Die; Segun Akinlolu: King’s Messenger.
- ANA/NDDC Prose Prize (In memory of Ken Saro-Wiwa) — Arthur-Worey: Fola: The Diaries of Mr Michael (winner); Philip Begho: Jelly Baby; Brisibe-Dorgu: Gesiere: Love So Pure.
- ANA/Spectrum Prize — Tayo Olafioye: Tomorrow Left Us Yesterday (winner); Ifeoma Chinwuba: Merchants of Flesh; Toni Kan: Ballads of Rage.
- ANA/Cadbury Prize — Simbo Olorunfemi: Eko Ree (winner); Nnadi Amu: Pilgrim’s Passage; Joe Ushie: Hill Songs.
- ANA/NDDC FLORA NWAKPA Prize for Women Writing — Njere Chydy: Ordinary Women. (The judges noted that there was no superlative submission for the category, hence, no entry is worthy of mention.)
- ANA Literary Journalist, 2004 — Ohai Chuks (Daily Independent, winner); Sumaila Umaisha (New Nigerian, winner).
References
- ↑ B M. Dzukogi (January 27, 2008). "Day Gov Babangida hosted writers in Minna". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ↑ Ayegba Israel Ebije (October 31, 2009). "Nigerian Politicians Are Criminals - Gov Babangida Aliyu". Online Nigeria Daily News. Retrieved 2009-12-08.
- ↑ Ajayi, Segun (9 November 2004). "ANA 2004: New laureates emerge from Lokoja". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
External links
- ANA official site
- ANA Official Listserve a forum for the discussion of Authorship in Nigeria