Category: Oyajajakuta Prize

Obatonikangire

Obatonikangire is a conferred title, named after Nigeria’s National Theatre, and in this context with the affectionate cognomen of Nigeria’s first Nobel Laureate, this is part of the boughs and the Oya, but unlike the others, is conferred and singular to the person for life unless they reject or repudiate it.

Oya: About the Name

Oya is the name of a river in West Africa and Jakuta, a more ancient name for Sango, a divinity and the fourth deified king of Oyo, both divinities of Oyoruba culture, specifically possesed of the energy associated with change, and electricity, and the very air itself; while this prize is resolutely a secular endeavour,… Continue reading Oya: About the Name

Founder: Dele Fatunla Ti Adesina & co

Dele Fatunla is a writer, communications executive and former administrator of the Caine Prize for African Writing, the first Black African in the role. He graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and City University, London. He lives in London.

Oyajakuta Prize

Oyajakuta Prize The Oyajakuta Prize is an internationally awarded, African judged prize for the ouevre of writers, usually novelists, but not exclusively, who have produced a work or works of superlative beauty and transformative effect in their literary career. It will usually be awarded to two writers, one female, one male on the basis of… Continue reading Oyajakuta Prize

Nota Bene

It is customary for the administrator of the Caine Prize for African Writing to establish a prize themselves, and we are following in this tradition to establish the Oyajakuta Prize; please do share this widely as you see fit – we thank you, and welcome your comments to Dele Fatunla via LinkedIn; more elaborations and… Continue reading Nota Bene

The Boughs

The Almighty of creation 2. Owa D.O. Fagunwa 3. Owa Amos Tutuola 4. Nadine Gordimer 5. Owa James Baldwin 6. Owa Toni Morrison aka Chloe Anthony Wofford 7. Owa Ancestor Nawal El Sadaawi 8. Professor Francis Abiola Irele 9. Professor Abiola Irele 10. Owa Bessie Head 11. Professor Wole Soyinka 12. Professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o… Continue reading The Boughs