Quramo unveils 20 manuscripts for 2024 prize

The Quramo Writers Prize (QWP) 2024 has released a longlist of 20 manuscripts for the 8th edition of the prize for budding writers. The prize, established in 2017 and worth N1 million in cash prize, is designed to discover new breed of unpublished African writers, alongside a publishing contract to kick-start their writing career. Each year the prize begins with a call for a 30,000-word fiction manuscript submission, followed by a longlist of 20 writers, from which a 3-man jury then produces a shortlist of five that leads to the announcement of an eventual winner at the annual Quramo Festival (QFest), which has ‘The Shifting: Empowering Voices… Inspiring Minds,’ as theme.

A statement from the Editorial Manager, Quramo Publishing Ltd, Omoteniola Akinwalere, indicates that the longlisted writers for this year’s edition are Adeseri Emmanuella, Martin Chukwumah, Kabir Sabe Jibia, Salome Abiodun Medemaku, Arthur Gabriel Yak, Chukwumah Jonathan Jonathan, Amaka Azie, Sandra Uche Delumozie, Bisola Akintomide, Oyeleye Esther Eniola, Chidi Nwakpa and Henry Chukwuemeka Onyema. Others are Lawal Ayuba Adewale, Ifeanyi Kalu, Ornguze Nashima Nathaniell, Immaculate Halla, Adikaibe Caleb Chidera, Vandefan Aondogu Fidelis, Joseph Olamide Babalola and Deryus Kwabena Partey.

The three-man jury reviewing the manuscripts comprises writer and Executive Director of Business Development at Narrative Landscape Press, Dr. Eghosa Imasuen; author, book editor and Chief Executive Officer at Finished Work Enterprises, Mrs. Lechi Eke, and writer, former Arts Editor and Head of Politics at The Guardian newspaper and founder of online culture news platform, TheArtHubNg (www.wthearthubng.com), Mr. Anote Ajeluorou.

The jury will produce a shortlist of five to be released in September while the winner will be announced at Quramo Festival 2024 scheduled to hold from October 2 to 6 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Chijoke’s Dear Zini is due to be published next month, and she will be available to sign copies of her new book at Qfest 2024 for festival guests.