The biennial Wole Soyinka Prize for creative writing continues to grow in proportion with at least three serving heads of state billed to attend this year’s edition.
The presidents who have consented
to be present at the ceremony, according to the organisers, include
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Liberian Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.
Other
high-profile dignitaries who are expected to attend are former
Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former
President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki; former
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan; the Asantehene,
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and renowned Ghanaian author and former Education
Minister in the Ghana government, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo.
The
prize award ceremony is scheduled for 5 July at the Civic Centre,
Lagos. This will be followed by a book presentation on Soyinka slated
for Accra, Ghana on 8 July.
The Wole Soyinka Prize for
Literature was established by Lumina Foundation in 2005 with the
objective of rewarding literary creativity in the continent.
Apart
from encouraging and rewarding talents in Africa, the prize has become
the African-equivalent of the famous Nobel Prize for Literature.
According to a release from the public relations unit of the prize sponsor, Globacom, ten writers have been shortlisted.
This
year’s edition of the prize will focus on drama. Entries were received
from African published playwrights whose plays were published in the
last two years.
Based on certain criteria, some subscribers of the communication service provider will be invited to the prize-giving ceremony.
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