Sam Ukala’s Iredi War wins 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature

The play, Iredi War by Sam Ukala, was on Thursday announced winner of the 2014 Nigeria Prize for Literature.

This was disclosed in a statement by Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, NLNG Limited,the sponsors of the prize.

According to the statement, Iredi War was selected winner by a panel of judges led by Charity Angya from 124 plays submitted for this year’s competition which focused on drama. 2014 edition.

Two other plays, Alekwu Night Dance by Friday John Abba and Oduduwa, king of the Edos by Jude Idada, also made the final shortlist which was announced in September.

Eresia-Eke stated that in arriving at Mr. Ukala’s Iredi War, the judges specifically commended the masterly handling of vast historical material through the narrative and action method.

“The language captures indigenous sensibilities, preserves the profundity of the original, and yet entertains,” Mrs. Angya, a professor, was quoted as saying.  Mr.Ukala won $100,000.

For the first time since it was introduced in 2012, a winner, Isidore Diala, also emerged for the Literary Criticism Award, the statement also said.  It explained that the award was introduced to reward literary critics of Nigerian Literature from all over the world.  The award comes with a monetary prize of N1million cash.   Diala’s article “Colonial Mimicry and Postcolonial Re-membering in Isidore Okpewho’s Call Me by My Rightful Name” was adjudged winner from seven entries, the statement said.