The Nigeria Prize for Literature has announced its shortlist of three poetry collections for the 2026 edition of the $100,000 award, narrowing the race from an initial list of 11 titles selected from a record 223 entries.
The shortlisted works are "Flora's Love Colony" by Tares Oburumu, "Why Does God Need A Gun" by Ogaga Ifowodo, and "Unbind Me Now" by James Ngwu Eze.
Sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the Nigeria Prize for Literature is widely regarded as Africa's richest literary prize and one of the most valuable literary awards in the world. The prize rotates annually among four categories: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children's literature, with the 2026 edition dedicated to poetry.
Ifowodo's inclusion on the shortlist marks a notable return to contention for the prize, having previously featured as a finalist in the 2017 edition, nearly a decade ago. Oburumu's "Flora's Love Colony" and Eze's "Unbind Me Now" round out a list that organizers say reflects three distinct poetic voices exploring themes of resilience, identity and endurance in the face of violence and social fragmentation.
The three collections will now undergo closer scrutiny from the panel of judges, who will assess each work based on language, form, originality and lasting literary value before a winner is announced.
The final winner is expected to be unveiled on October 9, 2026, during the Nigeria LNG Limited Grand Award Night, where the winning author will be presented with the $100,000 cash prize.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature, established by NLNG in 2004, continues to be celebrated as a major platform for showcasing the depth and diversity of contemporary Nigerian literature.
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