Six books shortlisted for Karaye Prize

THE Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja branch, has announced the shortlist of the second edition of ANA Abuja/ Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize in Hausa Literature. The shortlists are as follows in alphabetical orders (of the authors' first names):





Aliya Z. Mainasara (for Halin Rayuwa)
Abdurrashid Sani Isa Nigeria (comrade) (for Kowa Ya Bi)
Dala'illu Bobboji (for Bakin Abi Magana)
Ibrahim Birniwa (for Garin Mu Da Nisa)
Muhammad Lawal Barista (for Bakin Kishi)
Nazir Adam (for Murmmushin Alkawali)
A total of 15 entries were received for this year's competition.


According to a statement by ANA Abuja and signed by its secretary, Patrick Tagbo Oguejiofor, "entries have improved despite the short notice, and like the maiden edition, it would centre on prose writing in Hausa Language as against prose, poetry and drama in alternative order."

He added, "the entries are indeed very encouraging as they point to the wider acceptance of both the Prize itself and the confidence in the final judgment of the literary judges, Mallam Kabir Dan Asabe of the FCT College of Education, Zuba, Abuja and Alhaji Ibrahim Dachia, General Manager, Yobe State Television, Damaturu, Yobe State."

A year ago, the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission, Abuja, Hajiya Bilkisu Abdulmalik Bashir, instituted what has now come to be known as The Karaye Prize (Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Prize in Hausa Literature) in memory of her late husband, the late Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye, with the aim of encouraging creative writing in indigenous language.

Winners were rewarded at a colourful ceremony held in Abuja October last year.

The winner of this edition will take home the sum of N150, 000.00 while the first and second runners ups will collect the sum of N100, 000.00 and N50, 000.00 respectively.

ANA Abuja in collaboration with the Engineer Mohammed Bashir Karaye Foundation, promoters of the Karaye Prize, has concluded all arrangements for the award ceremony.

The date for the Award ceremony is Thursday, 23rd October 2008. The venue is Shehu Musa Yar'ardua Centre, Abuja and the kick off time is 3:30pm.

While extending the association's gratitude to the widow of the late Engineer Karaye for this great boost to Nigerian literature, Oguejiofor also called "on Federal and State governments and all Nigerians of goodwill to give literature and writers moral and financial support for national integration and development."
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