The Association of Nigerian Authors has released a lists of authors who have been shortlisted for its various prizes. Announcing the news on their Facebook page on Saturday October 2, 2026, they released the shortlists across eight competitions. These include poetry, prose, children fiction, nonfiction, drama, and others.

The list, in no particular order, is as follows:

1. ANA/KMVL Prize for Poetry

• Abraham Aondoana – Songs for a Burning Continent
• Ebi Yeibo – Cantos of a Capsized Canoe
• Jide Salawu – Contraband Bodies

2.  ANA/King Dakolo Prize for Fiction

• Yejide Kilanko – In Our Own Ways
• Onyikan Braithwaite – Cursed Daughters
• Onyeka Nwelue – Murder in Orania

3. ANA Prize for Drama

• Uzo Nwamara – Eye of the Emperor
• Selome Medemaku – The Throne of Silence
• Bolaji Olatunde – Life Less Abundant

4. ANA/Amina Talaku Zakama Prize for Literary Criticism

• * Onyebuchi Nwosu – “Poetic Kaleidoscope: Portrayal of Judicial Corruption in Niyi      Osundare’s ‘My Lord, Tell Me Where to Keep Your Bribe.’”
• Barthlomew Chizoba Akpah – “Negotiating Nigeria’s Cohesion and the Rhetoric of Herdsmen Attack in Ahmed Yerima’s Hendu.”
• Ekikerebong Aniekan Usoro – “Postcolonialism in Transition: From Counter Discourse to Non-Counter Discourse in Joe Ushie’s Yawns and Belches.”

5. ANA/Sir Chukwuemeka Sam Nwelue Prize for Non-Fiction

• Al-Bishak – Humility Sparks Progress
• Chude Jideonwo – How Depression Saved My Life

6. ANA/Ngozi Chuma-Udeh Prize for Children Fiction

• Amaechi Odimeze – Avarice
• Foluke Sijuwola Falayi – Beans for Supper
• Amaka Confidence Obinwogu – Friends till Friday

7. HRM Eze M. O. Kanu/ ANA Prize for Young Adult Literature

• Erhu Kome – The Smoke that Thunders
• Peter Adah – A Twist of Fate
• Bolaji Tijani – Adamu in Trouble

8. Chinua Achebe Prize for Literature

• Dexter Loko – The Bako of Zereshe
• Henry Akubuiro – No Place Like Home
• Oyedikachi Uzozie Nmezi – Chikoba

Author

Paul Olayioye