The Advisory Board of The Nigeria Prize for Literature has announced the 11-book longlist for the 2026 edition of the prestigious literary award.
The longlisted poetry collections emerged from 223 entries submitted for this year’s competition, reflecting the growing strength and diversity of contemporary poetry.
The announcement was made on Thursday, July 23, 2026, by the Chairman of the Advisory Board, Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo.
She described the unveiling of the longlist as a major milestone in the 2026 competition, noting that the selected works demonstrate exceptional creativity, literary excellence and artistic depth.
According to Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo, the longlisted collections highlight poetry’s ability to explore history, identity and the human experience while reflecting the richness of contemporary literary expression.
The longlisted books, arranged alphabetically, include Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide, Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi, Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje, 2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase, Ceremony for the Nameless by Theresa Lola and Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku.
Also on the longlist are Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu, The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan, The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau, Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze and Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo.
The announcement officially opens the next phase of the competition, with a three-book shortlist expected in August before the overall winner is announced in October.
Sponsored by NLNG, The Nigeria Prize for Literature offers a cash prize of 100,000 US dollars to the winning author.
Celebrating its 22nd edition, the prize rotates annually among prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature, with poetry taking centre stage in 2026.
Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo said the shortlisted works showcase poetry’s unique ability to interpret human experiences through cultural memory, thoughtful reflection and artistic expression.
She added that the collections revisit history, question dominant historical narratives and examine the forces shaping identity, society and community life.
Despite their different themes, the selected books share a common commitment to exploring resilience, justice and the endurance of people and communities confronting violence, oppression and social fragmentation.
