By Godwin Okondo
THE Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), in partnership with the Nigeria Prize for Literature, has celebrated the poets longlisted for the 2026 edition of the prestigious literary award at the 18th edition of the CORA-Nigeria Prize for Literature Book Party, held on August 2, 2026 in Lagos. The annual gathering forliterary celebration and excellence brought together distinguished authors, literary enthusiasts, book lovers, families of the writers and stakeholders in Nigeria’s creative sector for an afternoon of conversations centred on poetry, storytelling and the creative processes behind the works competing for the prestigious literary prize.
In his opening statement, CORA’s Secretary General, Mr. Toyin Akinosho, commended the longlisted poets and their families, while expressing appreciation to NLNG for its continued commitment in supporting Nigeria’s literary ecosystem, describing the initiative as a significant contribution to sustaining literary culture and encouraging readership in the country.
The organisation also congratulated NLNG on the near completion of its 35 per cent expansion project, describing the company as the operator of the largest midstream hydrocarbon plant in sub-Saharan Africa and a major contributor to the Nigerian economy.
CORA further celebrated the incoming Chief Executive of NLNG, Mr. Leye Falade, noting his extensive experience in the energy sector. The Book Party, according to Akinosho, remains a distinctive feature of The Nigeria Prize for Literature process that provides a platform where authors engage directly with readers before the eventual announcement of the winner.
While the prize is now 21 years old, Akinosho said the CORA-NPL Book Party has become an annual literary tradition since it began at the Goethe Institut in Victoria Island in 2010, noted that “no other literary prize process features a preliminary celebratory event where authors discuss their writing process directly with a community of readers.”
The 2026 edition focused on poetry and the diversity of experiences captured by Nigerian poets. Akinosho recalled the words of literary icon Mabel Segun, who once observed that throwing a stone in a Nigerian marketplace would likely hit a writer, while poet Odia Ofeimun argued that it would most likely hit a poet, given the central place of poetry in Nigeria’s literary tradition and the fact that many writers begin their creative journeys through verse.
The 11 poets recognised at the event include Paul Akpomuje for Black Passport, which explores black African migration in Canada, the challenges of displacement and the impact of borders and documentation on identity; Theresa Lola for Ceremonies For The Nameless, which examines the power of naming and how it shapes identity, aspirations and belonging; and Adedayo Agarau for The Years of Blood, which confronts issues of ritual killings and child abductions in Nigeria through Yoruba cosmology and folklore.
Others celebrated were Rasaq Malik Gbolahan for The Origin of Wounds, which revisits historical accounts of violence and wars; Tares Oburumu for Flora’s Love Colony, which reflects on imperial interest in Nigeria’s human and material resources; Ajibola Tolase for 2000 Blacks, which examines the economic and political realities behind African migration; Saddiq Dzukogi for Bakandamiya: An Elegy, an epic work that reimagines Hausa history and mythology; and James Ngwu Eze for Unbind Me Now, described as a collection shaped by grief, urgency and moral reflection.
Also acknowledged were veteran poet Tanure Ojaide for Adult Love: In the Garden of Adulthood, which draws from childhood and youthful experiences that shaped his understanding of humanity; Ogaga Ifowodo for Why Does God Need a Gun?, which gives voice to forgotten stories of pain and resistance; and Ayo Oyeku for Corpus Animistic Verses, which explores humanity’s search for meaning through animistic poetry.
Akinosho further disclosed that the Book Party serves as a major lead-up to the 27th edition of the Lagos Book & Art Festival (LABAF), scheduled to hold from November 16 to 22, 2026, at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, with the theme ‘The WorkOver starts Now’.
He also revealed revealed that regardless of who emerges winner of The Nigeria Prize for Literature, all the poets celebrated at the Book Party will be invited to LABAF Book Trek segment to share their works with readers, while books centred on the festival’s theme of ‘Repair’ will be unveiled in the last week of August.
Ayo Arigbabu (left); CORA Secretary General, Mr. Toyin Akinosho; Manager, Nigerian Content Development, NLNG, Mr. Buowari Dagogo; Manager, Corporate Communication and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku; Tares Oburumu; James Ngwu Eze; Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo; General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall; Ayo Oyeku and CORA Programme Chair, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo shortly after the Book Party ended lasy Sunday, 2 August 2026… in Lagos
THE General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Dr. Sophia Horsfall, described the Book Party as one of the most anticipated events on Nigeria’s literary calendar, noting that it has evolved into more than a celebration of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.
According to her, the gathering provides an opportunity for the literary community to engage with the ideas, themes and artistic expressions contained in the longlisted works while extending the conversation beyond the judges’ deliberations.
“Today, we come together not merely to celebrate a long list, but to celebrate the enduring power of words, the courage of imagination, and the extraordinary role that literature continues to play in shaping our national consciousness,” Horsfall said.
She added that the Book Party enables readers, critics and other stakeholders to interact with the books and appreciate their contribution to Nigeria’s literary landscape.
“This annual gathering has become one of the most anticipated moments in Nigeria’s literary calendar. Through the Book Party, the conversation extends beyond the judges’ table and opens the room for the literary community to engage and celebrate the ideas the Longlist of 11 brings to our literary landscape,” she said.
Horsfall noted that this year’s edition celebrates poetry, a genre she described as uniquely capable of distilling profound truths into powerful language while capturing both personal experiences and universal realities.
“Poetry has the power to distil complex truths into impactful language that captures both the personal and the universal essence with strong visual elements. It gives voice to experiences that might otherwise remain unheard,” she said.
She also paid tribute to previous winners of the poetry category of the Nigeria Prize for Literature, including Ezenwa Ohaeto, Gabriel Okara, Tade Ipadeola, Ikeogu Oke and Romeo Oriogun, whose works, she said, have enriched Nigeria’s literary heritage and set high standards for future generations.
The NLNG executive encouraged members of the public to read the longlisted books, expressing confidence that they would find them intellectually rewarding while showcasing the richness and diversity of contemporary Nigerian poetry.
She also charged aspiring writers not to abandon their creative dreams, reminding them that every celebrated author once started with little more than an idea and a blank page.
“This event is proof that every celebrated poet once began exactly where you are now, with an idea, a blank page, and the courage to keep writing even when no one was watching. If you do not stop writing, perhaps, you will be the next icon to be celebrated at this event,” she said.
Bringing the event to a close, the Manager, Corporate Communication and Sustainable Development, NLNG, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, said the discussions, reviews and reflections at the Book Party had demonstrated that literature derives its greatest value not only from awards but also from the conversations it inspires among readers.
“This afternoon has reaffirmed that literature is a rich source of inspiration that endures long after the final chapter is read,” she said.
Palmer-Ikuku observed that the event had achieved its objective by transforming the longlist from a compilation of outstanding poetry collections into works that had found new readers, generated fresh perspectives and secured a wider place in Nigeria’s literary discourse.
“By every measure, this Book Party has fulfilled its purpose. The longlist is no longer simply a list of 11 outstanding poetry collections. Through the readings, reflections and conversations we have shared, these works have found new audiences, invited fresh perspectives, and found a wider place within Nigeria’s literary conversation,” she said.
She explained that this broader engagement is one of the reasons NLNG continues to invest in the Nigeria Prize for Literature and the annual Book Party, stressing that recognition alone is insufficient to sustain great literature.
“You would agree that while recognition of good literature is important, rigorous reviews, thoughtful criticism, and the opportunity to find its rightful place in our literary consciousness is the hallmark of excellent literature. That is what this gathering makes possible,” Palmer-Ikuku stated.
She commended the longlisted poets, the prize’s Advisory Board, members of the judging panel, CORA, literary reviewers, media practitioners and other stakeholders whose dedication contributed to the success of the 2026 poetry cycle.
Looking ahead, she said that while the announcement of the winner on October 9 would conclude this year’s competition, the journey of the books themselves was only beginning.
“The announcement of the final verdict on October 9 will bring this year’s competition to its conclusion, but the journey of these books is only just beginning. Their true legacy will be shaped by the readers who embrace them, the conversations they inspire, and the place they ultimately earn within Nigeria’s literary tradition,” Palmer-Ikuku said.
She thanked participants for supporting Nigerian literature through their presence at the Book Party and encouraged them to continue reading, discussing and promoting the longlisted works beyond the event.
