Abimbola Salami shortlisted for Jericho Prize
held at the Embassy of Sweden in Abuja called for an end to women marginalisation.
The book was authored by Pauline Uimonen, a professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University in Abuja.
“This has invoked a new spirit in all of us. It has reawakened our spirit,” she said on the effort of the Uimonen in bringing to light the plights and successes of female writers in Nigeria.
“This year’s International Women’s Day we will include
AUK-based Nigerian writer, Abimbola Salami has been shortlisted for the inaugural Jericho Prize for short chapter book. Also nominated in the same category is Ellah Dinnall. The Jericho Prize, open to unpublished black British writers, is a new award for writing for children aged four years plus (picture books) and seven to nine (short chapter books). Each celebrating Nigeria female writers,” she said adding that the celebration will open door and encourage more people to go into the literary world.
Uimonen said the book, a monograph, benefits from the 50 years celebration of Efuru held in 2016. She documented the activities of the celebration which forms a crucial part of the book.
“I approach this study of Nigerian women writers with epistemological humility and ontological openness, in the hope of avoiding some of the pitfalls of Western scholarship in African contexts. Cognizant of the ethics and politics of social science, I hope to make a contribution to ongoing efforts to decolonize social science research, including anthropology,” she said.
Son of Flora Nwapa commended the author for keeping the memory of his mother alive adding that the late celebrated writer wrote effortlessly, excellently combining her duties a mother, writer and minister, at a time.
He said his mother showed the spirit and excellence of Nigerian female writers who also have other vocations. submission must include a black or mixed-black main character.
The winner of each category gets a cash prize and also editorial consultancy as well as a consultancy with an author-illustrator. When the book is published, they will also receive “A” listing with inclusiveled bookshop Round Table Books in their physical and online stores. Cabbi Charles, Diane Ewen and Seymour Lavine are shortlisted in the Jericho Prize for picture book 2021.