Etisalat Holds its 1st Pan African Prize for Literature Award Ceremony | Youssou N’Dour Performs

On Sunday 23rd February 2014, Etisalat held the maiden edition of its Pan African Prize for Literature {click here for story}. The exclusive event held at the Marquee, Federal Palace, Victoria Island, Lagos and was well attended and had Senegalese music legend Youssou N’Dour perform.

Described by Rolling Stone magazine as the most famous singer alive in Senegal and much of Africa, the Senegalese adorned in an all-white regalia together with his band, rendered a remarkable performance of some of his popular songs including “Redemption Song” ,“7 seconds”, and “New Africa”, to the delight of the audience.

The event was graced by literary buffs, celebrities, high profile guests including the Director-General, of the Nigerian Tourism Corporation, Sally Mbanefo.

According to the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, the Etisalat Prize for Literature was designed to recognize and reward debut writers of fiction in Africa. “As a rite of passage, published and unpublished literary works of art have been passed down from generation to generation in Africa. Etisalat Nigeria is indeed pleased to celebrate all authors in the African literary spectrum”.

Bulawayo received a £15,000 cash prize, will attend the Etisalat Fellowship at the prestigious University of East Anglia (and will be mentored by Giles Foden – Author of the “Last King of Scotland”), have book tours to three African cities. In addition to the cash prize she was presented with an engraved Montblanc Meisterstück pen and a Samsung Galaxy Note.

The flash fiction competition winner was also announced as Uche Okonkwo for her entry “Neverland”, taking home the cash prize of £1000 and a Samsung galaxy note. Runners up were Bonaventure Chukwu for “Fear” and Nzere Jeremiah for “Silent Screams”, each winning £500 and Samsung Galaxy notes.

View photos from the event.

Acting CEO, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher, Winner, NoViolet Bulawayo; and Runners-up, Karen Jennings & Yetunde Omotoso

Time for some live music with Yossou N’Dour

Red Carpet Shots

Femi Atilade

Amin Moussalli

NoViolet Bulawayo

Ade Bantu

Ella Allfrey (Patron)

Sally Mbanefo

Taiwo Ajai-Lycett

Wana Udobang

Rufai & Funmi Ladipo

Tolu Ogunlesi & Kemi Agboola

Ikem Emelieze & Tokini Peterside

Bunmi Oke

Megha Joshi & Enitan Denloye (Director, Brands and Communication, Etisalat Nigeria)

Ugoma Adegoke, Deborah Willsher & Ebi Atawodi

Funmi Victor Okigbo

Ebi Atawodi (Head, High Value Events and Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria), Youssou N’Dour & Matthew Willsher

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