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The organization behind the Nigerian Writers’ Awards (NWA) has published a list of “The 100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40.”

There are the expected names: Chimamanda Adichie, Chinelo Okparanta, Uzodinma Iweala, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Elnathan John, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Rotimi Babatunde, Tolu Ogunlesi, Dike Chukwumerije, Brittle Paper editor Ainehi Edoro who was also included in New African‘s “The 100 Most Influential Africans of 2016.”

No doubt influenced by the Nobel Prize in Literature nod to Bob Dylan, the NWA’s is an eclectic list that also includes a host of artists who are not literary professionals: songwriters like Asa and Timi Dakolo and Olamide and Korede Bello, popular culture bloggers like Uche Eze Pedro and Linda Ikeji and Stella Dimorkokus.

Power lists stir conversations, and the NWA’s inclusions and exclusions are worthy of a new conversation.

We are curious to know what you all think of the list. How are the organizers defining “writer?” Should Linda Ikeji, Olamide, and Stella Dimorkokus be considered writers in the same way that Adichie and Chinelo Okparanta are considered writers?

The Complete List: “The 100 Most Influential Nigerian Writers Under 40.”

  1. ABIMBOLA DARE (35) – Faith-based writer.
  2. ABUBAKAR ADAM IBRAHIM (37) – Novelist.
  3. ADAEZE IBECHUKWU – Literary blogger.
  4. ADAOBI TRICIA NWAUBANI (40) – Author.
  5. ADEKUNLE GOLD – Songwriter.
  6. ADRIAN IGONIBO BARRETT  (37) – Novelist.
  7. AINEHI EDORO – Literary blogger.
  8. ALLI MUTIAT OMONIYI – Entertainment writer.
  9. AMARA NICOLE OKOLO – Novelist.
  10. AMANDA EPE – Author.
  11. AṢA (34) – Songwriter.
  12. ARUKAINO UMUKORO – Award-winning Journalist.
  13. AYODELE OLORUNFUNMI SOGUNRO – Author.
  14. AYOBAMI HANIF MOHAMMED – Author.
  15. AUGUSTINA ARMSTRONG-OGBONNA – Journalist.
  16. AYOBAMI ADEBAYO – Author.
  17. BRYMO (30) – Songwriter.
  18. BOLA AGBAJE (35) – Scriptwriter.
  19. CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE (39) – Novelist.
  20. CHIDERA NNEOMA OKOLIE (23) – Novelist.
  21. CHIBUNDU ONUZO (25) – Novelist.
  22. CHIGOZIE OBIOMA (30) – Novelist.
  23. CHUDE JIDEONWO (31) – Media Entrepreneur.
  24. CHINONYE J. CHIDOLUE.
  25. CHIOMA IWUNZE-IBIAM – Literary blogger.
  26. CHINELO OKPARANTA – Novelist.
  27. COBHAMS ASUQUO (35) – Songwriter
  28. DARE ART ALADE – Songwriter.
  29. DAMI AJAYI – Writer.
  30. DARASEN RICHARDS – Scriptwriter.
  31. DIKE CHUKWUMERIJE – Poet.
  32. EFE PAUL (37) – Poet.
  33. EKETI AIME ETTE – Writer.
  34. ELNATHAN JOHN (34) – Novelist.
  35. EMMANUEL OGALA – Journalist.
  36. EMMANUEL IDUMA – Novelist.
  37. EMEH ACHANGA (31) – Blogger.
  38. ENIGMATIC OLUMIDE BISIRIYU – Poet.
  39. ESTHER IJEWERE- KALEJAIYE (32) – Author.
  40. FUNKE OSAE-BROWN – Journalist.
  41. FEMI ASU – Journalist.
  42. GEORGE AKPAYEN – Sports writer.
  43. GERALDINE IHEME (31) – Novelist.
  44. GIMBA KAKANDA – Socio-political essayist.
  45. GILBERT ALASA – Journalist.
  46. GRACIANO ENWEREM – Poet.
  47. HELEN OYEYEMI (32) – Novelist.
  48. IBITOLA OJOYE-ADEBAYO – Romance writer.
  49. IRENOSEN OKOJIE – Author.
  50. IFESINACHI O. OKPAGU – Author/Screen writer.
  51. IQUO DIANABASI(36) – Poet/Author.
  52. JAPHETH OMOJUWA (32) – Journalist/Activist.
  53. JENNIFER EHIDIAMEN – Journalist/Poet.
  54. JOY ISI BEWAJI – Author/Editor.
  55. JUMOKE VERISSIMO (37) – Poet.
  56. KENECHI UZOR.
  57. KIRU TAYE – Romance writer.
  58. KOREDE BELLO (20) – Songwriter.
  59. KEHINDE AJOSE – Journalist.
  60. KEMI FILANI – Blogger.
  61. KUKOGHO IRUESIRI SAMSON (32) – Poet.
  62. LAILA IJEOMA OBIAGWU (32) – Blogger.
  63. LINDA IKEJI (36) – Blogger.
  64. MYNE WHITEMAN (39) – Romance writer.
  65. NNEDIMMA JANE KALU – Scriptwriter/Short story writer.
  66. ONYEKA NWELUE (28) – Novelist/Cultural Entrepreneur.
  67. OBINNA UDENWE (28) – Novelist.
  68. ONO BELLO – Blogger.
  69. OLUMIDE HOLLOWAY – Poet.
  70.  OKECHUKWU OFILI – Motivational writer.
  71. OLAMIDE (27) – Songwriter.
  72. ROTIMI BABATUNDE – Playwright.
  73. SALLY KENNETH DADZIE – Author/Editor.
  74. SAMUEL OLUWAGBEMI AHMADU – Sports writer.
  75. SAMSON ADEYEMI – Author.
  76. SEYE KUYINU – Author.
  77. SEUN AKIOYE – Award-winning journalist
  78. STELLA DIMOKO KORKUS – Blogger.
  79. SHINA OLUDARE CHARLES (27) – Sports writer.
  80. SIMI (28) – Songwriter.
  81. SOJI COLE – Author.
  82.  TAIYE SELASI (37) – Novelist.
  83. TOSIN AJIBADE (29) – Blogger.
  84. TOYOSI OGUNSEYE – Award-winning journalist.
  85. TOLU OGUNLESI (34) – Journalist.
  86. TOLUWANI ENIOLA – Journalist.
  87. TOLU’ AKINYEMI – Poet.
  88. TOMI ADESINA – Award-winning playwright.
  89. TIMI DAKOLO (35) – Songwriter.
  90. TITILOPE SONUGA – Poet.
  91. TOPE FOLARIN (35) – Writer.
  92. TOLULOPE POPOOLA – Romance writer.
  93. UKAMAKA OLISAKWE (34) – Short story/Screenwriter.
  94. UGOCHI ORITSEJOLOMISAN – Faith-based writer.
  95. UNOMA NWANKWOR – Romance/Faith-based writer.
  96. UCHE EZE PEDRO (32) – Blogger.
  97. UDUAK ISONG OGUAMANAM – Award-winning scriptwriter.
  98. UZODINMA IWEALA (34) – Novelist.
  99. WALE AJETUNMOBI – Award-winning journalist.
  100. WANA WANA UDOBANG – Multimedia journalist.

 

Congratulations to everyone on the list.

Read the full announcement HERE.