Nadine Gordimer was a former winner of the Fonlon-Nichols Award. Image from Telegraph.co.uk.

Nominate a creative writer for the Fonlon-Nichols Award by 1 November 2018. This award, established in 1992 to honor Bernard Fonlon and Lee Nichols, seeks works that cherish and contribute to both African literature and the freedom of expression. Bernard Fonlon was a writer, teacher, literary editor, and head of African Literature Department at the University of Yaounde. Lee Nichols is a journalist who has supported human rights for decades.

The Award is given annually by the African Literature Association (ALA). Past winners include Tanure Ojaide, Nadine Gordimer, Chukwuemeka Ike, Nawal El Saadawi, Nuruddin Farah, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and Wole Soyinka, among others.

Of Falon, Soyinka noted during his acceptance speech that he “was somebody I remember with great fondness. We met in the Cameroons in those very early, young, brash days when we were [the] ‘Renaissance’ people of Africa—what a word! I remember this marvelous, brilliant intellect, very warm human being.”

To nominate a writer, you are required to write a biographical profile of the nominee and a two single-spaced detailed justification for the nomination. Send your nominations to [email protected].