Olubunmi Familoni has won the 2024 NLNG $100,000 prize for his children’s book The Road Does Not End! This well deserved win came from the Nigeria LNG Grand Award night, in which the judges praised all the shortlisted authors, and highlighted Familoni’s skill as an author.
The Nigeria Prize for Literature is an annual award founded by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company (NLNG). It is one of the top ten richest literary prizes in the world, and Familoni has won the $100,000 prize! Since its creation in 2004, its promoted Nigerian literature and garnered international renown. Each year, the award rotates between four genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama, and children’s fiction, and this year children’s books take center stage.
The Road Does Not End is about a street hawker discovering his passion for music. Following the death of his parents he is the ward of a cruel Aunt, forced to haggle to earn his keep. Fate has him meet a man with a similar passion for fuji music, and the two become a tight knit pair. He finds hope through the songs, and his resilience allows him to continue on the road of life, throughout his hardships.
Familioni is an author with works in all genres, from plays,screenplays,short fiction, essays, and children’s novels. His debut work was a collection in 2015 titled Smithereens of Death which won the ANA prize. His works have appeared in Jalada Africa, Ake Review, Bakwa Magazine, Afridiaspora Anthology, Agbowo, Kikwetu Literary Journal, among others.
The runners-up for the 2024 NLNG Prize are previously shortlisted winners,Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike and Ndidi Chiazor-Enenmor
Buy The Road Does Not End here!
Congrats to Familoni on the well-deserved win!
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