Akin Bello, winner of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

With his play, ‘The Egbon of Lagos,’ renowned playwright, Akin Bello, emerged as the winner of the fifth edition of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. The former Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), went home with the prize – the sum of $20,000.

Professor Wole Soyinka, assisted by the board of the Lumina Foundation, the organisers of the prize, Governor of River State, Rotimi Amaechi and Globacom’s Head of GloWorld, Titi Ebinisi, crowned Bello as the winner at the grand finale of the award held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, July 5, 2014..

The award was contested by three authors, Othuke Ominibohs, Akin Bello and Toyin Abiodun, whose entries were considered the best three of the total of 163 works submitted from across Africa.

Born in 1950 in Lagos, Bello had his education in Nigeria and Ghana. He attended the University of Ife, Osun State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Political Science in 1975.

The Executive Director of a Non-Governmental Organisation in Ibadan, Oyo State was the Chairman of the Oyo State Chapter of ANA for four years between 2008 and 2012.

Professor Soyinka, in his remarks, thanked the Lumina Foundation, its partners, and Globacom for organizing the event.

The grand finale of the prize was graced by many literary icons including renowned playwright and poet, John Pepper Clark, a former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Odia Ofeimun and renowned Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Akin Oyebode, who delivered the keynote address, among others.

The Steve Rhodes Orchestra entertained the guests with beautiful tunes.