Two Nigerians writers in 2019 Women’s Prize for Literature shortlist

Two Nigerian authors, Oyinkan Braithwaite and Diana Evans, have been shortlisted for 2019 Women’s Prize for Literature. It is the first time two African authors will be shortlisted for the award in the same year.

There would have three Nigerian authors on the list had Akwaeke Emezi advanced past the nomination stage of the award formerly known as the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Braithwaite was nominated for her book, My Sister, The Serial Killer while Evans was nominated for a work titled Ordinary People.

Other shortlisted authors include Pat Barker for The Silence of the Girls, Anna Burns for Milkman, Tayari Jones for An American Marriage and Madeline Miller for Circe.

The award, which comes with a £30,000 ($40,000) prize, was won by Chimamanda Adichie in 2007 for her groundbreaking novel, Half of a Yellow Sun.