NLNG RELEASES POETRY LONG LIST

A long list of the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) sponsored Nigeria Literature prize has been announced. This year's genre is poetry and the longlist has the following titles:

* A memory of Rivers Poems: out of the Niger Delta, by Barrett, Lindsay. Publishers:
Daylight Media (2006)
            The language of this poetry volume is an appropriate medium for its subject. The river is a symbol of communal history and its consciousness.
            * Songs of Odamoluqbe, by Dasylva, Ademola, Publishers: Kraftgriots (2006)
A biting satire of corruption and decadence in contemporary Nigeria drawing extensively on and celebrating Yoruba lore, whose mythology and value it recreates and celebrates.
            * Love Apart, by E kwuazi, Hygienus, Publishers, Kraftgriots (2006)
In this collection where love itself is both a subject and a metaphor for exploring personal relationships and cognate experiences.
.           * January Gesture,by Ilagha, Nengi Josef, Publishers: Treasure Books (2007)
A creative exploration of time and the calendar as the poet’s inspiration. The poet is in control of his medium and verse ranges from the playful to the satirical.
            * Fossils, by Maiwada, Ahmed, Publishers: Hybun Publications (2008)
This simply put, is powerful poetry with original vision and creative use of language. It is equally comfortable at home as an instrument of censure and of praise.
            * Songs of a Dying River, by Ogbowei, Ebinyo, Publishers: Kraftgiots (2009)
            In this collection, the river is a metaphor for exploring the issues of the Niger Delta i.e degradation, exploitation. Its despairing tone reinforces its elegiac mood.
            * From a Poem to its Creator, by Okenyodo, Odoh Diego, Publishers: Hybun publications (2008).
            This poet’s delight in word play opens up a fresh literary experience for the reader.
            * The Eaters of the Living, by Okpanachi, Musa Idris, Publishers: Kraftgriots (2007)
The generally cynical and bleak vision of these satirical poems is projected through powerful images of a corrupt and decadent society.
            * Litany, by Uwaifo, Omo, Publishers; Hanon this literary representation of the historical experience of Nigeria from pre-colonial times to the present is virtually a National epic.

Theo Vincent, Chairman of the Literature Committee and former vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, who is also a Poet, said that many of the books of Poetry received lacked craftmanship and an enlightened handling of language. He explained that because of this shortcoming, the judges found it difficult to get up to 13 works, and therefore, settled for nine.

The nine semi-finalists would be cut further down to the final three and the winner would be announced at the Grand Award Night on October 10, at the Trancorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.