As part of its objectives to promote the development of literature within Nigeria and beyond, the Abuja Writers’ Forum(AWF) proudly announces the AWF 2009 Literary Contest. The three-part contest is as follows:
SECTION ONE
The contest in this category is exclusively for writers resident in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – that is Abuja and the Council Areas of Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. Submissions should be of previously unpublished work in Fiction (Short Story), Poetry or Drama(One-Act Play). If the work has appeared in print or online in any form or part, or under any title, it is ineligible and will be disqualified. However entries in last year’s contest which did not win can be resubmitted if they have been reworked.
Short Story – One entry per contestant and it should not be more than 2,500 words.
Poetry – Three poems maximum in any style or form.
Drama – A short play that takes place in one-act or scene.
Contestants can enter in all three genres but only one entry per contestant in each genre. Send three typed copies of each entry and include on a separate sheet, contestants name, proper contact address, email, phone number(s), and title of entry. Entries should be sent to : AWF Literary Contest, P.O.Box 7131, Wuse, Abuja.
Top three in each category will win N50,000, N30,000 and N10,000 respectively.
SECTION TWO
This section is in two-parts and is open to Nigerian creative writers and scholars regardless of where they are domiciled.
Part I – Creative Writing
Entries can be sent for the following categories:
(A)Cyprian Ekwensi Prize for Short Stories collection endowed by Emzor Pharmaceuticals.(Manuscripts and published works.)
 
(B) T. M. Aluko Prize for a first  book of Fiction.(Published works only.)
 
 
(C)Ibrahim Tahir Prize for Fiction. (Manuscripts and published works.)
 
(D) Mamman Vatsa Prize for Poetry in Pidgin English sponsored by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). (Manuscripts and published works.)
 
(E) Carlos Idzia Ahmad Prize for a first book of Poetry. (Published works only.)
 
(F)Anthony Agbo Prize for Poetry endowed by Senator Anthony Agbo.(Manuscripts and published works.)
 
(G) Zulu Sofola Prize for Drama. (Manuscripts and published works.)
 
 
Entrants are limited to one entry per category. Books must have been published between 2007 to 2009.
 
 
Six(6) copies of each entry should be sent to either : (a)AWF Literary Contest, P.O. Box  7131, Wuse, Abuja; Or , (b) AWF Literary Contest, 2nd Floor, Hamdala Plaza, Plot 23, Jimmy Carter Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.
 
AWF will bring shortlisted manuscripts to the notice of reputable publishers.
 
 
Top three in each category will win N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000  respectively.
 
 
Part  2 – Critical Writing
 
Literary essays of not more than 5000 words can be entered in the following categories:
 
(A)Ime Ikiddeh Prize for Literary Criticism in Fiction, endowed by the Akwa Ibom State government.
 
(B)Donatus Nwoga Prize for Literary Criticism in Poetry.
 
(C)Oyin Ogunba Prize for Literary Criticsm in Drama sponsored by Alhaji Ibrahim Nasir Arab, Clerk to the National Assembly.
 
(D)Sunday Anozie Prize for Literary Theory (including literary history , criticism of non-fiction, and criticism of criticism/theory).
 
 
Essays should be original and those that focus on less known or emerging Nigerian writers have an advantage. Essays previously published in journals or books between 2007 to 2009 are eligible but should be so noted in the submissions.
 
 Entrants should include on a separate sheet, name, proper contact address, email, phone number(s), and title of entry.  Essays shortlisted and previously unpublished may be published in Cavalcade. Entrants are allowed only one entry per category.
 
Six(6) copies of each entry should be sent to either : (a)AWF Literary Contest, P.O. Box  7131, Wuse, Abuja; Or , (b) AWF Literary Contest, c/o International Institute of Journalism (IIJ),  2nd Floor, Hamdala Plaza, Plot 23, Jimmy Carter Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja.
 
 
Top three in each category will win N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000  respectively.
 
SECTION THREE
This category is open to Nigerians and non-Nigerians.  Entries are invited for previously unpublished poems and short stories. Contestants can enter in both genres but only one entry per contestant in each genre. Poems can be of any length or style (not more than five per entry). Short Stories must not be more than 2, 500 words (not more than one per entry). There is a fee of $20USD per entry.
Submissions must be made only online through the AWF website (after payment of entry fee) with contestant’s name, genre of submission (e.g. “Poetry Submission”) and include in the body contact info such as email, phone number, and physical contact address. Send request for payment procedure to abujawriters@fastermail.com
Shortlisted entrants will get a year’s subscription of Cavalcade and may have their entries published in the journal.
Top three in each category will win $300, $200 and $100 respectively.   
 
 
 
 
ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR  THE CONTEST
 
·        Manuscript entries must be properly formatted, typed in Times New Roman or Baskerville Old Face at 12pts and double-spaced. No fancy fonts.
·        Manuscript entries must be properly paginated.
·        Entries will be acknowledged only by email, so there must be an accompanying email address in each entry.
·        Online submissions must not be attached but pasted in the body of the mail.
·        Online entries sent as attachments will be automatically disqualified.
·        Closing date for all entries is October 1, 2009.
·        Late entries will be automatically disqualified.
·        No entries will be returned, even if accompanied by an SASE.
·        For an additional fee of $10, entrants can request for a critique of their unpublished entries after the result of the contest has been announced.
·        The contest is not open to members of the AWF Executive, patrons, screeners and judges, nor to members of their families.
·        Authors whose publishers are directly linked to the AWF Executive, patrons, screeners and judges cannot enter works issued from such publishing outfits.
·        Winners will be announced at the Second AWF Literary Festival in Abuja in the first week of December 2009.