The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) is a non-profit organization that promotes

Nigerian literature Nigerian literature is a literary writing in Nigeria often by her citizens. It encompasses writers in a number of languages spoken in Nigeria including Igbo, Urhobo, Yoruba, Hausa and Nupe. ''Things Fall Apart'' (1958) by Chinua Achebe is ...

. It represents

Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...

n creative writers at home and abroad. It was founded in 1981 by Nigerian novelist

Chinua Achebe Chinua Achebe (; born Albert Chinụalụmọgụ Achebe; 16 November 1930 – 21 March 2013) was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as a central figure of modern African literature. His first novel ''Things Fall Apart'' ( ...

as its president. The immediate past President is Alhaji Denja Abdullahi. The incumbent president is Camilus Ukah and the Vice President is Hajiya Farida Mohammed.

Niger State Niger State is a state in the North Central (Nigeria), North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kaduna State and the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), Federal Capital Territory, to the north by Kebbi State and Zamfara State, ...

Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has been a supporter of the association. In January 2008, he said to a delegation from the Association of Nigerian Authors, Niger State, "I think Niger State will be the most published state in 2008. We want to publish you; we shall publish you..." The state was to publish at least twenty titles in 2008 alone. Speaking in October 2009 at a convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Aliyu said that more than 90 per cent of Nigerian politicians have criminal intentions, spending huge amounts to gain office for their own benefit rather than to serve the public.

History

The organization was founded on 27 June 1981, ten years after the

Nigerian Civil War The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Biafran War, Nigeria-Biafra War, or Biafra War, was fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a Secession, secessionist state which had declared its independen ...

, at a conference at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The conference was attended by two Kenyan writers,

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (; born James Ngugi; 5January 193828May 2025) was a Kenyan author and academic, who has been described as East Africa's leading novelist and an important figure in modern African literature. Ngũgĩ wrote primarily in Eng ...

and Gacheche Wauringi. Afterwards, the organization was registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission of

in accordance with the now 1990 vide Companies and Allied Matters Act no 1. ANA's founding members include Kole Omotoso, Mabel Segun, Ernest Emenyonu, Labo Yari, Femi Osofisan, J. P. Clark, Niyi Osundare, Jerry Agada and T. M. Aluko.

Prizes it has sponsored

In 2004, the ANA awarded the following prizes: * ANA/

Atiku Abubakar Atiku Abubakar (; born 25 November 1946) is a Nigerian politician and businessman who served as the vice president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007 during the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo. He ran for the office of governor of Adamawa State i ...

Prize for Children Literature — Sola Alamutu and Dawodu Peju: ''Cate Saves the Ikopi Rainforest'' (winner); Lawal–Solarin, ''Tunde: Lanre and the Queen of the Stream''; Olajire Olanlokun: ''Children Poetry for Pleasure''. * ANA/NDDC Drama Prize (In honour of J. P. Clark) — Yahaya Dangana: ''The Royal Chambers'' (winner); Chetachukwu Isaacs-Iroegbu: ''Ezewanyi''; Leke Ogunfeyimi: ''Sacrifice the King''. * ANA/NDDC Prize (In honour of Gabriel Okara) — Ohaeto Ezenwa: ''Chants of a Minstrel'' (winner); Emeka Agbayi: ''Stars Die''; Segun Akinlolu: ''King’s Messenger''. * ANA/NDDC Prose Prize (In memory of

Ken Saro-Wiwa Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa (10 October 1941 – 10 November 1995) was a Nigerians, Nigerian writer, teacher, television producer, and social rights activist. Saro-Wiwa was a member of the Ogoni people, an ethnic minority in Nigeria whose homeland ...

) — Arthur-Worey: ''Fola: The Diaries of Mr Michael'' (winner); Philip Begho: ''Jelly Baby''; Brisibe-Dorgu: ''Gesiere: Love So Pure''. * ANA/Spectrum Prize — Tayo Olafioye: ''Tomorrow Left Us Yesterday'' (winner); Ifeoma Chinwuba: ''Merchants of Flesh''; Toni Kan: ''Ballads of Rage''. * ANA/Cadbury Prize — Simbo Olorunfemi: ''Eko Ree'' (winner); Nnadi Amu: ''Pilgrim’s Passage''; Joe Ushie: ''Hill Songs''. * ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa Prize for Women Writing — Njere Chydy: ''Ordinary Women''. (The judges noted that there was no superlative submission for the category, hence, no entry is worthy of mention.) * ANA Literary Journalist, 2004 — Ohai Chuks ('' Daily Independent'', winner); Sumaila Umaisha (''New Nigerian'', winner).

References

External links

ANA official site

ANA Official Listserve
a forum for the discussion of Authorship in Nigeria {{DEFAULTSORT:Association Of Nigerian Authors Organizations established in 1981