PAGE 58—SUNDAY Vanguard, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 japhdave@yahoo.com 08066625505
I wrote Iredi War with Lit Price in mind — Ukala, 2014 Winner, The Nigeria Prize for Literature By PRISCA SAM-DURU LITERATURE
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hen Professor Sam Ukala, Nigeria’s renowned playwright picked up his pen to write Iredi War, he was clear about what he wanted- The Nigerian Prize For Literature. As a goal-getter well focused on his priority, Prof. Ukala was said to have turned down the offer to be among the panel of judges for the 2014 Prize. Instead, he submitted his book Iredi War to compete with 123 others. Iredi War eventually withstood the rigorous scrutiny and requisite checks for high standards that The Nigeria Prize for Literature is revered by the literati, as it emerged tops in that literary competition, fetching the playwright a whooping $100,000. With the cash prize, Ukala plans to set up Sufficient Grace Studios for entertainment services, artiste training, and theatre/film/music production and adapting in addition to producing Iredi War for screen. In the tradition of the sole sponsore of the prize, NLNG presented Prof. Ukala as the 2014 winner of the most
prestigious literary Prize in the continent of Africa, the Nigeria Prize for Literature, and the winner of the Prize for Literary Criticism, Prof. Isidore Diala, to the public, last Thursday, at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos. The hall was surprisingly packed full as guests came to identify with the renowned scholar, theorist, award winning and internationally known playwright for his feat. The occasion commanded a strong attendance of the literati, the two runners up; Jude Idada, Friday John Abba, eminent Nigerians, Academics and students from more than seven secondary schools in the country. Prof Sam Ukala’s Iredi War it would be recalled, last year, defeated a total of 123 other books to take the trophy. His book was announced the winning entry at a world press conference held last October, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos. Out of the 124 entries for the 2014 drama, only 49 met the eligibility criteria. The panel of Judges headed by Prof Charity Angya, pruned the 49 entries to 29 which were further screened to an initial shortlist
(L-R) NLNG Deputy MD, Isa Inuwa; Prof Ayo Banjo, Chairman Advisory Board for the literature prize;Mr Babs Omotowa, MD, NLNG; Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke, NLNG GM, External Relations; Prof Ukala, 2014 Winner of the $100,000 The Nigeria Prize for Literature and wife, Grace at the presentation of Prof. Ukala in Lagos. of 11 plays. The 11 shortlist by Friday John Abba. Association of Nigerian Authors was later screened to 3; Iredi Iredi War published by (ANA)/ British Council Prize for War by Sam Ukala, Jude Kraft Books Limited, Ibadan, Drama. Similarly, Skeletons, his Idada’s Oduduwa- King of the is based on an aspect of the collection of stories, won ANA’s Edos and Alekwu Night Dance history of Owa people of Delta Prose Prize in 2000. The Nigeria Prize for Literature State. It is a historical drama based on the 1906 uprising sponsored by Nigeria LNG I whole heartedly within the Owa Kingdom. Limited rotates yearly around Ukala gives a vivid description four literary genres: prose fiction, and most of the issues relating to this poetry, drama and children’s gratefully accept war particularly the battle by literature. Its 2015 competition the Chief against the colonial will be for children’s literature. the award of The Receiving the prestigious forces. The Judges Nigerian Price for unanimously chose Iredi War prize, Prof Ukala who was as the winning because the obviously excited, said, “I wholeLiterature, I “content is serious, the heartedly and most gratefully accept the award of The Nigerian dedicate the handling is quite mature.” Prize For Literature, 2014. I Ukala has written, award to God performed and directed many dedicate the award to God Almighty for stage plays including The Log Almighty for inspiration, talent in Your Eye (UPL, 1986), and direction and to all writers inspiration, talent Break a Boil (Oris, 1992), and critics of Nigerian Literature, and direction and Odour of Justice (Oris, 1992) especially those who have and Fumes of Fuel in contributed to making it to all writers and Rumbling Creeks of the Niger significant throughout the world. critics of Nigerian Delta. In 1989, Ukala’s He thanked NLNG for “Offering Akpakaland won the the biggest literary prize in Literature Africa. I also thank the Advisory Board and Panel of Judges for processing entries with transparent integrity.” In a rather poetic acceptance speech, Prof. Isidore who emerged as the first winner of the from revenue collection. Prize For Literary criticism,worth foundation. We intend to unveil the The pension plan is for both one million naira, instituted in biometric ID cards this Feb- the aged and the young. For 2012 to reward literary critics of ruary which is why in all the the aged, once you are 65 Nigerian Literature from all over media interviews I’ve and want to retire, you also the world, noted that “ By granted, I made it clear that I get 10 million naira. With endowing the Literature Prize, will not allow myself to be dis- the same biometric card NLNG acknowledges one of the tracted, I came in here to do which is a multi-purpose oldest functions of criticism: a job, I’m doing the job and card, you have an automatic informed evaluation and unless I finish the job I will not ATM chip, that means if you judgement, discrimination react or respond to side have a current account with between the mediocre and the any of the banks, that con- great... Thus, the endowment of talks.” To move the musicians for- nects you to the media dis- a specific literary Criticism Prize the sponsor ’s ward by ensuring that what tribution network. From is they’ve been unable to get in there, it connects with your acknowledgement of the the past 45 years, will be given royalty account through complementaries between to them in 3 years, Pretty said, the Global System 1 creation and criticism.” (GS1)which collates and acNLNG Managing Director, is his uttermost concern. “To access the biometric ID counts for royalty.” Babs Omotowa congratulated The aim of putting all these Prof Ukala for his feat and for Cards is simple and the banks in place is to end the usual adding value to literature came in and made it simpler musicians through his writings. He than I thought. Once the bankruptcy experience as soon as they disclosed that inspite of the fall musician gets the card he or stop singing. “No going back in oil prize, NLNG will remain she automatically gets the health care plan and that itself to zero. Junior and I cannot deeply committed to the Award will take care of the musician even boast of any royalty... of $100,000. Omotowa also noted and members of his/her fam- The GS 1 takes care of both that the Award has stimulated ily. The cards automatically music internet download significant number of new makes the bearer a PMAN and physical sales. We are writings since it was initiated. He member in case of death and trying to give back confi- expressed his satisfaction with according to the pension dence and wealth to the the standard of production and plan, the musician’s family musicians, industry as well publishing of the winning book. gets 10 million and that comes as the nation.” “Nigeria LNG is happy to bring
PMAN se o un pose biome tric cards sett tto unvveil multi-pur multi-purpose biometric By PRISCA SAM-DURU MUSIC
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he Interim President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, Pretty Okafor has reiterated his plans to revamp the music industry such that its relevance in helping to boost standard of living of artistes and nation’s economy, is no longer undermined. Plans have already been concluded by the Pretty led administration, to unveil the multi-purpose biometric identity cards for musicians. With the availability of the Cards, Pretty noted that cases of Nigerian musicians soliciting for funds each time there’s need to access medical service and or, becoming paupers after retiring from very successful music career, would be history. Okafor who disclosed that greed and selfish interest have been the major problems of the union, revealed his plan to revitalise the industry through the use of technology as well
as with the full support of banks and telecommunications in the country. According to him, “We’ve been able to move further as we’ll be unveiling the multipurpose biometric Identity Card for musicians and luckily we’ve been able to get about four banks and two telecommunication firms to partner with us in this project. The banks actually made it so easy for us musicians to be able to access the new formation. First we need to get the data bank of the industry, because before you can get a structure you need to start from the
The aim of putting all these in place is to end the usual bankruptcy musicians experience as soon as they stop singing