Nigerian Writer Makes 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes Longlist

(L) Mary Okon Ononokpono - images via here and here
The longlist for the 2014 Golden Baobab Prizes for African children's literature has been announced. Writers from South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Egypt made the list, as did Mary Okon Ononokpono of Nigeria, from a total of 210 entries submitted from 13 countries. Only two of the prizes - for Early Chapter Books and Picture Books - were longlisted this year; judges stated that none of the stories submitted for the Rising Writers prize made the longlist.
The shortlist for the prizes will be announced on October 30, and the winners on November 13. Prize Coordinator Delali Kumapley described this year's longlist of 14 as representing "a very strong crop of African writers”. This year also sees an increase in the prize winnings from US$3,000 to US$20,000. The Golden Baobab Prizes were established in 2008 and seek to "inspire the creation of enthralling African children’s stories by African writers". The prizes also reward illustrators of African children's books. Last year Nigerians Philip Begho and Fego Martins Ahia were shortlisted in the Picture Book and Rising Writers categories respectively; Martins Ahia also earned the distinction of becoming the youngest Nigerian to be nominated for a literary prize at the age of 18.The full longlist for this year's Prizes are below:
Early Chapter Book Prize
Ricky Dankwa Ansong (Ghana) – Kweku Ananse: The Tale of the Wolf and the Moon
Jayne Bauling (South Africa) – The Saturday Dress
Mamle Wolo (Ghana) – Flying through Water
Mary Okon Ononokpono (Nigeria) – Talulah the Time Traveller
Bontle Senne (South Africa) – The Monster at Midnight
Hillary Molenje Namunyu (Kenya) – Teddy Mapesa and the Missing Cash
Dina Mousa (Egypt) – The Sunbird and Fatuma
Picture Book Prize
Katherine Graham (South Africa) – The Lemon Tree
Aleya Kassam (Kenya) – The Jacaranda Tree
Kwame Aidoo (Ghana) – The Tale of Busy Body Bee
Mandy Collins (South Africa) – There is a Hyena in my Kitchen
Mike Mware (Zimbabwe) – The Big Ball
Shaleen Keshavjee-Gulam (Kenya) – Malaika’s Magical Kiosk
Portia Dery (Ghana) – Grandma’s List
Congratulations to all!