The Commonwealth Writers Prize, referred to as the most universal prize, up until the discontinuation of the category of Best Book Prize, has seen five Nigerian writers win the regional award with Festus Iyayi winning the overall and regional awards in 1988.
Here is a list of all Nigerian winners:
1. The Hangman’s Game By Karen King Aribisala
Associate professor of English at the University of Lagos, Karen King Aribasala won the 1991 Commonwealth Writers Prize for her collection of stories, “Our Wife and Other Stories. “The Hangman’s Game,” won the 2008 Commonwealth Best Book Africa Prize.” Rich in humour and suspense, “The Hangman’s Game” is a reflection of the different layers of history in Africa and the Caribbean.
2. Tides By Isidore Okpewho
“The Last Duty,” one of Isidore’s acclaimed works won the 1972 African Arts Prize for Literature. “Tides,” won the 1993 Commonwealth Best Book Africa Prize. Isidore Okpewho, writes about the travails of two journalists in the Niger Delta, confronted by violence and the dangers of oil exploration roaring over their homeland.
3. Incidents At The Shrine By Ben Okri
Booker prize winner, Ben Okri, writes about the Biafran war and loads of issues in this collection of eight short stories, employing his well-known technique of magical realism. “Incidents at the Shrine,” won the 1987 Commonwealth Best Book Africa Prize.
4. A Forest of Flowers By Ken Saro-Wiwa
Political and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, was among the Ogoni nine that were arbitrarily tried and executed by the then military government. “A Forest of Flowers,” is a collection of nineteen short stories which explore the absurdity of life for characters whose ambitions, modest as they are, are constantly thwarted by disgruntled spirits—in the form of idle and corrupt officials, adulterous spouses, envious relatives and grasping, untrustworthy entrepreneurs.
5. Heroes By Festus Iyayi
Social critic and writer, Festus Iyayi, writes about the lives of civilians caught in-between the crossfire between Biafra and the Nigerian Government during the civil war. “Heroes” won the 1988 regional and overall Commonwealth Best Book Prize.
