The Nigeria Prize for Literature has unveiled its longlist of 11 poetry collections for the 2026 edition.
The $100,000 Prize, sponsored by NLNG and widely regarded as one of the world’s most valuable literary awards, named 11 poetry collections on its 2026 longlist on July 23.
The announcement, by the chairman of the Advisory Board for the Prize, Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo marks a significant milestone in this year’s competition and reflects the exceptional quality, creativity and diversity of contemporary poetry.
The longlisted titles, arranged alphabetically are:
Adult Love by Tanure Ojaide
Bakandimiya by Saddiq Dzukogi
Black Passport by Paul Akpomuje
2000 Blacks by Ajibola Tolase
Ceremony for The Nameless by Theresa Lola
Corpus: Animistic Verses by Ayo Oyeku
Floral’s Love Colony by Tares Oburumu
The Origin of Wounds by Malik Gbolahan
The Years of Blood by Adebayo Agarau
Unbind Me Now by James Ugwu Eze
Why Does God Need a Gun by Ogaga Ifowodo
The announcement described the selection as a body of work carrying distinct voices, tensions and hopes, offering readers new ways of seeing familiar experiences.
The prize, established in 2004, rotates annually among four genres, prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature, with the winner receiving $100,000.
The 2026 cycle focuses on poetry.
The longlist draws together established figures, including Ojaide and Ifowodo, alongside emerging writers such as Tolase and Eze, reflecting a broad generational range among this year’s contenders.
When Ikeogu Oke, of blessed memory, won the prize in 2017 for The Heresiad, Ojaide and Ifowodo were the other two finalists for Songs of Myself: Quartet, and A Good Mourning, respectively.
According to an NLNG statement, Professor Adimora-Ezeigbo described the announcement as an important stage in the 2026 edition of the arguably African biggest and most prestigious literary Prize.
She noted that the collections demonstrate the remarkable capacity of poetry to illuminate human experience through thoughtful reflection, cultural memory and artistic expression.
Prof Adimora-Ezeigbo added that the works revisit history while interrogating dominant historical narratives and exposing the forces that shape collective identities and social relations. She stated that despite their varied emphases, the books share a commitment to exploring the endurance of individuals and communities in the face of violence, oppression, and social fragmentation.
Commenting on style and language, Prof. Adimora-Ezeigbo said the books display an impressive diversity of poetic techniques marked by lyrical intensity, symbolic depth, and artistic innovation.
“Many employ densely poetic, allegorical, and elegiac modes that invite multiple layers of interpretation, while others draw extensively on folklore, oral traditions, and contemporary realities to create a compelling fusion of past and present. Their language is generally fluid, evocative, and aesthetically refined, relying on vivid imagery, emotional resonance, and intellectual sophistication to communicate complex ideas. These works demonstrate how poetic language can illuminate social realities; challenge established perspectives and give voice to both individual and collective experiences.
“The next stage will demand a closer reading of each work, with attention to language, form, originality and lasting literary value,” she stated.
She also commended the judges for their work and reaffirmed the Advisory Board’s commitment to a credible process, literary excellence, and the promotion of a strong reading culture.
The announcement of the 11-title longlist formally opens the next phase of the shortlist of three in August and possible announcement of the winner in October.