The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) has elected Nigerian author and cultural producer Lola Shoneyin as a Fellow. The induction took place during an official evening ceremony held at The Fable in London, marking a significant international recognition of her contributions to contemporary literature.
Founded in 1820, the RSL is the United Kingdom’s charity for the advancement of literature, honouring exceptional writers and engaging readers across the globe. Fellowship is granted to writers who have published at least two works of literary merit or equivalent distinction, with nominations voted on by existing Fellows.
During the ceremony, Shoneyin participated in the society’s historic induction tradition by signing the official RSL roll book. She opted to use the historic dip pen once owned by the seminal 19th-century English novelist George Eliot.
Shoneyin is best known for her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, which was longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2011. Beyond her fiction, she is a pivotal figure in the West African creative economy as the founder of the Aké Arts and Book Festival, an annual cultural event that has championed African literature, art and film since its inception in 2013.
•Featured image: Lola Shoneyin/Instagram