Shoneyin on Orange Prize longlist
Writer Lola
Shoneyin has been longlisted for the Orange Prize For Fiction for her
novel, ‘The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives.
The book, published
in the UK by Serpent’s Tail and in Nigeria by Cassava Republic Press,
depicts a raucous polygamous household presided over by Baba Segi,
husband to four wives and father to many children. It is the first
novel by Shoneyin, author of three poetry collections and one
children’s book.
She is one of nine
debut novelist on the longlist of 20 international writers. Shoneyin is
only the second Nigerian writer to make the Orange longlist. Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie won the prize in 2007 for ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’, her
novel about the Biafran war.
Established in
Britain in 1996, the Orange Prize is awarded annually for writing by
women. It comes with a cash prize of £30,000 and the presentation of a
miniature sculpture known as the ‘Bessie’.
Also on this year’s longlist is British/Sierra-Leonean author
Aminatta Forna whose book, ‘The Memory of Love’, has already won this
year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for the Africa Region. The Orange
shortlist will be unveiled on April 12 and the winner announced in
London on June 8.
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