Evidence Adjarho Wins Third Major Prize for Criticism
By: Hussein Isah Nuhu
Nigerian writer, Evidence Egwuono Adjarho has been announced by the Afrocritik, as the winner of its inaugural Prize for Criticism. This was for her outstanding review of three selected works of literature by African writers, at the 2024 Afrocritik Prize for Criticism.
At a time when there is less focus on the art of literary criticism, there is Evidence who has consistently delved into the art and her industry rewarded. In 2023 alone, she won the Book O’Clock’s Atipo Book Review Prize and the LABAF’s Ken Saro-Wiwa Prize for Book Review. Winning the Afrocritik Prize makes it her third major prize for critical writing in less than two years.
The Afrocritik Prize for Criticism was judged by Adedayo Agarau, and Joshua Chizoma, both of Nigerian nationality, and Kenyan writers, Gloria Mwaniga Odary and Peter Ngila Njeri. Evidence’s review was said to have brimmed in its relatedness, connectivity and conciseness. The judges say it “leaves no room for wastage”.
The winning review which earned her a cash prize of $300, was selected from a shortlist of five works, including reviews by Olúwatúnmiṣe Ọ̀tọ̀lórìn Akìgbógun, Daniella Oluwatomisin Kolade Victory Adewoye and Faith Emitse.
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The Afrocritik Prize for Criticism is an initiative of the Afrocritik outfit to celebrate its third anniversary. The Prize aims to encourage cultural engagement while promoting constructive criticism in the arts. With a focus on literature for its inaugural edition, the Prize received entries of reviews of three works by African writers. Two works of fiction: Jerry Chiemeke’s collection of short stories, Dreaming of Ways to Understand You, Peace Adzo Medie’s novel, His Only Wife; and a poetry book: Dami Ajayi’s Affection and Other Accidents.
You can read Evidence’s review as well as other shortlistees’ here.
